NEWS

Taken to the Cleaners

Saturday's 1st XI game saw the sides fifth opponents (not including the weather) roll up to Barnton, trying to stop a potential 5 from 5 start to the season.

After winning the toss in we went - Rob and Preston with their usual solid look to them as the ground and weather looked set to leave the day fair. Preston was given out LBW with the scores on 5 but noone looked unduly concerned as Messers More and McLaren cut loose on anything wide adding 99 for the second wicket - looking extremely composed and solid. My first real watch of Rob and what a joy when he's got going… still head, eye over the ball and belligerent through cover and square.

A young but competitive Edinburgh fielding side already looked forlorn as Rob was suddenly bowled by one trying to smash one over cover… again; the dreaded drinks break being his downfall once more. In strolled Craigie quality average Adams, adding a further 82 as Kev looked merrily like carding his first RHC ton. You might say six days of sun…sangria… and sunblock caught up with him as he plumped one up to one of the Hussain boys for 89 - great knock chief and proof that huge amounts of prep are irrelevant when class is about. In strode Powerade Cunners who looked scratchy for ten minutes but then took 40 runs off 26 balls to get the run rate right up adding 52 with Craigie in a 17 minute partnership, one over from Y Ali going for 19 as Cunners maintained the strike. Craigie was the unheralded pair of the two, lacing a couple of beautiful shots over midwicket and square through point. The rate was ticking up nicely until Craigie was bowled for 49 looking to tickle one for his 50. Mark was out shortly after and with 4 overs to go we were on 253 for 4. In strode Ryan Reeves who hit 14 not out off 7 balls and Pallav and Lambie who both added a couple here and there. Par total with Craig and Marks' fairly late dismissals… 262 for 5 off the 50. A great effort with the willow..

Massive tea and back out for ten to five.

Reevo was expensive early doors and removed after 2 overs… but not after nailing their opener on the foot with a snorter, causing a five minute break and nailing the other opener plumb in front for an LBW. Paddy - BEST BOWLING AVERAGE IN THE LAND Sadler from the other end, was teaching the oppo a lesson in how to bowl - line and length up there with Pidgeon himself. At one stage he bowled 29 consecutive dot balls, and was visibly depressed about having to come off after his alloted six overs…. And not to mention he took 3 for 4, with 4 maidens in his 6 overs! Unreal Mr Sadler and keep it up matey! One delivery in particular was pure class - nipping back, just short of a length and nibbling at the top of off. Class apart.

Having blown away the top four batsmen U Farooq and Y Ali decided to hang about and have a look at our fabled attack, doing the sensible thing and trying to rebuild the Edinburgh innings from a perilous 27 for 4. Mallen mixed some beuaties with the odd four ball but we all know and fully expect him to join the RHC party soon - as he did for example on cup day the next day and indeed during the Masterton vs Carlton. Ali and Farooq added 76 before Pallav got him to nick one to Skinny who as ever, was tidy throughout. Pallav the Dominator Kumar proved he wasn't there to play games and bowled unchanged from the Pavilion End for 10 overs, 1 maiden, 1 for 16. Superb stuff and we are starting to see the benefits of this clearly talented young cricketer. Ryan also came back on and sent down 6 overs for very little, shoring up one end - perhaps hinting at how useful he might be both at the death or mid innings before or with the spinners? One for the analysts.

Kev was twirling away from the Rabbits End confusing the hell out of many an Edinburgh batsmen. Leaked a few through third man with Kev operating as the Edi batsman nicked a few. Expensive only in comparison to the quicks but as ever - the speed at which Kev bowled his overs really ramped up the pressure on the oppo; wickets were clearly not far away as the oppo found themselves 113 for 6 after 30 odd overs. Kev picked up the dangerous R Javed with Mallen on catching duties for five. So much for his recent 50 off 13 balls, which, as Mclaren and the impressive Captain Mommsen starting to whiz through the overs - was beginning to look like the required rate! Might I also point out that the fielding was much improved - so long may it continue...

As the rate crept up to 9 an over, Skipper Preston then picked up 4 quickfire wickets to end up with 4 wickets from 8 runs in 4 overs, to go with Paddy's outstanding figures as the true class in our fielding/bowling display - 7 wickets for 12 runs off 10 overs. Unreal. Mommsen picked up the last, clean bowled, with one of his hugely effective quicker balls. A win by nearly 130 runs boys. 10 for RHC and another shutout for Edinburgh.

Much improved with bat and ball although some areas to work on still - so even better to come from the Ones. Roll on Renfrew for week eight and some sunshine. Special mention to the groundstaff again for preparing an unreal surface - the outfield has never looked better and I'll doubt there are many tracks as good across the land, despite our much publicised lack of decent covers. Moment of the day… Kev getting to 50 and giving the tented teammates the raised bat again this season… and Paddy's top-of-off seam bowling lesson - Dot ball machine. Go the RHC...