First XI Match Reports

Mufs Muirhouse Meltdown

Saturday 7 May. MDCC v Watsons 2 at Muirhouse

It's tough at the top they say. And boy did we make it even tougher. Mufs Ones batting, weakened yes by unavailability of last year's top order 1-6, still retained plenty of talent in its midst. Application of this talent was sadly absent on the whole as Mufs batting suffered a collective meltdown in being skittled for 38. It could have been worse, abject humiliation faced us at 19-9, only avoided by an hitherto unlikely top scorer in Alec Liddle (9 not) and Mel Clench (7) who managed to double the score. Watsons simply did the basics well by bowling a decent line and length, Michael Lynch taking 6 wkts for 10 and skipper Ross Brooks 3 for 7.

38 was not likely to be defendable, another 30 runs who knows, but commendably the guys got stuck into the Sonians batting, Richard and Alec claimed a wicket apiece; Keith took 2 and Mel bowled very tidily on his Ones debut. So defeat by 6 wickets and 2 points salvaged at least. Who knows how important those 2 points may be at the end of the season? We must fight tooth and nail for every point in every game and it was great to see that fighting spirit still in the field despite the situation.

Scorebook extracts to follow when we get the book back after the most unfortunate theft of JNBs bag from the clubhouse and its fortunate and bizarre return!!

Scoreboard extracts (at last):

MDCC Batting

MDCC Bowling - Watsonians 2 - 40 for 4 20.2 overs. 2 Extras

Mufs Undone by Ross Heroics

Saturday 14 May. MDCC v Heriots 2 at Goldenacre

A much improved batting display by the Ones to reach 184-9 at Heriots was undone by a stunning unbeaten innings of 132 by opener Davie Ross. A useful 8 points taken but at further addition to the Mufs line-up of walking/limping wounded. Westy pulling a thigh muscle and Baikie badly splitting his webbing between middle fingers of his hand in addition to more minor injuries to Wheeler (ankle) and Mel (cut finger)!! Good grief! JNBs injury will sideline for a couple of weeks so stand-in skipper needed for the stand-in skipper!! Mufs starmen were Rich Sorrell with 45, JNB with 25, and Westy with 41 not returning to bat with a runner to share a 57 run 10th wicket stand with a very sickly Alec Liddle who posted 23 not. Top dog with the ball was Mel Clench with 6-1-19-4 - before being forced off by splitting his finger in his bowling hand. How costly was that for us, and, a close LBW shout against Ross early up that was not given? Other than that Ross's innings was mainly chanceless and an excellent display of aggressive strokeplay, particularly square of the wicket. Hats off to him.

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Batting

MDCC Bowling - Heriots 2 - 188 for 6 36.5 overs. 18 Extras

Muirhouse Wash-Out

Saturday 21 May. MDCC v Grange 2 at Muirhouse

Mufs Ones lost another toss and were inserted by Grange 2s to bat on a sticky dog, reaching 54-6 (Grange's G.Allan 15-9-12-4) until heavy rain made it impossible to continue; to the frustration of Phil Rogers who had raced to 14 from one over, but probably to the relief of everyone else. However, another 50 runs... who knows.

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Batting

Fauldhouse Wash-Out

Saturday 28 May. MDCC v Fauldhouse at Fauldhouse

Soggy indeed out west and an early call off.

Freaky Friday

Saturday 4 June. MDCC v Edinburgh at Muirhouse....then Roseburn ... then nowhere

Too wet during the week for the groundstaff to prepare a pitch at Muirhouse, but after a complaint from Edinburgh about the early call-off, and after telling all and sundry it was off then possibly on again, we offered them Roseburn artificial to which they decline to play - perfectly in their rights to do so- but a Friday afternoon at work wasted for me.

Mufs Livid at Livy Loss

Saturday 11 June. MDCC v Livingston at Livingston

A report from Keith Lawrence of a bit of tragic Mufs performance. Bit of a Nasty one this...

Tragedy!
When the wickets are gone and you've got no runs
It's tragedy
When you've taken five then it goes awry
It's hard to bear
With no wins to drink to you're Goin' nowhere

Tension filled the ground. The number 10 batsman settled over his bat, poised and focussed, his little mind filled with the crushing knowledge that this match could yet go either way. 20 measly little runs were all Livingston needed to win. Two pathetic little wickets was the asking price for Mufs to register a victory. Crash! Bang! Wallop! A few close calls and a couple of boundaries later, the match was sealed in Livi's favour. Tragedy! Oh! That is should have come to this.

The day had started inauspiciously enough, it's true, with few Mufs batsmen able to do much damage. Our final score of 110 had as much to do with a late rally from Alec as a solid-looking knock from Liberty Knight which had been cut short in its prime. Nevertheless, we took to the field with real purpose and belief, and Alex quickly started to tear into the opposition with 3 quick wickets. Adding a comically rubbish run-out and a solitary wicket from Nasty, and Livi were reduced to 6 for 4 and then 20ish for 5. Surely today was the day for a win?

Tragedy!
Sadly not. Livi scraped together a succession of tidy little partnerships, and while wickets fell at regular intervals, they found themselves at 90-8 - and the rest, as they say, is history. Alec finished with a mighty Pfeiffer from his 15 overs. While we could have had cause to question two or three umpiring decisions, the reality is that we again failed to close out an opportunity to win. Roll on next week.

"Nasty" Keith Lawrence... had he taken one in the abdominal protector I wonder... and hence cue The Bee Gees??

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Batting

MDCC Bowling - Livingston - 111 for 8 45.3 overs. 7 Extras

Mufs Crash against Cramond

Saturday 18 June. MDCC v Cramond at Muirhouse

Slight lingering after-taste of bitterness (tongue in cheek of course) about his dismissal I guess in this report from Nasty Keith....!!

Tom Wheeler (boo, hiss) cost Mufs a near certain victory with a controversial LBW decision against Nasty, who was motoring along at 0 not out at the time. Mufs, closing in on victory at the time on 44-9 chasing 100, will be disappointed with Mr Wheeler. A club spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "What are you on about, you muppet? We lost 8 wickets for 7 runs and you can't blame that ever-so-nice Mr Tom for you planting your foot in front of middle stump anyway, cabbage-for-brains."

And it had all started so well. An excellent bowling and fielding display had restricted Cramond (who scored 324 the previous week) to a measly 99-9 from their full 50 overs. All five bowlers did a cracking job, and there were plenty of eager-beaver Mufs in a tight ring. Wickets tumbled to Sporty (3-28 from 13 overs, including a blinding catch off his own bowling), Nasty (3-19 from 11), Chariots (2-22 from 8) and Paul (1-20 from 11). A special mention also to the Cramond opener who scored 29 not out from 50 overs, and played out a maiden in the 49th over - thanks mate.

Disappointingly, Cramond were up to the job of defending 100 on a difficult wicket to bat on. Tom & Knighty did well to survive a dozen overs of aggressive bowling before succumbing, and even at 37-2 the target looked eminently reachable. The Cramond change bowlers had different ideas though (Bailey 5 wkts for 6 and Oliver 4-7), sending one disappointed batsman after another trudging disconsolately back to the pavilion/shed/lean-to/pig-sty. The mood wasn't helped by the fact that we'd not exactly warmed to our opponents, and were therefore even more keen than usual to do them over. Sportsmanlike behaviour was not the order of the day, with sledging, mouthing-off and frequent obscenities casting a dubious cloud over proceedings. Another day where we had our moments and played well in the field - but another day where we failed to perform with the bat. A more positive approach will take us to two victories next weekend though - come on you Mufs!

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Bowling - Cramond - 99 for 9 50 overs. 15 Extras

MDCC Batting

Beast Blasts Boro

Saturday 25 June. MDCC v Boroughmuir at Craiglockhart

To use a fave phrase of Rich.... "Hurrah!".

