MATCH REPORT: Senior League – Ross County (Away)

Lost By twenty-seven runs

On the hottest day of the year so far Fort Augustus travelled over to Strathpeffer to play Ross County for the latest game in the senior league. After heading to middle for the toss, Kev trudged back to say we were fielding… did I mention it was the hottest day of the year so far?

We toiled away in the field with the bowlers keeping things tight but no chances were coming from the Ross openers. The first change brought on Charlie T with his off spin. Chris Blake watched a couple then drifted outside of his crease and missed the ball. Off came the bails up went the call… and square leg umpire lifted his finger… out, stumped.

In came Carney, two balls later he was back in the shed. Another missed shot from Charlie’s spin, another stumping by Ryder, a great start.

Nilesh bowling from the “shinty” end was quick and hostile and eventually skittled the Hardwick’s wickets but Scott was still there knocking off the runs. Steve Embleton came in and stuck around, scoring twenty before getting bowled by Nilesh.

The fielding was hard work. The bowlers were toiling in the heat. But wickets fell steadily and with Scott out on eighty-four after a great knock, Ross County finished on one hundred and sixty-four for seven.

Charlie ended his overs on three for thirty-seven, Nilesh managed three for thirty and Anjum ended on one for thirty-five. Great work all round, but there were just too many extras who were second best scorer with twenty-six.

Ross and Charlie went out to open and batted steadily for the first twenty overs before Charlie was run out by some great fielding by Ross County. Anjum in at three was caught after a mistimed shot. Charlie Luxton was next in but out in a similar way to a donkey dropper from Blake.

Nilesh was looking good but after a good start was caught in the deep on twenty-four. When Ross was out on forty-nine (after a great innings), a mini collapse of the middle order, swung the game in RC’s favour. In came Mayank who hit thirteen not out ably assisted but the other two youngsters, Harshal and Yule, who both added runs. In the end we fell just twenty-seven runs short of the target.

A learning curve for sure, positives a plenty, with the U18’s showing some of the seniors how to do it. Could we have won? Yes. Should we have won? Maybe, but we will move forwards and learn from this. We are competitive and capable of winning against any of the other teams.

Notable Mentions – Batting

Notable Mentions – Bowling