Missing three 2nd team regulars in Bobby, Cheaney and Roddy (virus), the 2’s went on their travels to Edinburgh South on a cold cloudy day, welcoming back Reidy and Jezza and Atif for their first starts of the season and a debut for David Brownlee.  The forecast was for it to remain dry and so it proved unfortunately for the 2’s.

Skippy Hall won the toss and invited Edin South to bat on what looked like a hard if green pitch, with the outfield looking in good condition for the most part.

The 2’s made a good start with Thomas and David bowling well in tandem, restricting Edin South to three runs an over.  Skipper Hall rang the bowling changes but we just couldn’t get that crucial first wicket – not for the lack of trying as catches went down and edges flew through the vacant slips area.  Jezza finally took the first wicket in the 20th over with the score at 88.  However the 2’s continued to struggle to take wickets and Edin South were able to put on a 66 run partnership for the second wicket, albeit that the SpinKing was denied a clear wicket when the South batsman clearly inside edged the ball for Hall to take a sharp catch for all to hear (including the square leg umpire) except the umpire at the Bowlers end.  The batsman finally gave his wicket away to Thomas, no doubt after a word was had with the square leg umpire.  With wickets in hand South started to score freely, taking advantage of the pace on the ball and some short of a length bowling, as they scored 120 runs in the last 14 overs for the loss of only 4 more wickets. Edin South finished on 272 for 6. Jezza was top wicket taker with 3 for 58 off 9, with Suresh (1-38), Reidy (1-68) and Thomas (1-35) chipping in.  David Brownlee bowled well in his first appearance for the 2’s though ultimately unrewarded finishing with 0-35 from his 7 overs and SpinKing, though robbed of a wicket, was the most economical bowler with 0-36 off 8.  Not the best day at the office for the 2’s who clearly missed Roddy’s and Cheaney’s bowling experience – 20 wides in total evidence of the lack of discipline of some of our bowlers.  More concentration is required in the field, with fielders needing to be less static and there needs to be an improvement in general ground fielding and backing up because at times it was like watching the keystone cops.

272 was always going to be a monumental ask, especially without regular top order batsmen Bobby and Cheaney and so it proved.  South opened their bowling with slow/medium pacers bowling accurate line and length strangling the life out of the game. As has been the case this year the top order collapsed, not helped by a disputed LBW of Skipper Hall, or Thomas who was ran out for not grounding his bat. Followed swiftly by the walking bruise that is Raymondo, and The Spin King, leaving the 2’s reeling at 43 for 4 off only 14 overs.  Jack and Jezz then built up a decent 35 run partnership before Jack missed a ‘grenade’ that Mr Dodsen had lobbed and being clean bowled for 21.  Jezz was out next for 39, though he was dropped a few times, with the score on 90-6 in the 28th over.  Apart from a spirited effort by David Brownlee and Falconer at the end, the rest of the batting could not prevent Edin South from recording a comfortable victory, with the 2’s all out for 121.  We were always up against it but it was disappointing to see so many of our batsmen giving their wicket away to poor shots.

A deserved victory for Edin South who outplayed us in both batting and bowling (their fielding was only slightly better than ours as they dropped a few catches too) – they have clearly improved their side from last year, and on this form will look good for promotion.  The 2’s had better pick up their game soon or this is going to be another short stay in Division 6.  Next week, weather permitting, the 2’s are back at the ‘Rigg, against league leaders and currently unbeaten West Lothian, so another tough game in prospect.