Finally Mufs open their account in Div 1 with a crushing 122 win over Boroughmuir at a gloriously sunny Craiglockhart in a must-win game. And glory, glory indeed for Richard "The Beast of" Sorrell as he ripped up the Mufs/London Rd/DAFS/Murrayfield record books with a superb display of controlled aggression in blasting a new high of 159 not out to rescue Mufs who were starting to falter at 26-3. Previously without a league 50 to his name, this long-overdue benchmark was notched up thrice as Rich, ably supported by the dogged Knighty (67), also posted a record all-time all wicket partnership of 203. Superb!

So with Mufs posting 242-5, we showed no mercy to Boroughmuir. Nasty Keith claimed 4 wickets and Paul Eveleigh 3 (despite a dicky shoulder), Mel and Adam one apiece and no keeping the star of the show out of it - Rich with the other.

So a priceless 20 points claimed. Marvellous stuff chaps and congrats Rich.

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Batting

MDCC Bowling - Boroughmuir - 120 for 10 39 overs. 9 Extras

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Sunday 26 June. MDCC v Holy Cross at Muirhouse

A few tired limbs no doubt in the morning, as Mufs embarked on the second leg of the weekend's battles with the re-scheduled League opener against old friends and foe Holy Cross. But clearish heads as the lure of Berts Bar is declined most professionally. And Mr Liddle returns to the fold after his trip to see U2 in Dublin.

So on another fine and sunny day, Rich wins the toss and decides to bat first on a wicket being used again from Saturday to get the best from it. Unfortunantly we can't extract the best out of our batsman against fine bowling, particularly "Two Dogs" and the now impressively goat-eed Shannon Bonfield. 128 is all we can muster thanks to Andy Lacey with 38 and a late flourish from Adam with 23. Richy looked the part again with some aggressive hits but holed out for 15. We finish probably 30 odd short of par on this wicket.

After a marvellous spread by Big Frank, Mufs set out to defend their total. HX skipper Keith Fraser takes an aggressive approach but perishes on 30 to Alec. Things momentarily get heated as Doug Russell collides with Alec trying to make his ground and despite being fired out by the umpire is reprieved. However he soon follows his skipper back to the hut with 15 as Sporty Mel Clench fires him out. Soon HX are 4 down and still 40-50 odd short and there is some trepidation growing in the HX ranks. However, Charlie Ellis shows why he is one of the top run scorers in the Division this year as he patiently crafts a 50 - well supported by Shannon with 17(?). The game finishes on a farcical note for Mufs as with Charlie on 49 and HX one short of victory he skies a simple chance and somehow the combination of Matty and Knighty manage to put each other off and so Cross scramble their winning single and Charlie's half-century and a bowling point goes a begging too.

However, as the League has reached it's half-way stage we have a chance to instantly make amends as we travel up the road to the Arboretum next week. A disappointing nay disastrous first half of the campaign, notwithstanding the many injuries and unavailability of key batting personnel. Mufs must do better with the bat or a return to where we came from will be the end result.

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Batting

MDCC Bowling - Holy Cross - 129 for 4 - 46 overs. 12 Extras

Double Trouble v Cross

Saturday 2nd July. MDCC v Holy Cross at Muirhouse

And so we start the second half of the season. Will the guys pull the season round and save our souls? Will anyone other than Rich score some big runs to support the good work being put in by our bowlers? Only time will tell. Time is like a fuse. Short and burning fast. [Can we] fight fire with fire?

Not today. There have been some disasters with the bat this season. This was right up there in terms of lack of confidence, lack of technique, lack of application and lack of mental strength. Sure the pitch was not the greatest but this was a woeful batting performance early doors which effectively handed the game on a plate to Holy Cross - a team our equals last year but miles apart this. Mufs reduced to a shameful 7 for 5 wickets after 10 overs as a bemused Lacey (13) watches the carnage from the other end. This was not the golden return of Jaya that was envisaged! This was not even Shannon or Worsnop at their best with the ball either by their own admission. Thankfully Lindsay finally clicked with a succession of driven fours with 23 before being seventh out at 42 and then Phil "Dino" Rogers (19) got us within sight of a batting point. However 69-7 turned to 73-10 as a point was so carelessly chucked away (again - see last week!). How much will that lost point hurt us only time will tell. Time is like a fuse...(oh I've done that bit of Metallica already). "Two Dogs" Worsnop finishes with 4-22, Shannon 2-26, and Doug Russell 1-1 and Charlie Ellis 2-7 to deny us that point.

Tea a most splendid affair - particularly the pizza - and then to the defence of our mighty 73.

It was not to be as Keith Fraser gets HX out of the blocks fast with an aggressive 21 before being bowled by Alec. Progress by Cross from there on is relatively steady as Mufs bowl well but there is no real threat of an upset. As Cross close in, they pause on soixante-neuf as Doug Russell is bowled by Mel for 26 and then Charlie Ellis (11) trapped in front by Nasty Keith. But the end is nigh and a loss by 7 wickets in the end. Two points salvaged from the wreckage of this match.

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Batting

MDCC Bowling - Holy Cross - 74 for 3 - 27.3 overs. 12 Extras

Wotta Win at Watsons!

Saturday 9th July. MDCC v Watsons at Myreside

At last a worthy performance to boost sagging morale as revenge is gained over the early season hammering we took from Watsons, but a victory a bit too close in the end. Still a win is a win!

Watsons had started strongly as Yellowlees (23) and Bootman (35) put on 58 for the first wicket before Alec Liddell struck not once but thrice in successive overs to take out the top order. The Watsons innings thus stalls and with Keith and JNB also taking 3 wickets and Paul Eveleigh 1 wkt, 'Sonians are restricted to 143 ao off 45.2 overs.

Mufs start very cautiously, probably haunted by the batting of the previous weekend. However, Watsons are starting to chip away at the order with a succession of batters (West, Knighty, Lacey) falling for 11 (Spinal Tap eat your heart out). Then the Parky (2) falls to Hall and Baikie (0) to Bunker and we are indeed well are truly bunkered at 71-5. However, Jaya (55) digs us out of this trap with the assistance of Phil "Claypole" Rogers (15) in a 46 run 6th wkt stand but when he and Phil fall and then Bicycle Towns (falling for the obligatory 11) has also gone we are starting to wobble again at 138 for 8. Big Paul strides out with Alec on 3 not. Three balls later and two clubbed boundaries later, we emerge victorious. Hurrah. Marvellous stuff chaps.

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Bowling - Watsonians - 143 for 10 - 45.2 overs. 6 Extras

MDCC Batting

Would You Adam and Eve it?

Saturday 16th July. MDCC v Heriots 2 at Muirhouse

Wow. We are on a roll. Back-to-back wins have Mufs pulling away from basement boys Boro and on the tails of our rivals. And another famous scalp taken and more revenge claimed. No Davie Ross heroics to save Heriots this time.

However, it could have been a different tale indeed as bar Jaya (26), Richy (16), Lacey (12) the batting line-up crumbles and we once again find ourselves in the proverbials at 87-9. However, if the game at Goldenacre had been topsy-turvey in terms of batting then this innings even more so as a heroic last wicket stand of 89 is put together by Adam Scott (64) and Mel Clench (24 not). An all-time record for the club(s) old and new. And so from the brink we have got up to a formidable, for Muirhouse, 176 before Adam is out in the very last over. Hamilton best return for Heriots with 4-22.

We sense Heriots are deflated and vulnerable. And Mel is back in the thick of it with Alec as they run through the top 4 with two wkts apiece to leave Heriots tottering at 22-4. Fogarty (28) and Thomson (18) stage a recovery and as things start to get a bit threatening up steps acting skipper, Richy, to take them and Purkayastha out of the equation. Mel and Alec return to feast on the tail but Hamilton (25) provides some stubborn resistance before being the final man out with Heriots shot down for 113. Alec with 3-31, Rich with 3-14 and Mel with 4-37 of his full stint. Tremendous! Photos of the game available at Photo Galleries.

