Matchday 4 saw the 2s at home against Dunbar, with the forecast looking okay for the game starting but with showers likely throughout the afternoon, and a very strong cross wind throughout. The game was almost called off before it was started thanks to a runaway bullock who decided he needed to run around our outfield on Friday for several hours, but luckily Jim did his magic and the damage was repaired in time.

The game saw the return of a Livingston Legend, Shazad Gul, one time 1st team captain and according to our records with over 2,500 runs in a 1st team career of 162 innings, who last played for Livingston almost 10 years ago.  There was also a debut for the 2s for Sajid Nadeem, and Connor Clark came into the side to replace the unavailable Sushil.

Dunbar's captain called tails, and yet again 'it failed', to give Skipper Anwar his first toss win of the season. With little hesitation, given the likely rain later, Dunbar were invited to bat first.

Skipper Anwar turned to Kashif Khalid and Connor Clark to open the bowling, and immediately the 2s put Dunbar on the backfoot with some excellent tight bowling and fielding with Kashif in particular bowling 6 maidens in a row - and Dunbar 20 off the first 11 overs.  However wickets were hard to come by as the stubborn Dunbar openers settled in, in the face of some good bowling, and it looked like it wasn't going to be a day when many lbws would be given.

Suresh and Sajid (bowling left arm medium swing) were the first change bowlers, and having been tied down by the opening bowlers, the Dunbar batsman looked to up their scoring rate. It was Suresh who finally made the first breakthrough with a good ball that the batsman could only top edge up and over his head, high, and into the waiting hands of Gordon. The score had moved on to 58 in the 19 over.

Shrey came onto bowl replacing Sajid and was soon into the groove with the pitch offering substantial turn, but unfortunately he came in for a bit of stick from the Dunbar batsman aggressively sweeping across the line. Skipper Anwar bought himself on to replace Suresh and there was spin from both ends, and it was the skipper who made the next breakthrough with the Dunbar batsman caught by Shazad in mid wicket, with the score on 113 after 29 overs.

Skipper Anwar got their dangerous number 3 out to an excellent catch from Imtiaz fielding at point, with the batsman looking to go long over cow corner and only managing to edge it behind point, Imtiaz stretched out those long arms of his and took a really good diving catch.  That was it for the Spin King, although like Kashif he too had many good shouts for lbw turned down by the visiting umpire.

Sadhil briefly came on for an over and bowled well before Capn Anwar brought Kashif and Connor back on to wrap the innings up.  The Dunbar number 4 pulled a calf muscle and had to retire hurt before Kashif finally got his rewards for some tight bowling clean bowling 2 Dunbar batsman.

Dunbar finished their 40 overs on 166, which wasn't a bad fielding effort from Livingston, but was probably 20 or 30 more runs than Dunbar should have got.  Kashif was by far the pick of the bowlers finishing with 2 for 7 off his 8 overs (including 6 maidens in a row), with Skipper Anwar taking his tally to 9 for the season finishing on 2-31, but it was a good effort all round from all the bowlers and the fielders and was definitely a gettable total.

After another excellent tea by Jenny, the 2s went out to bat needing just over 4 an over, with Neil Jarvis and Shazad Gul opening the batting for the 2s this week.

Straight away the Dunbar bowlers bowled a good line and length and made good use of the windy conditions to swing the ball, making it difficult to score runs.  Neil Jarvis was the first to go without troubling the scorers unfortunately (the first time ever apparently!) as he edged an away swinger and was caught very, very low at second slip.

Suresh came in at 3 and with Shazad set about building a platform for the 2s to build on, but the going was extremely tough with 14 runs coming off the first 13 overs.  The 14th over saw Livi shake some of the shackles with 2 lusty 4s for Suresh before he was clean bowled leaving a delivery which pitched outside off but swung back a long way (aided by a strong cross breeze) to knock his off stump over, putting on 22 with Shazad.

Kashif was next in and with the storm cloud gathering, he set about upping the slow run rate with Shazad adding another 22 runs in partnership with Shazad, before he was caught in the 20th over with the score now on 44 for 3.

Skipper Anwar came in at 5 and having hit a full toss for 4, was next out clean bowled by their off spinner through the gate and suddenly the 2s were 49 for 4 in the 21st over and with his wicket the heavens opened and both team left the field, not for the last time, as the covers went on to keep the pitch dry.

Following a short break for the rain, Imtiaz came in at 6, with the 2s in all sorts of trouble, far behind the run rate and with not many wickets in hand. Imtiaz was next out caught with the score having moved on to 61 for 5 in the 25 over and the game had well and truly swung in Dunbar's favour. The first batting point was at 70 and with the overs running out Livi were facing defeat straight in the eye.

But crucially Shazad never gave up his belief.  Connor came in at 7 and batting with the immovable object that is Shazad set about getting the 2s some batting points in what was looking like a foregone conclusion.  However some very good batting by Shazad was met with some equally good batting by Connor and some lusty hitting by both players.  Connor in particular was playing well and supporting Shazad superbly.

Connor finally fell dragging a full toss onto his stumps with the score on 127 having put on a 66 run partnership with Shazad, for a 2s career high score of 33 (including 4 fours and 2 sixes), hopefully the first of many, and in hindsight a match-winning partnership.

That bought Shrey to the wicket, with 40 needed off 36 deliveries, with conditions wet and getting wetter, and with the Team still behind the run rate.  Shazad reached his 50 and well deserved it was and together with Shrey set about knocking off the runs in the last 8 overs.  Shrey batted well rotating the strike to give Shazad more deliveries to face and Shazad was hitting the ball well, with a little bit of lady luck on his side. 

Dunbar heads were well and truly dropping, as the runs kept falling, with 11 needed off 18 deliveries and victory was finally delivered by Shazad with an over to spare, the 2s ending up 167 for 6 off 39. 

Shazad was the pick of the batting having scored 72 runs (4 fours and 2 sixes) and carried his bat - a fantastic innings in the circumstances, and he really showed what could be achieved through hard work, patience and belief.  But he was ably supported by an excellent Connor and by Shrey to help Livingston snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

An excellent victory for the 2s in the end having chased down a good total (set with some excellent bowling from Kashif and supported by the other bowlers and fielders) in the face of some really tight opening bowling from Dunbar.  It was a very, very satisfying win for Skipper Anwar and his excellent team, who should take heart from a great comeback in the end and take that belief on with them for the rest of the season.

Next up, the 2s look to continue their unbeaten run in Div 6 against SMRH 3s next weekend, weather permitting.