Tues 29 July - 20/20 Friendly v Goblin Ha, Gifford

[Mr Belly]

Hello

We have a glamour 20/20 game v Goblin Ha, Gifford on Tuesday.
Its past Haddington - so drivers in partic required (we seem to have a few now thankfully). 6-15 or 6.30 start - depending how quick we get there.

Team so far:

1. Ian Shiels
2. Chris Banks
3. Chris Brown
4. Iain Martin
5. Sutha Rangaswamy (no car)
6. David Jamieson
7. Don Wilkie (going direct)
8. Andy Lacey
9. Melv Clench (no car)
10. Charlotte Bascombe
11. Pav
12. Asif "Spaceman Taxis" Mohammed

They feed us afterwards as well - but there is a charge for this - so expect match fee of £5 or so.

Availability to me at [e-mail] or 07730 074174.

cheers

[phildo]

Anyone able to give me a lift on Tuesday? I now work at Craiglockhart but could get back into the city centre.

Thanks

Phil

[phildo]

Ignore the lift request - can't play after all. As if my availability levels this season could get any worse.

Moral of the story - never agree to play a game while talking to the skipper late on a Saturday night. Otherwise you'll forget that you had a longstanding commitment.

[thevman]

;D,

[Mr Belly]

Obviously been a wee bit wet overnight.
As ever - if it is called off I will tell all and sundry as quick as I can.
Do NOT badger me with texts during the day asking Is the Game Still On,. etc?? or I will be forced to eat your liver.

[bigpav]

Assuming game is on if anyone wants a lift from dalry/haymarket direction give me a call on 07745168421.

[Mr Belly]

Whoops - sorry forgot about you Pav.
Happy to take 12 anyway. I'm not sure my body can take a 5th consecutive day of cricket anyway.

[Mr Belly]

MDAFS 108-5 20 overs beat Goblin Ha' 106-9 20 overs by 2 runs.

Really enjoyable game played at a sunny Gifford - we dodged the showers that deluged Edinburgh. The rules to ensure the game was played in the right midweek friendly spirit were: retire at 20, bowl off 4 paces (ideal for Banksy!!), max of 2 wides per over (ideal for **insert bowler of choice**) [the batter then had to chase any further wides!], everyone bowls 2 overs. White ball used.

MDAFS elect to bat first and Banksy cuts the first ball for 4 but is smartly caught by P Bailey (no relation I think to PVB?) attempting a repeat off the 4th ball. Then 2 balls later Sutha is CnB by Ross and suddenly we are 2 down with one over complete! Fear not. The power running partnership of Jamieson and Bascombe steady the innings before David retires on 20 (2 fours) and Charlotte is CnB by Dimeck for 10. Andy Lacey hits a quickfire 20 and retires (2 fours, 1 six), Don is bowled by Mowatt for 4, then Melv (23 retired) and Mr Belly (16 not out) latterly helped by some late scampering by Cyclops (1) and Elsie (0 not) get us up to 108-5 off our 20 overs.

MDAFS take to the field with only 10 men/women as Spaceman Taxis had probably got diverted into picking up fares in Haddington. Andy is appointed "celebrity" captain. Bowling order is agreed at one over each in reverse batting order (bar Charl as she and Andy need to swap keeper role half way) and then repeated. So Iain Martin bowls the opening over to G Donaldson and P Bailey which goes for six runs, Charlotte's first ball (a carried-over hat-trick ball from HBOS game) is despatched for 4 by the merciless Bailey as is her last delivery. 16 off 2. Broon bowls next and concedes 10. 26 off 3 and the Goblins are gobbling up the required rate. Charlotte's 2nd over sees Donaldson run out by a direct hit by Sutha for 8 and next ball Gavin Dimeck is bowled by Charlotte for a goldie. The team hat-trick ball is a dot ball. Pickles finishes her spell with 2-0-13-1. Belly bowls next and bowls Logie for 2 and concedes only 3 off the over. Score now 32 for 3 off 5. Then Notty Clench bowls his curious loopy type of nets spin (career change from his fast seam stuff now required methinks) and bowls the dangerous Bailey for 18. 34 for 4 off 6 - but the home team still above the rate and young C Scott tucks into Don's first ball to slap it for 4, 7 conceded off the over. Sutha's over of spin goes for just 4 and DJs and Banks' overs 5 and 2 respectively.

So at just past the midway point the home team are on 56 for 4 off 11 with Scott and Skea well set.

MDAFS "play their joker" next - with Char taking over keeper duties as Andy Lacey is required to bowl given we are a man short. Only 10 runs are conceded (we were lucky). Then we repeat the earlier bowling order again (except Char). IJMs over only goes for 2, Broon's 5 plus a handy CnB of C Scott for 17, Belly's over concedes just 1, Melvs 4 and Don's over concedes 6 (including 2 drops - one an absolute dolly by himself and then another next ball by the still guffawing Belly. Andy returns for his second over which goes for 11 and at 94 off 17 (15 off 18 balls) the home team just about look favourites as MDAFS cricket has gone ragged. Then it swings back again: Sutha's last over concedes 5 but Skea has to retire on 20. David bowls Mowatt for 13 and concedes just 1 off his over. 5 runs needed and "Two Step" Banks to bowl it in the gloom. A typically tight over concedes just 2 runs and MDAFS have triumphed by 2 runs.

A highly enjoyable game played in great spirit. Then a feast of pies and steak-sandwiches laid on in the bowling club afterwards - many thanks to Colin and his team for their hospitality and a definite repeat fixture on the next seasons MDAFS midweek schedules.