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Batting

MDCC Bowling - Heriots - 113 for 10 - 42.1 overs. 20 Extras

Mufs not at Home on the Grange

Saturday 23 July 2005. MDCC v Grange2 at Raeburn Place

Not doubt this was the game and venue many had been licking their lips at when we got promotion! However, unlike Lords for most of England's opponents our visit to the aristocratic home of Scottish cricket did not provide us much inspiration.

We win the toss and somewhat surprisingly choose to bat. Dazza swishes and mishes early doors for 3 but Lacey (19) takes a liking to the bowling and crashes a succession of cuts and drives to boundaries before falling to a sucker-blow by skying a full toss. A shame as it was shaping to be a quality innings. Surely Jaya though will make hay here on this beautiful pitch and fast outfield? Sadly not as his bails go tumbling after a most ugly heave-ho. Knighty has dug in for the first 10 overs escaping a succession of leg-befores as a familiar tale of woe is developing at the other end. And when Liberty is bowled for 5, Richy for 10 after spanking two fine boundaries, and Dino de Rogers castled for a duck then we are feeling exceedingly grungey at 39-5.

Adam briefy revives us with 13 before chipping a simple catch back to ex-DAFS youth legspin prodigy Keith Meakin and after a breezy 12 from skippering JNB there is a horrible sense of deja vue at 74-8 with 30 overs still left. But Scott Miller (25) and Paul Eveleigh (20 not) give a lesson to those departed in the art of patient batting as a stand of 36 takes us up to 110 before Norman Allan is Adrian Scott's sixth victim (6-36) and we are all out for 119. Probably only half-par here and too much hasty 20/20 style batting to blame. Certainly Grange as they trudged off for tea couldn't quite understand what the haste was. The quip was we (me) only had one roll of film! (Photos of the match incidentally available at Photo Galleries).

Grange's body language and general chirpiness was such that they felt it was in the bag for 11 out of 11 victories. Confidence breeds confidence (this is what we were like more or less over the last 2-3 seasons remember??). And so they set off steadily, batsman circumspect particularly against the accurate Big Paul, but punishing anything full on the pads with severity, particularly Pollock (30) who was first to fall with the total on 39, bowled by Paul. McLean has dug in at the other end as Purser hits a quick 22 before being LBW to JNB. On 33 McLean's wicket is claimed CnB by Norman Allan (pick of the Mufs bowlers with a tidy 5-1-10-1) but Churcher (21 no) and Williams (8 no) see Grange home by 7 wickets. Beers in the glorious early evening sunshine for Mufs and a 4 point return is better than it could have been at one stage. Next week its the start of the business end of the season and victories against Fauldhouse, Livvy and Boroughmuir at least must be our aim to give us a chance of survival if it is 2 down.

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Batting

MDCC Bowling - Grange - 114 for 3 - 32 overs. 6 Extras

Rained off

Saturday 30 July 2005. MDCC v Fauldhouse at Muirhouse

A game we really needed to play and win but rained off. So were thankfully Livy v Boro.

Brave Mufs fall against Edinburgh

Saturday 6 August 2005. MDCC v Edinburgh at Leith Academy

Mufs Ones took on the challenge of Edinburgh CC at Leith Academy. ECC batted first and posted 281-6 with pro Nazir top scorer with a quickfire 90 and old friend from Maccabi midweeks, Raja Javed, with 46. Some spilled chances and indifferent ground fielding in the second half of the game did not help the Mufs cause as we came under intense pressure after early good work had restricted the ECC openers. Bravely battling away with the ball, Rich and Adam claimed 2 wickets and Mel and Alec one apiece; JNB and Phil the other bowlers used. In reply, Mufs had a real go at it with positive batting forcing ECC on the defensive. Andy Lacey played excellently for his 61 and Jaya hit form with 50 including the biggest of sixes you are likely to see which sailed back into the school grounds. But once they went we fell behind the rate as Nazir and Raja took 4 and 3 wickets respectively and we finally fell for 190. A good effort against basically a superior outfit and 8 valuable points gained.

Scoreboard extracts:

MDCC Bowling - Edinburgh - 281 for 6 - 50 overs. 23 Extras

MDCC Batting

Mufs Livy Lifeline

Brief highlights as I weren't there to witness it - (so could someone write a report please!)....Mufs seemed set for a vital 20 points and to leapfrog Livy when, with Alec taking 3-10 and Mel 3-20, Livingston were blasted out for only 79. Adam and Paul taking the other 2 wickets. However, it started to go horribly wrong as wickets tumbled leaving us at 18-8 and then 31-9. Our hopes hang by a thread, but patiently Mel Clench and Paul Eveleigh in his swan-song appearance started to chip away at the 49 needed to victory. The improbable turned to blessed reality as the victory was brought up with 4 byes. Mel with 20 and Paul 25. Fantastic stuff chaps.

Bicycle Towns Rides to Mufs Rescue

A cracker of a team performance versus Cramond. And what a timely performance by Lindsay Towns as the Bicycling Man rode to our rescue with a marvellous knock of 43 not out.

Mufs attack was spearheaded by Alec (3-16) and Mel (4-45) as Cramond are restricted to 148-7 off their 50 overs with Bailey (40) and Scully (48) mainstays of the Cramond batting. Mufs started well with Westy (30) and Tom (21) getting us off to a solid start, Sutha with an agressive 19 but, with a couple of wobbles later, victory still some way off at 102-7. However, Lindsay Towns hit one of his best recent knocks with his 43 not out ably supported by Alec Liddell (11 not) in an unbeaten stand of 47 to take us to victory off 48.1 overs. Absolutely marvellous.

Second XI Match Reports

The Cross hold off Mufs

MDCC2 V Holy Cross 2 - Saturday 30 April - Arboretum

Match report to follow, Mufs slump to 80 all out but nearly claw it back by taking 8 HC wickets before succumbing to defeat.

Chips are down for Mufs at McKane Park

MDCC2 V Dunfermline 2 - Saturday 7 May - McKane Park.

After a week of injuries and general lack of players available, 4 of Mufs top order batsmen were promoted to the 1s along with Melvin "Legolas" Clench and with Tony "Nightbus" Simpson out with a dodgy shoulder, the side to face Dunfermline was depleted at best. Also going to the 1s was super skip "The Wheeler Dealer".

Into the breach steps yours truly and on a bright but windy day we set forth to seek and destroy. The battle begins with Martin "The Vest" Wards’ directions "Go to Dunfermline, when you get to the viaduct turn left past the best fish and chip shop in Fife and it’s down there somewhere". Anyhow we reach the bridge crawl across and somehow Wardy’s directions make complete sense and we arrive at the ground without too much hassle.

Time for a pitch inspection. It’s nice and dry (been covered most of the week) but a bit on the green side, and the outfield would have benefited from a trim. So to the toss, I call heads and result! I’ve won something today. After careful consideration I ask them to have a go first.

