With the season drawing to a close, and with automatic promotion chances slipping away following last week’s loss to Boroughmuir, the 2s faced top of the table OCCC away at Inverleith Park.

The game saw the return of Skipper Faisal Anwar, out for 10 weeks following a fracture in his left hand, but availability has again been an issue this season, though at least this week the 2s did have 11 and mostly adults.

That said it wasn't our strongest eleven, but a decent side nonetheless.  The pitch was green and sloped markedly from top end down to the bottom, and the boundaries weren't the longest though the grass was longer the closer to the boundaries.

Skipper Anwar won the toss and invited the opposition to bat first. Sushil and Kashif opened the bowling for us and Kashif struck first in the third over, clean bowling their left-handed opener after a searching over. Sushil was bowling well and he took the second wicket clean bowling the other opener in the tenth over, with the score 18-2.

First change and Vice-captain Neil Jarvis came on and Skipper Anwar bought himself on at the other end and kept the pressure, and skipper Anwar got the next one, a good catch well taken behind from Gordon as the batsman had the thinnest of edges. Neil got the fourth wicket well deserved, clean bowling their number 5 batsmen and by drinks the 2s appeared to be well in control at 54-4 off 20.

However, the balance of the game shifted dramatically as their number 5 batsman decided it was time to up the scoring rate and began a game changing innings, bludgeoning the slow bowling of the Skipper Anwar after the drinks break with some clean hitting, and being no less aggressive against young Jack Jarvis' bowling, who came on to replace Dad Neil.  Neither bowled badly but the batsman was hitting the ball sweetly and middling everything.

Young Jack would have got a wicket but unfortunately Dad Neil inexplicably put down a catch fielding at mid-off. Sushil did make the breakthrough, with Neil taking a harder catch at mid-off.

Their number 5 only offered one chance but unfortunately that was dropped, the first of many catches that were put down, as he hammered his way past 50 and then 100, finally getting out to one big swing too many against Sadhil who had come on for the final 4 overs - clean bowling him off a good length that might have stayed a wee bit lower than he expected (not that we were complaining).

Sadhil also got the next wicket, clean bowling their wicketkeeper, but somehow the 2s contrived to not take another wicket after a number of catches were dropped and easy run outs inexplicably missed (tunnocks tea cake moment?)

OCCC finished on 185-7, with excellent bowling from the Sushil and Sadhil, both 17-2, Kashif 12-1, and Neil 15-1.

Our reply started slowly, as debutant Sujith Mathews, thrust into opening duty due to a lack of options, was out early leg before to their slow bowler.  Kashif came in and with Neil started to build a good platform, the partnership having reached 26 off 6 when he inexplicably dollied a catch to cover.

Skipper Anwar came in and looked short of match practice, scratching around while Neil continued to put bat on ball regularly. Skipper Anwar was out next, edging an away swinger straight into the hands of their keeper and walked even though Gordon umpiring was unsighted by the bowler running in front of this view, the score having moved on to 55-3 off 13.

Mark Gray came in at 5 and provided good support to Neil, as Neil pushed on as the bowling changed and taking advantage of some weaker bowling, with some well-timed shots including a couple of 6's.

At drinks we were 72-3, with a lot of work to be done but still some hope.  However, just when he looked set for a big score Neil was finally out for 70 caught low at mid-wicket, score 83-4, and all the recognised batsmen back in the hutch.

Asam came in next and with Mark provided some resistance, before Mark was caught and bowled, and Asam was run out going for a second that wasn't there, and Qasim soon followed clean bowled - the score having moved onto 108-7.

During all this Sushil was providing some cheer with some lusty hitting and earning the team some much needed batting points, before he was finally out for 38 the score having moved to 133-4, with only a few balls of the innings remaining.

Still there was time for the shot of the match, from young Sadhil, moving across the offside and playing a cheeky leg sweep / glance off their away swing bowler.

The 2s ended on 137 for 8 off their 40 overs - a great effort in the end and not far short of maximum batting points.  Neil top scored with 70 and Sushil on 38, but not much other resistance to speak off.

Not a great day at the office for the team, bar a couple of standout batting performances, but we were playing the team which looks likely to be division champions who have only lost twice this season, and to be fair we know we can play a lot better than this. 

We dropped some clangers during the match, and on balance didn't deserve to win, but with an understrength team we did not embarrass ourselves and the hope is this years’ experience will benefit the team in the long run.

Up next Hawick (in second place) at home to finish the season - hopefully on a high note.