HCC vs TPV June 2021
GOATS Defeat Local Rivals
HCC vs Tranent & Preston Village June 2021
After the disappointment of defeat the previous week away to Selkirk, largely at the hands of Banks & Fenton, Haddington knew the importance of Saturday’s game against the combined powers of Tranent & Preston Village. The New Alliance travelled to Neilson Park with thoughts of taking down the auld county town, after proving their resilience in tight finishes so far this season, and with a good record against their local rivals. HCC skipper Scott Logan won the toss and, as is his preferred method, sent TPV into bat on a firm & sporting wicket. Much better for the contest thanks to the upturn in the weather.
Fergus Syme - one of the leading wicket takes in East League cricket this season, took the new ball and struck in his first over when tentative batting from Lee saw the ball dribble onto his stumps from a defensive shot, teasing the bails from their grooves. A hot day meant short spells, particularly for Tim Hancox from the River End up the hill. Bhadrachala plumb LBW was just reward for his toils, after several play & misses. James Shaw & Rob Hiley continued the good work, the former extracting dramatic in-swing from the tense atmosphere to feng shui Bedudri’s furniture for a torrid 3, & Dougie Russell well caught - driving firmly - at short cover by Hancox off Hiley.
From there were the beginnings of a recovery, as Lachlan Keay decided attack was the option at 26-4, as a succession of Tranent & Preston Village batsmen swung wildly on a wicket where there were few demons, but line & length were to be respected. Any hopes of a challenging total were dashed by Hiley’s 4th over, as Montaut was bowled, and Chandaman caught by Hancox again first ball, to leave the Haddington veteran on a hat-trick. He went for the glory ball, a big inducker, which slipped leg side and was called wide. Very next ball Scott Russell was bowled through the gate giving the Goats a second three-wicket over in two home league matches, though this will forever be marked with an asterisk of sorts. Hiley was denied his five-for when Proctor allowed a chance at mid-on to escape his craftsman’s hands, as Ash Kumar did the rest from the Skate Park End with a miserly 3 for 4. 60 all out in 22.5 overs - hay was not made in the sunshine. Remarkably, 4 frontline bowlers were not even used on the day, such the depth of the Haddington attack on occasion.
In reply, Haddington know one way to approach low totals: conservatively. Tight lines from the TPV attack forced Kumar to plop a catch to mid-off for a duck, as he dashed off to fulfil work commitments. Shaw - establishing himself nicely in the top 3 - came together with Cruickshank and began to stride out and play expansive straight drives off Smith, before chipping to deep mid-on where a lurking Montaut took an excellent catch. Any jitters at 35-2 were steadied by Cruickshank who continued his good form this season, nudging and hustling behind square, teasing an immobile slip corden. Some wayward bowling contributed 18 extras in total, and vice captain Borrowman looked good for 11 before being bowled by a sharp-tongued (if not quite sharp-bowling) Hawkins with just one run to win. 20 points went to Haddington, with just the 2 for the visitors, who host Murrayfield DAFS 2nd XI this week. HCC travel to unbeaten Dunfermline & Carnegie.