Norm A opens up from the pavilion end and since Edwin is still stuck on the bridge I turn to my other senior pro Tom "Boris" Hothersall. Harrowes takes a fancy to both of them and starts hitting from the off, 50 odd for 0 after 7ish overs. Visions of Holy Cross last year flash before the eyes, God this could be 400. Edwin arrives in time to take a skyer at cover off Norm to get shot of Harrowes for 47. May get away with 350 now. Now we start to get some control with Norm bowling a nice tight line and Boris finding his radar, still went for 55 of 8 though. Edwin comes on and is understandably rusty. Walker takes a shine to him and promptly puts him over a wall, a road and into someone’s garden. Finally goes for 48 off 9. Drinks are taken and first ball back Norm bowls a rare long hop outside off which is slashed to Paul Leonard at gully who takes a very hot catch at head height. Norm finishes a great spell with 3 for 27 off 15. Sutha replaces him and bowls a tight line to close the innings with only 24 coming off his 10. Wardy finishes off the other end with 40 off 8. Pavilion end goes for 51 off the 50 overs and 150 odd from the other end, more bowling required methinks. Dunfermline finish up with 205 for 3 with Walker carrying his bat for a well made 106. Well done for keeping it respectable chaps. And top banter from the "super-shorts brothers" (Boris & Vest)

So, to the chase. 4 an over is reachable. I walk out with Nick Hill to get us going and turning for a second run stumble and come down on left thumb, oh dear pain (not much movement in it this morning while writing this, update to follow). Then promptly hole out at mid on in the 5th over for 2 followed in the next over by Boris first ball and Sasid 5th ball (0). Sasid was asked what happened and replied "I don’t know what it did that’s why I got out" A small comedy moment in the dire straights of 3 for 3. Nick steadied the ship with Kris Parker before Kris was run out for 6 by Walker, who got all the runs, 1 for 12 off 9 then promptly left to go off to a party . Nick fell shortly afterward for 14. Sutha and Scott Taylor forged a partnership to reach our first target 38 (just to get more than the 1s) then pushed us up to the second target of 3 figures. Sutha fell for 29 followed by Wardy lbw for 2. Paul hung around with Scott to push us closer then fell for 4. Edwin pushed us tantalizingly close with 6. Then a nice little cameo of 9 not out from Norm got us over the ton. Scott certainly merited his place with a well made 33 before becoming "Inzi" Saleem’s 5th victim to finish the innings at 112. Inzi’s final figures 10.3-6-5-12

A dark day for the club. But bright points to savour for the future being Sutha with both bat and ball and Scotty with the bat and in the field. Thanks for all the support in my first foray into Mufs captaincy, let’s take the positives and build on them for a better result next time.

Andy "ex-Daybus" Gray

Super Scott and Sasi Inspire Victory!

MDCC2 V Stenhousemuir 2 - Saturday 14 May - Muirhouse.

Full report to follow I hope.... Twos victory over Stenny was set up with Mufs posting 200-7 at Muirhouse. Scott Taylor continuing his fine run of early season form top scoring with 42, ably supported by Sasid with 37, the returning Matt Boyd with 22, stand-in skip Andy with 16, Edwin 14 and Sutha 11. Enter Tony, in his penultimate game for us before emigrating, who claimed 3-42 bowling right through his 15 in tandem with Norman Allan (1-51). Further damage done to Stenny by Adam Scott and Sutharkar who both claimed a double with the other wicket taker Edwin and a morale-boosting victory secured by 24 runs.

and here it is... the report...

A suntan lotion day at Muirhouse, and a dry, dare I say hard wicket in mid May heralded the visit of Stenny. Is this a sign of things to come for the season? Probably not but we can hope.

The day got of to a poor start with losing the toss, maybe I should have been less of a cheapskate and used more than a 2p piece, speculate to accumulate and all that. Stenny decided to put us in.

We got off to a slow but steady start with myself and Nick Hill putting on 29 in the first 10, a nice firm foundation. With both openers falling within a couple of overs we had a minor wobble but Sasid and Sutha steadied the ship. Sutha fell with the score on 59 after 20, followed shortly afterward by Kris Parker for 7. Sasid and Scott Taylor took us up to the 100 before Sasid was bowled for 37 a fine innings despite taking a nasty top edge in the face and breaking his glasses. Adam Scott made a nice cameo of 10 then enter the big fella Matty Boyd. Scotty made a nice 42 but perished trying to up the rate and Matt along with Edwin steered us to the magic 200 with 22 and 14 not respectively. 65 off the last 10 well batted chaps just goes to show what a steady start can do especially if we can keep a few wickets up our sleeves.

A very pleasant afternoon in the sun, with Mrs Edwin bringing the strawberries, grapes and Pringles. Appetizers for another fine Muirhouse tea.

So to the task of bowling Stenny out. Even with them only having 10 men we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Simpson and Allan in tandem again first up. The usual 15 overs straight through for each of them left Stenny on 100 odd for 4 with Norm taking 1 for 51 and Tony 3 for 42 - little did we know this would be The Count's swansong for the club as Grange was rained off the next week. A hearty good luck and many thanks to a fine stalwart of the club, he will be missed by the Mufs and Mad Dogs alike. Sutha took over from the gasworks end and bowled a creditable 2 for 27 off 8. Edwin took over at the Caravan Park end and bowled an interesting 2 overs of no balls over the batsmens head and wides - nearly taking his own toe off with one misplaced delivery. He did pick up a neat C&B but in his own words “My brain just went empty and I forgot how to bowl” - and so the spell was limited to 2 overs, 1 for 22. Moses showed some fine resistance making 75 before Adam Scott, who bowled neatly with 2 for 27 off 6, dismissed him. Matty took a one handed gem at fly slip diving backwards and twisting in the air off Sutha to seal the first win of the season by 24 runs.

A fine effort by all. Well done chaps.

Andy Gray

Rained off

MDCC2 V Grange 4 - Saturday 21 May - Newfield.

Rained off even despite the Newfield covers!

Rained off

MDCC2 V Preston Village People - Saturday 28 May - Muirhouse.

Rained off again!

Carnage at Carnegie

MDCC2 V Dunfermline Carnegie- Saturday 4 June - Pitreavie Park, Dunfermline.

Despite rain virtually everywhere else the Twos managed to complete a game v Dunny Carnie by virtue of being skittled out quick enough for 70 and getting beat before the heavens opened. D'oh.... report from Andy G...

It’s been raining all week and all morning and yours truly is lounging on the sofa waiting for Carnegie to call off and to my surprise Tom rings to say we are still on. Marveling at the difference in climate across the river we make our way to Pitreavie.

The track looks reasonably dry for the amount of rain it has taken so upon winning the toss I decide to have a bat. Judging by the impending showers and the general lack of batting form thought we could get in some good middle time before the heavens open.

This wasn’t to be as Ross and Walker bowled a very tidy line Ross ending up with 5 for 20 off his 15 overs. The main talking point of the day being Ali timed out. He couldn’t find his gloves and being left handed had to try and find our other lefty Nicks pair, all this dithering around took far to long and strike 3 he’s out. We finally limped to 70 all out top scorers Sutha 16 Scott Taylor 15 and extras 17. Less said about that one the better.

Tea was just as disappointing as our innings and was even less substantial if that’s possible.

Carnegie set about our total with gusto. Norm A bowled his usual tidy line finishing with 1 for 17 off 13 and Ali picked up 2 for 32 before Adam Scott took a wicket with his first ball. Carnegie 4 down and a pinprick of light at the end of the tunnel but it was not to be as Carnegie hit the winners as the rain started lashing down.

A poor performance, best to put it behind us and move on.

Andy Gray

Mufs Overcome their University Challenge

MDCC2 V Edinburgh University Staff - Saturday 11 June - Muirhouse.

Report from acting 2s skip, X-Daybus....

The day dawns bright and sunny for the Uni Staff's visit to Muirhouse. A real must win bottom of the table clash, and, dare I say it a winnable clash too.

The Academics win the toss (deep mathematical equations on the exact rotations and weight of the coin may have helped) and decide to bat. We make a bright start in the field Ali bowling well with 1 for 32 off 12 Sutha with a tight first spell and myself with 1 for 26 of 7. Then it went pear shaped with some dreadful ground fielding and dropped catches. Matty Boyd being the particularly unlucky bowler with 3 spills to slip in the space of a couple of overs. He held it all together to finish with a creditable 1 for 19 off 8. Other figures Sutha 2 for 46 off 11, Wardy 0 for 35 off 6 and Boris Hothersall 1 for 47 off 8 at the death. Bailey was the most fortunate of the Academics batsmen finishing with 49 despite being dropped by my count 5 times with Davis 46 and Mount 51 taking us to the sword late on. Final tally to the visitors 216 for 6.

