HCC @ St Boswells 14th August 2021
Haddington took a fourth trip of the season to the Borders on Saturday. The picturesque setting of The Green welcomed The Goats, as hosts St Boswells looked to win to keep their chances of avoiding relegation from ESCA Division 3 alive. The visitors on the other hand merely wanted a win to restore momentum and some fun to a season which had withered under the lights, with three losses in three to sides above them in the tricky July - August period of holidays, weddings & injuries. Scott Logan continued his party piece as master of coin, winning the toss and graciously allowing the hosts first use of their own facilities under a light mizzle. Fergus Syme - stiff from a 90km shift in an overnight charity bike ride - gave wicketkeeper Pete Borrowman a real workout early on, before the opening bat unwisely threw his hands at the first straight ball and saw the stumps rearranged. A quick afternoon was threatened when Tom Proctor - deservedly given a go with the new nut - took a sharp caught and bowled in the second over to leave Boswells 4 for 2.
Jamie Glover (scorer of a fine fifty at Neilson Park earlier in the year) and Ross Graham set about restoring order, feasting happily on numerous leg stump full tosses. Graham enjoyed a few moments of fortune as aerial strokes found fresh grass, and looked uncomfortable against a probing spell from Ash Kumar, but survived and begun to open up against Cruickshank with strong shots down the ground. Glover was the disciplined foil, and though Haddington slowed the scoring rate down the pair took the score to 90. Logan shuffled the pack well but there was always a release ball. Finally, Charlie Metcalfe on league debut, appeared to have earned the breakthrough after an excellent spell of swing bowling, only for the skipper to shell the chance and square leg. It wasn’t long to wait through as Dylan Pearce took a brilliant catch at short cover to end Glover’s vigil on 43. Star batsman Ruthven had a platform to be positive, and put away some loose balls from the returning James Shaw. However, next ball after a crisp pull for four, Shaw found lift from a good length and Broom’s attempted cut spiralled upwards over cover point. Cruickshank, scrambling like an exhausted fighter pilot called to the skies once again, stuck out a palm and clung brilliantly on to claim a crucial wicket - one which may have made a difference of 20 or 30 runs at least. Huge, given the final analysis.
From then on it was all Haddington, and 111-5 became 127 all out as Metcalfe claimed another wicket (Graham falling finally to a wonderful overhead catch from Pearce on 38) and Kumar wrecked the tail with an utterly remarkable 4 wickets in just 5 balls. Though Rob Macdonald was absent on nuptial duties, HCC’s spinners enjoyed their day out down the A68 once again.
In reply, Shaw & Cruickshank opened up. Mr C got a huge slice of luck first ball of the innings when he was early on a drive ball from Blaickie and spooned the ball to cover where Jordan Broom made good ground but couldn’t cling on. Shaw too had his own fortune when a very strong shout for LBW was turned down - suspicions of a thin under edge all that saved him as hawkeye had “three reds.” Another, tough chance, went down at mid-off as conditions proved difficult to master. A bowling change worked the oracle as Young rattled one onto the top of Shaw’s off stump, cheered on by his family as he did so. It was, all in all, a rather charming moment for all but the batter. Broom made amends from the other end by ripping a topspinner into Cruickshank’s gloves for a simple catch to the keeper, and 12-2 looked rather precarious. Borrowman, skittishly looking for singles, was complemented well by Logan’s powerful striking over the covers. One shot stood out particularly, as a lofted straight drive off the back foot demonstrated disdain for Young’s organised length bowling. A couple of scampered threes set Borrowman on his way as the partnership took the score to 53, before Logan succumbed in a typical manner - flashing to cover for a well made 17. Tim Blades, short of runs in league matches this summer, showed more restraint than usual and punched down the ground a number of times as Boswells began to look short of bowling options. The sun came out, and even trump card Broom couldn’t prize out a wicket with his two remaining overs, as PB continued to pounce on anything short and pulled powerfully into the boundary wall. With Blades using his reach to punish balls in the slot, finding a length was a challenge for the home side. The game seemed in the bag but another loose ball was slapped to cover and at 92-4, the home side had a sniff. Metcalfe came and went after attempting a few bold strokes, and Usman Younas didn’t last long as Young’s dance to the crease wrong-footed the middle order for 3-24. As it was, 105-6 brought Mr Kumar to the crease. The pace-off options were in his favour though, as some sweeps and flicks found the boundary and quickly moved The Goats into striking distance. Borrowman (58 not out) pulled a fierce 4 to bring up his half century, before the first ball of the 39th over brought a scampered leg bye and the 20 points for Haddington. An excellent match up and tough on the Borders side who were great value in both fixtures and perhaps deserved more.