D Mains vs. Bellevue Chapel  23rd May 2008

What more could you want....? 

The eagerly awaited first game in the 2008 Davidson’s Mains v Bellevue series took place on Friday 23rd May. It was a lovely evening (as promised in the weekly Update) and a great excitement around the ground as the crowd waited for the epic battle to begin.

The two captains tossed and Bellevue invited their opponents to field first. For the first time in these games, John Kelly (resident of Craigcrook Road) was their captain, thus ensuring a competitive spirit throughout.

Davidson’s Mains took the field with a new wicketkeeper, Eric Livingston, whose new role seemed to fit him like a glove. He was immediately into the action, taking an effortless catch behind to the very first ball of the match from Derek Peach. Bellevue 0 – 1, and L’Anson (21 in the last game) back in the pavilion! Where was this all leading?

In fact, this brought in Neil Costley (of Morningside Baptist, formerly Bellevue) and he proceeded to crash 25 very rapidly before retiring. At the other end, Kenny Rogers (no sign of Lucille however) calmly nudged the ball around and himself reached 25 without too many alarms. The fielding held up well during this time, though the score was mounting, with 66 on the board after 10 overs. Kelly (whose daughter was in my Holiday Club group this year: is he really eligible to play for Bellevue?)) played his usual role, pushing singles here and there, looking for runs from every ball. And then came the champagne moment of the game… a superb running, tumbling catch by Ken Dickson (our debutant), to remove Kelly off Alastair Stewart’s bowling. If there’s to be a better catch this season, then travel long distances to see it! And what a pleasure it was to watch two wily old pros in action together, the left arm spin of Gerry Dodson, the off spin of Stewart, cricket as it used to be played, a passage of play to enrapture the purists. Unfortunately, the runs kept coming, and the final total of 141 looked slightly out of our reach.

Dickson and Dodson (purveyors of the finest toffee perhaps?) opened the D Mains innings with a flourish, Dickson playing some cracking square cuts, mostly straight to fielders, however. But with seven runs an over needed, risks had to be taken and wickets began to fall.  Findlay Headden provided a hard hit 15, but the middle order collapsed to accurate bowling. Peach took advantage of the second string bowling at the end, to score 13, but all of a sudden it was over, all out for 55… the follow on having just been avoided.

Yes, rather one-sided, but a great evening all the same, picturesque venue, good weather and pleasant company. Indeed, what more could one want? Well, since you ask, Shane Warne perhaps, 100 more runs, a victory…?

Thanks to all who played, supported, umpired… much appreciated.