Another splendid Muirhouse tea, it’s so nice to be home (more cherry cake please guys)

217 for the win, a tough ask but here we go! Chris “Hairy Monster” Watling and Matty “Big Fella” Boyd open the batting and get us off to a flying start against a very average bowling attack before The Monster perished for 22 with the score 54 off 8. Ali joins Matty and they both push the score on nicely, 103 after 20 should we start counting our chickens now? Maybe not as Matty falls for a fine 49 and Ali goes an over later for 30. Sasid enters and departs for 4 and I start to feel a wobble coming on. Sutha joins me at the crease and we take stock and start to rebuild pushing on to 212 before Sutha can’t control himself any more, and, despite me telling him to think of his average gets bowled for 48. Wardy comes in to spectate at the other end while Gaywood bowls at his own feet. He gets one halfway up the track, I swat for four, wide next ball and it’s in the bag. 36 no for me and 217 chased down with 6 and a bit overs left.

Well done on the chase chaps but didn’t we make some work for ourselves. Catches win Matches as the old adage goes, we made the exception to the rule today but against a better bowling attack we would have struggled. Still, 20 points in the bag more than makes up for that. Westquarter next week so let’s be up for that match.

Andy “Over the Moon” Gray

Jolly Gray's Giants Storm Westquarter

MDCC2 V Westquarter - Saturday 18 June - Westquarter.

Report by Daybus of a triumph against the genteel country folk of Westquarter.....

The eagerly awaited away clash with our mates at Westquarter is upon us and the day dawns bright and sunny. Upon arriving at the ground we find a bone dry track that has been covered all week but a decidedly soggy outfield.

Upon winning the toss I put our new found batting prowess to the test, much to the surprise of their skipper. (They had skittled sides out in their last 2 or 3 games for under 60 odd).

We started briskly with Matty & Ali at the top of the order. Ali hitting a scorching 6 that just didn’t want to come down and when finally returning to earth nearly brained the tea lady, not a good move this early in the day as I missed breakfast. Matty went for 28 and Ali followed soon after for 30. A 50 partnership at the top laid a good foundation however, Baqi bowled a fine middle session taking 5 for 36 from his 15. Sutha chipped in with 12 Myself and Sasid made 19 apiece before I was run out and we ended up 138 all out in 47 overs. Cue the skipper still fuming at his run out telling all who would listen we needed a rocket up our behinds and hadn’t got enough after the good start we got.

Tea was a pleasure with the tea lady’s close call not fazing her and putting on a splendid spread.

We came out after tea all guns blazing Ali from the bottom end Matty from the top. Ali gets a wicket maiden in his 2nd over but Matty is unlucky again 0 for 19 of 7 (somebody please catch one off him poor lad is on the verge of a breakdown) Westquarter get going and 40 odd for 1 off 10 looks ominous the Suttons R with 19 & S with 22. I decide to go aggressive: 2 slips, gully, short extra and short leg. It pays off. 4 wickets in 4 overs has them reeling and Ali & Sutha finish the rest off with only Small at 9 giving any resistance with 14 no. Ali grabbing 5 for 42 off 15 and Sutha 5 for 17 off 8. All out for 92.

A tremendous victory and a plateful of my own words to dine on. Good work chaps my words taste even sweeter with a liberal helping of Westquarter Sauce.

Andy “over the moon again” Gray

Mufs shift the FLAB

MDCC2 V Franklin Leith Academy Beige - Saturday 25 June - Muirhouse.

Report by Andy of another fine victory with FLAB cut down to size at Muirhouse....

Back to Muirhouse from our travels and Leith are up next. Another hot day but the wicket is a tad on the spongy side early on.

I win the toss again (professional tosser that’s me) and have a bowl. Norm A from the caravan end and Matty from the gas works end. A wicket maiden for Norm first up, caught Wardy at short leg gets us rolling. First ball from Matty gets put down at slip by our new recruit Simon, poor lad is definitely going to break down if someone can’t cling on to one. First run off the bat from Norm comes in his 6th over, miserly as ever. Nadeem comes on for Matty, first ball Simon takes a flying catch in that slip position to dismiss Tariq for a well made 43 and Matty falls to his knees in despair. 80 for 8 and we think we’re through them but Skeggs & Watt with 16 and 20 push it up to 125 all out.

Tea at Muirhouse enough said.

The chase begins at a good pace again Matty & Ali going along at 4 and a bit an over. Ali goes for 13 and I come in to scratch around for 7 supporting Matty (that’s my excuse) Nadeem gets 15 taking the score to 110 for 3 Matty then goes for one pull shot too many and is lbw for a fine 68 to Tariq, the pick of the Leith bowling with 2 for 29 off 11. Sasid and Simon see us over the line with 5 and 0 no respectively.

Strike 3 another win and finally dragging ourselves to mid-table. Well done guys, Holy War next week so let’s take some points off of them.

Andy “Moonwalking” Gray

Third XI Match Reports

Threes Opening Loss

MDCC3 v Peebles County - Sat 30 April

And so the 2005 league season kicked off with an ‘away’ game played Gyle Park – picturesque Whitestone Park in Peebles being unavailable due to flooding. The artificial strip and long grass outfield was made even more interesting by the presence of two sets of football goalposts well within the boundary – not as pretty as the former lime tree at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury but the same for both sides nevertheless.

County won the toss and decided to insert MUFS (ooh Matron!!) – could we build on the promising opening stand of last week against the Cross ? The answer was yes as the Don Meister and his deputy put on a solid 50 in the first 17 overs, the best opening stand for a while. Scotty was the first to go (for 26) chasing one from Mr Anderson to be caught behind. The Don soon followed, bowled for 16 by Mr Nevin.

Ali and Martin Ward enjoyed themselves in a stand of 43 in the next 11 overs, before the nation’s favourite illusionist and wearer of the vest (?!?) was slow to back up and run out for a useful 23. With the score at 95-3 from 30 overs the innings needed some acceleration at this stage.

Ali drove Mr Watson for a straight 6 in a partnership with Badu of 15 put together in 15 minutes and 5 overs. This was more like it boys. One big sliced hit too many and Ali is caught and bowled by Nevin for 29. Badu and VJ scampered along for another 19 in the next 2 overs, in the way that only they can scamper, before Badu fell to a good catch in the deep from the bowling of Mr Watson. 23 runs from 24 balls faced, just what the doctor ordered.

VJ run out for 5, Andy Cook scrambling 10 runs in very quick time and with Mr Leonard contributing a breathtakingly spectacular 0*, 54 runs had been scored from the last 10 overs. 149-6 was certainly a defendable target.

A tea rating of 8/10 this week from your (Egon Ronay)correspondent.

The first wicket of the County reply fell with the score at 7, Mr Johnson bowled comprehensively by Ali for 1. Mike Nevin and Mr Pace (Snr) then proceeded to put together what was ultimately to turn out as the match winning partnership. 65 runs in the next 19 overs of which Mr Pace contributed only 12.

It was an inspired bowling change by the Don Meister that broke the partnership as Badu held onto a sharp chance form the bowling of deputy Scotty. But danger man Nevin was still at the crease and looked solid. The Deputy soon took another wicket as young Mr Johnson was bowled for 1. It wasn’t until the 31st over that the Don Meister enticed Mr Nevin to play one too many to square leg where Cookie pounced. 105-4 with 9 overs left, it was still anybody’s game.

The score had moved on to 134-6 with only 3 overs left and finger nails were disappearing quicker than the light at a gloomy Gyle. VJ bagged the vital wicket of Mr Ramsay who had stuck around for over an hour to score 14. Mr Anderson bowled by The Vest. 143-7 and 2 overs to go. Spectators couldn’t bare to look – not that they would see much in the stygian light anyway. 148-7 from 39, the last over entrusted to VJ. The first ball is driven beyond the ring of close fielders and victory belongs to the County by 3 wickets. Well done lads and especially the young ones (cue a favourite Cliff Richard song…no? OK) who battled hard and fielded like demons.

