Mixed Fortunes for the Wildcats
The Wildcats had mixed fortunes on Monday and Tuesday as they went down to Grange in the League but came back well the following evening with a crushing victory over Gala in the first round of the Scottish Cup.
Watsonian Wildcats 90 for 6 - Grange 94 for 2 (League Match)
On Monday at Raeburn Place, the Wildcats chose to bat on a top grade wicket on the main square. Andrew Cockburn and Rory Evans opened in a positive fashion with Rory striking some lovely shots to the boundary and Andrew very cleverly ensuring he scored at least a single from almost every ball as the field was set back a bit. With the score on 38 in the sixth over, Rory played across a straight one and was bowled for 25.
Calum Young and then Kerr Stoddart went pretty quickly to be followed by Andrew Cockburn who had to retire having scored 30+. This was just as bad as losing a wicket as the momentum that Andrew had created was lost (you can tell I don’t like this rule much).
Adam Hastings, Jamie Cousin and Alex Boyd all fell quickly and it was left to Kathryn Bryce and Calum Hilton to squeeze as many runs as they could out of the remaining balls.
We finished on 90 for 6, not enough runs as it turned out having failed to capitilise on an excellent start by the openers.
Hastings and Cousins opened the bowling but failed to make a breakthrough other than a wicket falling to a good run out. Calum Young and Alex Boyd took over and Alex in particular bowled very well returning the figures of 1 for 16 from his four overs. The Grange batsmen numbers 3 and 4 were getting their eye in and batted very well to see their side home without losing another wicket as they finished on 94 for 2.
Full credit to the Widcats for sticking to the task in the field and in particular the ground fielding and throwing which was well above the quality of anything the opposition delivered in the first innings.
Coaching point from this game – not enough runs were scored after a great start by the openers. The middle order batsmen need to learn to get their eye in before trying to play the big shots. Tactically, it was great to see the team starting to understand the importance of the field placings, an inner field and those on the boundary rather than fielders in no-mans land half way to the boundary.
Watsonian Wildcats 151 for 2 - Gala 74 for 2 (Scottish Cup First Round)
Tuesday evening saw us in the sunshine at the picturesque ground of Gala Cricket Club for a first round tie in the Scottish Cup.
Again, the Wildcats chose to bat on winning the toss and Andrew Cockburn and Rory Evans carried on from the evening before as they charged to an opening stand of 60 in 8 overs when both batsmen were forced to retire having scored 30+ each. Alasdair Middleton and Kerr Stoddart continued the onslaught until Alasdair also had to retire having passed the 30 mark with a huge hit for 6. Kerr was caught going for a big one and Jack Hewitt was also caught trying to keep the run rate rate going.
Calum Hilton and Kathryn Bryce added a few more at the end for Wildcats to close the innings on 151 for 2.
This was going to be a very challenging total for Gala to chase as they lost an early wicket to skipper, Jamie Cousin. Alex Boyd was soon in the attack but seemed to have lost his line a bit in comparison to the way he had bowled the evening before. Matthew Bedford joined him from the opposite end and his outswingers were generally too good for the Gala batsmen and their scoring was restricted.
David Mclean was introduced to the attack along with Kathryn Bryce and their accurate outswingers also restricted the scoring. Kathryn Bryce bowled an unplayable one and Jack Hewitt took his second excellent catch of the night. Calum Hilton completed the overs with some very tight bowling finally restricting the Gala score at the end of 20 overs to 74 for 2.
When batsmen are intent on preserving their wicket and not really looking to score runs it can be a very difficult task to get them out. Bowling changes and field changes, trying different things can often work but sometimes, as last night when the Gala batsmen batted very sensibly, it just does not work.
So we move into the second round and it looks very like we will have the opportunity to gain immediate revenge against Grange (away) assuming they beat Hawick in their first round match.
Next week’s Wildcats fixture against West Lothian has been postponed to a later date, as a good number of the squad are away on School trips to France and Spain.
