Won two – Progress to the final
Sunday at the Abbey, and the day was cool, breezy and overcast. As the day went on, the sun came out and so did the midges. Against Ross County (again), a new opening partnership of Os and Mayank pushed the score along to seventy-eight before Os was caught two short of a fifty.
A flurry of wickets was halted as Mayank and Harshal put on a useful sixteen run stand to steady things. Then Ross joined Mayank, and rushed the score to one hundred and fifty-four before Mayank was out for a superb fifty-five, caught and bowled by that old fox Renato Belli. So close to carrying his bat. Innings closed on 163/7
In reply, Ross C never really kept up with the run rate, and tight bowling by everyone restricted the visitors to 125/6, thirty-nine runs short. Two wickets apiece for Os and Ronan, one each for Kevin and Ross, but all the bowling was economical. A very good win.
Our second game was against Skye and Lochalsh, who had just inflicted another defeat on Ross County. Step forward young Mr Blakey, who demolished the dangerous opening pair of Angus Robins Senior and Paul Curtis, so often real thorns in our side. Two further wickets followed for Ronan who finished with four for fifteen, a really great spell of bowling. Prashant had his best spell of bowling for the club so far, and finished with one for nine. A rear guard thirty-four not out from Duncan, partnered by Wides (twenty) took Skye to 108/8.
Ross and Mayank opened and put on 12 before Ross was smartly caught behind by Curtis. Dave batted comfortably before being stumped for sixteen and the score on forty-four. At this time FA were a bit behind the run rate, and the nerves were jangling a bit on the side-lines. However, Mayank and Os were comfortable. Pacing their partnership well, they accelerated as required to win the game with one and a half overs to spare, Mayank not out twenty-eight, and Os unbeaten on thirty-eight. Another really convincing all round performance by the team.
Ronan finished the day with six wickets, Mayank with 83 runs. A close call for “Player of the Day”.
Fort Augustus Cricket Club 