The total of 150 did include 37 extras (29 wides included) which tells the difference between the 2 evenly matched sides. A good competitive game, though, played in (mostly) an excellent spirit throughout, that could have gone either way. Next up for the MUFS is a visit from our Musselburgh chums, our 2005 debut at the RCG.

An alternative view of this game can be found on the County website.

Match Summary :-

M-DAFS 149-6 (40 overs) – A Amjid 29, S Taylor 26, M Ward 23, Badu 23

Peebles County 150-7 (39.1 overs) – M Nevin 57, S Taylor 2-11, D Wilkie 2-18, V Kumar 1-11

Man of the Match : Scott Taylor

Andy Piggott

Mamoun Stars in Narrow Loss

MDCC3 v Musselburgh 2 - Sat 7 May - Roseburn

A battling rearguard action by MUFS 3s was not quite enough to match the visitors’ total of 106 at a bright but chilly Roseburn on Saturday 7 May.

Batting first, Musselburgh’s opening pair put on a steady start reaching nearly 30 before first blood was taken by Mamoun Shafi, the first of an outstanding haul of six wickets in the match. Henry Collin then bowled Musselburgh’s dangerous looking No. 3 bat. The visitors dug in and their middle order compiled the majority of their respectable total, aided by MUFS inability to hold onto a series of catches close to the wicket and in the deep. Undeterred, MUFS man of the match Mamoun fired in and, with an accurate 2 wicket contribution from Ali Amjid, took the wickets of a further five batsmen in his two spells to reach superb figures of 6 – 20 from his twelve overs. The penultimate wicket fell to one of Don’s crafty deliveries and a great take behind the stumps by Frank Boyd to Ali’s sharp bowling completed the Musselburgh innings in 36 overs.

Cue panic in the MUFS batting ranks with Don falling lbw to Musselburgh’s useful legspinner Craighead on the first ball of the innings, and Badu following (caught) two balls later. Vijay and Ali then began a rallying response, unfortunately nipped in the bud by Ali’s close run out (for 6) to a superb direct hit on the stumps thrown in from the fielder at long on. Vijay (14) and Ed Long (13) then shared an excellent stand before Vijay was bowled bringing Mamoun to the crease. Ed and Mamoun continued the steady batting before Ed was unluckily dismissed by a well taken catch to a skier in the deep. The next four MUFS batsmen were dismissed all too cheaply and a 30-odd run defeat seemed inevitable before a spirited and defiant partnership between Frank (11 not out) and Mamoun (25) brought the prospect of victory tantalisingly close as a third batting point was gained. Sadly, with 5 overs remaining an over-optimistic run was attempted and, quick as Mamoun is between the wickets, Linford Christie wouldn’t have made his ground! MUFS all out for 91, with the visitors’ Ed Craighead finishing with 5 wickets for 20 off his 12 over spell.

It was disappointing to lose under such circumstances and some fielding (and calling) practice is obviously needed. However the game was played in an excellent spirit, was closely contested through some good bowling and gutsy batting, and was illuminated by Mamoun’s outstanding all round performance.

Henry Collin, 9 May 2005

Ali Blasts Mufs to Victory

3rd XI v Penicuik 3rd XI - Saturday 14th May 2005

Blue skies and warm sunshine. It must be the Meadows in May. For the second time in 3 weeks, we were playing an away game against non Edinburgh opposition in Edinburgh. This time it was Penicuik’s turn to travel as their 2nd XI were playing Drummond in Division 3 at their own Kirkhill ground.

Having persuaded the sunbathers, frisbee throwers and footballers to vacate the area known as ‘Meadows 3’ the Don Meister won the toss and decided to bat on a wicket that could best be described as ‘interesting’. 5-1 after two overs. 37 in the next 10 overs with Andy Cook playing cautiously for 5 of them. Ali Amjid in top form clubbing plenty of boundaries and taking the attack to the young Penicuik bowlers. The score had progressed to 62-3 at the halfway point of the innings, with Ali still dominating the scoring. 89-5 after 30 and we were looking to accelerate now. Ali is 6th out (for 46) with the score at 106 in the 34th over.

A final total of 125-8 from our 40 overs gave us something to bowl at and would certainly be a challenge for the opposition, with the pitch not improving all that much - even with the sun on its back. For once the lower middle order of MUFS weighed in with some useful runs although probably difficult for the majority to concentrate both out in the middle and (especially) on the sidelines as we gazed upon some wonderful Meadows scenic views!!

A rather sorry state of affairs for tea, with not much left for the visitors, only saved perhaps by your correspondent getting a couple of Jaffa cakes - A score of 2.5.

It was still pleasantly warm as MUFS took the field, and it got considerably hotter for the Penicuik boys as Rob Fotheringham pouched a stunning slip catch from Henry C’s first ball. And how they celebrated! Henry proceeded to take wickets in each of his next 2 overs and ripped through the top of the order. 34-4 after 11 overs. Ali joined the party and it was 46-6 after 14. A well constructed stand of 38 in the next 10 overs steadied things for the ‘home’ team with veteran Gavin Bleazard more than ably supported by young Mr Barnes, who followed up his fine bowling performance (1-18 from 8 overs) with an impressive display of batting technique.

It was an inspired bowling change that eventually broke the partnership, Chris Brown getting one to nip back and bowl Bleazard who had occupied the crease for a mammoth 98 minutes and 86 deliveries for his 20 runs. 89-7 after 25 soon became 96-8 after 26 and the fat lady was beginning her warm up routine. The dangerous Barnes was now joined by fellow young ‘un Cameron Crawford who decided straight away that attack was the best policy, scoring an entertaining 15 from only 18 deliveries faced including 3 boundaries.

Could the youngsters pull it out of the fire after all? Alas no as Crawford is the last man out with the score at 113. Victory for MUFS by 12 runs in another great game played in excellent spirit throughout, which could have gone either way. And all taking place on one of the best days of the summer to date. Who could ask for more ?

Match Summary :-

M-DAFS 125-8 (40 overs) - A Amjid 46, G Liddle 3-36, G Davidson 2-22

Penicuik 113 all out (30.5 overs) - G Bleazard 20, B Barnes 20, C Crawford 15, A Amjid 4-29, H Collin 3-28, P Leonard 2-12

Man of the Match : Ali Amjid

Edinburgh Cruise to Victory

3rd XI v Edinburgh 3rd XI - Saturday 21st May 2005

After last week’s top temperatures at the Meadows it was back to the Scottish summer we all know and love so much at a chilly and damp RCG. Grey clouds were gathering in the south west as the Don Meister lost the toss and was asked to make first use of the plastic. At the end of the third over, things were looking even darker (for MUFS) as the scoreboard showed 3-2, the Don and Ali both back in the hutch having failed to add to their run totals for the season. A polite exchange of pleasantries between Ali and anyone who wanted to listen before Scotty and ‘the Vest’ put together a useful 36 in the next 10 overs.

39-3 soon became 40-4 after two quick wickets and the score had progressed to 52-5 from 20 when the rain, which had been threatening since the start, finally persuaded everyone that maybe the pavilion was a better place to be after all.

A lengthy delay, which included tea (no meat sandwiches but nice sponge cake, 7 this week) and then more rain. Edinburgh very keen to start given the match situation, but it was just too wet. Eventually the rain stops and after 1 ½ hours play resumed. Mr Leonard and Mr Shafi add 41 in the next 10 overs and look fairly comfortable. 94-6 after 31 and anything over 120 would probably be a good total in these conditions. Unfortunately the boys failed to read the script and the innings disintegrated to 98 all out from 34.5 overs, the last 5 wickets going down for only 5 runs.

