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Last update: Friday June 3, 2005 9:44
Despite the most determined efforts of its Vice-Captain, the BCF cricket team failed by 52 runs to win the 22nd annual match on Sunday. Playing a strong George Heriot's School Former Pupils team on a fine, sunny afternoon in Edinburgh, the team acquitted itself well, but the void in technique was clearly visible.
Heriot's skipper Goddard won the toss and elected to bat first on a firm track showing signs of cracking. BCF achieved a breakthrough as early as the second over, when opener Kerr was run out following a sharp return to the 'keeper by young Sam Buckley. Gosney and Goddard dug in, faced with a fine spell of seam bowling from Middlesex U-16 star Ruthirapathy. Gosney was clean bowled by first-change bowler Rajh, Heriots innings standing at 57 for 2 after 12 overs.
The left-handed More joined his captain at the crease, his class apparent as he stroked the ball cleanly around the expansive outfield, making BCF toil in the sun. It later transpires that he had been capped by Scotland! The pair put on 61 for the third wicket before More was fooled by an innocuously flighted delivery from Eggleston. The BCF skipper tried to restrict Goddard's free-scoring, but wherever a fielder was moved, the in-form batsman hit the ball into the resultant gap. Simon Buckley removed Fogerty, caught by the keeper, and Eggleston had Litster pinned LBW in front, but it was Goddard's day. With good support from Ross, he reached a well-earned century, having offered few chances. Ross needed 2 runs from the last ball of the innings, but was denied when the returning Ruthirapathy produced an excellent delivery to uproot his stumps. BCF would have to score at 6 runs per over to beat their hosts.
After an interesting tea - Scotch pies and sausage rolls were on offer - Toll and Eggleston attempted to climb the proverbial mountain. All was well, 37 posted after 10 overs, when Eggleston was the casualty of a 'soft dismissal', chipping the ball tamely to Litster at short mid-wicket. Jervis and Toll added a further 39 runs before calamity struck. Toll called a quick run, his partner turned him down before sacrificing his wicket in the cause. This magnificent act of self-denial back-fired immediately, as the reprieved Toll was bowled off his back-foot from the next delivery. Poobalasingam and Martin rebuilt the innings, trying to get the run-rate down to a manageable level, but the former was sent packing by Kerr. Anderton's stay at the crease was short-lived, surviving an LBW shout before skying one to More. Simon Buckley joined his sparring partner Martin - an entertaining partnership of 44 giving BCF late hope of a shock victory. Not to be, alas, for Buckley was also clean-bowled. The tail were unable to stay with Martin, who reached his first half-century in 22 BCF innings. The sporting hosts even allowed the 12th man, young Joe Jervis, to bat out the remaining three overs. Nevertheless, it was a fine effort by a team combining effort with application, but not enough to seriously worry the huge target. A memorable day, fine weather and excellent hosts added to the memories of this on-going tradition. Bring on Scarborough for the 2004 challenge!
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