Top marks to the Edinburgh bowlers and fielders (especially the youngsters) who all performed well in difficult circumstances, but we should have scored more runs. Practice required gentlemen !!

A quick turnaround and Edinburgh were soon on their way and despite losing a wicket in the 2nd over, raced to 41 in the first 10 overs. The Vest grabbed a wicket in his 2nd over and Mamoun removed dangerous opener Ahmed but it was all too little too late as Edinburgh reached their target after only 19.4 overs. It was a blend of youth and experience which brought the visitors home, the winning run scored by Mr Khan who had been more than ably supported by young Zubair-Ul-Haq, surely one to watch for the future. Ironically the sun was now shining !!

Once again a surfeit of extras (especially wides) did not help our cause and if we are to give ourselves a chance of victory we need to learn to bowl with a great deal more control.

Match Summary :-

M-DAFS 98 all out (34.5 overs) - S Taylor 25, M Shafi 21, S Iftikhar 5-19

Edinburgh 99-3 (19.4 overs) - I Ahmed 33, M Shafi 2-37

Man of the Match : Mamoun Shafi

Our 'Enry Floors Morton

3rd XI v Morton 2nd XI - Saturday 28th May 2005

Another fine report from Mr Piggott.....

Stay in the warm and watch the cup final, or venture out to a cold, damp, overcast and blowy Meadows. A real no brainer for your fearless correspondent. No sunbathers, no footballers and no Frisbees this week as the great Scottish summer continued on its merry way. The return of some familiar faces to Don’s Army, including Graeme Tait, Iain Martin and resident kiwi Chris Gray who was probably quite used to the windy weather today, being a native of the Windy City of Wellington itself.

Morton won the toss and rather surprisingly decide to bat first. An eventful first over from Ali bowling into the wind from the old ‘infirmary end’ sees 4 wides and 2 wickets for MUFS. A great start to the game. Graham Turton and Mat Lancashire steady things for Morton, taking the score along to 22 from 7 overs. MUFS keep it tight in the field and Henry C especially is bowling well from the bottom end. The Don Meister rotates the bowling well and soon Mr Martin and Mr Gray are in action, taking full advantage of the conditions and grabbing a wicket each. 31-5 after 14 and thoughts turn to watching the 2nd half of the game from Hampden back in the pub.

But Graham Turton is the rock of the Morton innings and having batted for 1 ½ hours goes for a second run that just isn’t there and is run out by a smart piece of fielding from Chris Gray (assisted by Big Frank behind the timbers). 63-7 after 25 and once again the sounds of the fat lady can be heard drifting across the Meadows. Morton lose their last 3 wickets for only 5 runs (sounds familiar!), Henry returning with 3-3 in his second spell, 68 all out in 29.1 overs, rather less one suspects than the Morton boys would have been hoping for. Conditions not ideal, however, and MUFS still to bat.

A tasty tea with plenty of Jaffa cakes and a more than welcome brew courtesy of Mr Martin (thanks mate!) push the rating to 8. Well done boys.

The Don Meister shocked everyone by deciding not to open the batting, instead opting for Ali and Paul Leonard. Mat Lancashire and skipper Alan Farrell kept it tight for Morton, but our intrepid heroes battled it out and took the score to 26 before Paul edged one to the grateful (and probably very cold) hands of Mr Turton at slip. There was a moment of controversy when Ali appeared to be caught behind the wicket but was given not out, our ‘professional’ umpire judging it to be a bump ball.

It didn’t make much of a difference however as Ali once again swung the bat only to be caught in the deep by Richard Solomon, 35-2 in the 18th over and job half completed. Andy Cook (or is it Michael Vaughan – one for the Muf a likes there I think) looked comfortable and was joined by Chris Gray who wasn’t for hanging around and hit Ally Black for 2 huge sixes over the square leg boundary. Very impressive and reminiscent of another kiwi Chris (Cairns) at his best. 16 runs from only 13 balls faced but run out with the score at 62. Mr Tait joined Mr Cook for the denouement. Graeme takes a single and the scores are level. Andy C hits the winning run and it’s another 20 points in the bag as we move up the table to 3rd place. The fat lady is hitting those top Cs now as the Don Meister savours the moment.

A good all round performance from the team, and another game played in excellent spirit – just the way it should be. Thanks to Mr Baikie for lending his support as well. The day is rounded off with a big plate of sandwiches at K Jackson’s bar in the West Port, thanks Morton boys for the post match hospitality. And who cares who won the cup final at Hampden anyway?!?

Match Summary :-

Morton 68 all out (29.1 overs) G Turton 31, H Collin 4-14, A Amjid 2-13, I Martin 1-6, C Gray 1-6, D Wilkie 1-14

MUFS 69-3 (25.3 overs) – A Amjid 17, C Gray 16, A Cook 17*

Man of the Match : Henry Collin

Walkover as Mitre Scratch

No game as Mitre scratch.

Livy Loss

Match report to follow.

Mufs Gallop to Win at Musselburgh

Match report to follow.

Mufs Defeated by Penicuik

Match report to follow.

Mufs Defeated by Edinburgh

Match report to follow.

Nip and Tuck v Morton

3rd XI v Morton 2nd XI - Saturday 16th July 2005

Andy P reports on a nailbiting victory....

It was a welcome return to the RCG on Saturday for Don’s Destroyers after two months on the road – the last game here being the dismal defeat against Edinburgh way back on 21st May. However, a much improved performance against the same team last week at Campbell Park and the knowledge that we had enjoyed a comfortable victory over Morton in the 1st game instilled some much needed confidence and self-belief.

The sun was shining as the Don Meister lost the toss and was asked to bowl first - exactly the same scenario as in the Meadows game. An ‘administrative error’ had resulted in 12 bodies all changed and raring to go. Who would draw the short straw and end up on the sidelines ? After much discussion and argument, Ricky ‘the hoover’ Martin volunteered to stand down and we were off and running. Ricky soon found a nice young lady sitting next to him on the park bench - Andy Cook’s sister had come along to watch the action !!

Graham Turton and Keiron Lambert opened up for Morton, Ali and Mamoun for MUFS. The first wicket fell in the 7th over, Carl Trahms holding on to a difficult low catch in the covers to dismiss Mr Turton. 12-1 soon became 18-2 in the 14th over as Mr Lambert was unlucky to see the ball trickle onto his stumps and dislodge the bails. But it’s in the book nevertheless.

Carl Trahms in particular is bowling well at this stage from the ‘Stadium End’ and gets his reward as Aussie Andy MacPherson holes out to the Don at mid-off for a duck. The ball was in the air for so long that several MUFS had time to phone Ladbrokes and be quoted 100-1 on for the ball!! A good catch however to dismiss a potentially dangerous batsman, whose first drive had almost taken the Don Meister’s hand away it had been hit so hard. So sweet revenge indeed for the skipper. 19-3 after 15 overs and we were definitely in the game here.

Halfway point of 20 overs and Morton have taken the score to 32-4. Skipper Alan Farrell and Matt Lancashire steady the ship and add 14 before an inspired bowling change sees BJ introduced at the ‘Stadium End’ and immediately trap Mr Lancashire in front of the stumps LBW. Celebrations aplenty for BJ.

The bowlers are backed up well in the field and it’s no surprise when the next wicket falls as a result of sharp work from Mamoun who runs out Dave Belton. 58-6 after 32 soon becomes 61-7 as the dangerous Mr Farrell is finally bowled by Mamoun. Richard Soloman and Ally Black put together a useful partnership of 25 in the next 5 overs which includes only 1 boundary. 86-7 after 38 becomes 86 all out after 39.2 as BJ returns to mop up the tail, finishing with figures of 3-5 from only 6 overs. Appropriately enough it’s the Don Meister who takes the catch to end the innings from the bowling of Carl T who finishes with 2-7 from 6.2 overs. Well done everyone for hard work in difficult (warm and windy) conditions, although this correspondent thinks that we let Morton off the hook slightly in the last 10 overs.

The usual excellent tea supplied by the Don’s lady friends (don’t’ even go there!) scores an impressive 8/10 this week - would have been more if there were those Jaffa cakes though !!

The sun was still shining as the Don (sponsored exclusively by Red Bull – it gives you wings!!) and Ali strode out to the middle to begin the run chase. Controversy in only the 3rd over as Ali appears to edge one behind from Dave Bull, umpire gives the decision in favour of the bowler and then changes his mind as bowler says that the ball didn’t actually hit anything on the way through. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Morton boys, who recall a similar incident in the Meadows game involving Ali. But the umpire stands firm. They are really fired up now and get their reward in the next over. It’s the Don’s turn for the long walk back as he (genuinely this time) edges one to Rab Ramsay behind the stumps for 1. Double celebrations for Morton as this was Rab’s first catch wearing the gloves !!

10-1 after 4 soon becomes 17-2 after 9 as Ali lobs a simple chance back to the bowler Bull who completes an easy catch. Not so unhappy now boys !! Andy ‘The Hunter’ Cook hits one straight out of the middle of the bat only to see a spectacular catch from that man Bull fielding at short mid-wicket. A foot either side and it was a boundary four. 17-3 in the 10th and its anybodys game.

Karl Jansen is batting well and is joined at the crease by young Colin who gets off the mark straight away from his first ball. Good stuff. Having added 10 and taken the score to 27, Colin is bowled by skipper Farrell. This brings together our very own K(C) force – that’s the way (uh-huh) I like it – and the pair take the score onto 50 in good time before Mr T goes for a hit too many and is bowled by Aussie MacPherson. A new record 5th wicket partnership (23!) for 2005. Still 37 runs to win it with half the team back in the hutch. It’s nip and tuck all the way.

Eddie Long joins Karl and they add 21 before Ed is run out but MUFS are in the driving seat now. 71-6 becomes 72-7 as Karl is finally out for 12, caught MacPherson bowled Lancashire. A great effort though in the context of the game, Karl batted for just under 1 ½ hours (56 deliveries) to anchor the innings when it was really needed. Well done sir !!

The pendulum swings back to Morton as the 8th wicket (Mamoun) falls with the score at 76. Your correspondent can hardly bare to watch as he prepares himself to go out and bat and maybe save the day for MUFS. When BJ is out for 2 with the score on 83, Morton boys know that 1 ball can now win it for them. But Rob ‘the gloves’ Fotheringham is made of sterner stuff and taking it 1 ball at a time and sprinting (!) a double to finish it (sorry Rob!) MUFS record the double over Morton for 2005. Woo Hoo !!!!!!

Well done to everyone involved from both sides, another great game and a real nail-biter (please add your own cliché here….) despite the earlier umpiring shenanigans. All’s Well that Ends Well and it is forgotten over a pint or two across the road - well one pint actually as The Don is distracted by his young female groupies - must be that Red Bull !!

Having leapfrogged Morton into 3rd place and with 4 out of our last 5 league games at the RCG our destiny is very much now in our own hands.

Match Summary :-

Morton 86 all out (39.2 overs) – A Farrell 20, A Black 10, B Johnson 3-5, C Trahms 2-7, K Jansen 2-14

MUFS 87-9 (32.2 overs) – C Trahms 15, K Jansen 12, A Farrell 3-25, M Lancashire 2-11, A MacPherson 2-17

Man of the Match : Karl Jansen & Carl Trahms (joint award)

Cup Match Reports

Mufs Crash Out of Masterton

Wed 11 May. Masterton Cup - MDCC v Marchmont at Muirhouse

Marchmont batted first and struggled against a fine Mufs attack bolstered by debutant Paul Eveleigh who took 3-19 from his six fine overs including one stump shattering delivery. Nasty, Alec and the Beast all bowled well, Alec particularly economically, as Marchmont were restricted to 81-6 from their 20 overs. Fielding was sharp, so at the half-way stage a more than even chance of victory.

And so to the chase. Collier and Mathers bowled a tight line and over the first 12 overs we progressed along at 3 an over. Fine, if the necessary acceleration happened. It did not. And the big over needed never came. The killer spell came from Steve Clayton who took 4-10 in the second half of the innings, including a wicket maiden. Mufs 70-6 in our 20, top scorer Andy Lacey with 19 including some fine cuts. Without Mr Extras we would have been even further short than the 12 we were from victory.

Things are looking a bit grim and we will need to be mentally tough to turn it around. Our batsman are short of confidence right now, shot selection poor in cases. It will get no easier with the challenges ahead - we simply have to tough this out and work together at it (and the building blocks of batting - too many basic errors - too many bowled again going across the line - play straight guys! - you should know by now how Muirhouse plays!) for the breaks and form to return.

All the very best to Marchmont in the next round.

Mufs Crash Out of SCU Trophy

Sun 12 June. MDCC v Fauldhouse at Fauldhouse

We lost. Enough said.

Midweek Mufs Master Meadows Morton

Tues 16 August. MDCC v Morton at Meadows

Not been much reporting of midweeks this year... so thanks to Westy for this report

In the final midweek friendly of the season, the Midweek MuFs beat their hosts by five wickets in an 18 overs a side match on the Meadows and not a ladyboy in sight –assuming we don’t count Paul Eveleigh who watched for a while before his companion rightly suggested they do something more interesting.

10 man MuFs inserted Morton on a green pitch and miserly Fred Robson struck early in a spell of 1 for 5 in 3 including the almost unheard of midweek maiden. Norm Baikie tried out his back and Sutha obliged with a catch courtesy of an assist from Lawrence’s keepers’ gloves.

Enter Barry Cooper – the 6ft and a lot offspinner. Despite being mortified at being wided six times in his two over spell he finished with 3 for 14 including an lbw to his surprise straight ball! The heart was ripped out of the Morton order at 35 for 5. Enter Adam Griggs for Morton and his fine unbeaten 25 took the home side to respectability and messed up Simon Flanagan and Dave Ellis’s figures a bit. In between that new boy (not lady boy) Colin McMillan bowled two tidy overs for 4. Belton thumped a few for Morton before being caught by Sasid off Sutha (without using his head to take the pace of the ball this time!).

Sasid then took 2 for 7 and Morton finished on 95 for 8.

The MuFs reply was rapid after a tame first over. After 4 overs Baiks and Sutha had taken the score to 25 with the Ones’ Vice looking in good form despite his sore back.

After Sutha perished Colin joined Norm and the home skipper’s first over cost 12 with three very wides, a blistering four, two dropped catches and assorted other entertainment. Norm retired having reached 25 very quickly and Sasid hit an useful 11 before being out to the first ball of the (much) younger Kinghorn (roughly a third of the height of Barry Cooper) at 54 with 9 overs still left. Kinghorn the younger finished the best of the Morton bowlers with 1 for 7. Colin ran himself out after looking comfortable and Lawrence found it difficult to get the youngster away mixing good shots and the odd bit of luck. Dave Ellis was bowled for 0 but Simon Flanagan joined the younger West with 31 needed off the last 5 overs. They maintained the needed rate until the 3rd last over when they blasted away taking 15 with the assistance of some wides and a no ball along with 11 off Lawrence’s bat (been watching his old man’s slog sweep it seems!). They then cruised home with four comfortable singles to win by 5 wickets with Simon finishing on 10 not out and Lawrence’s with his top score of the season on 23 not out.

Well done and thanks to all who played in an excellently entertaining game to cap off the season. Thanks too to our friends at Morton for the game and for the sandwiches and beer laid on afterwards.

Finally a thanks to Midweek skipper Norman Allan who has organised, managed and looked after the midweek team again this season – even setting the players up for this last match though he had a prior engagement at the day-night match at Durham.