15th May 2004 - Murrayfield/DAFS 2, Home

After losing the first home game of the season it was important for Westquarter to get back to winning ways against the visiting Murrayfield/DAFS side. On winning the toss the visitors invited Westquarter to bat first and as it turned out this was probably a good decision for the home side.

Westquarter got off to a positive start on a slow wicket after the torrential rain earlier in the week. Skipper Crawford Churchill was first to go in the tenth over with the score on 25 and he was shortly followed by Rab Sutton to put the home side on the back foot. As memories of the collapse in the season's first game came to mind Willie Small joined Steve Sutton at the crease and the pair set about re-building the innings. Small was in aggressive mood and would not let the visiting attack settle helping Sutton to find some form with the bat. The partnership had reached 65 before Small was caught at mid-on for a well made 28 and as often happens after a partnership is broken Steve Sutton followed soon after. A couple of more quick wickets saw the innings faltering again at 116 for 7 when Bobby Angus provided some entertainment including a massive six before he to was dismissed.

This brought the left handed pairing of Jim Sharp and Colin Fox together and the pair showed cool heads as Sharp provided the attacking shots Fox was resolute in defence. The innings total had passed the milestone of 150 before Fox was caught trying to provide some acceleration in the closing overs. Colin's brother Stuart joined Jim Sharp and helped him add a further 12 runs to take the final total to a respectable 165 for 9.

Now that the draw has been scrapped Westquarter knew that tight bowling would now be rewarded with victory and as such they set about that very task. The first ten overs only brought six runs for the loss of 1 wicket and the pressure was really building for the visitors. The pressure was maintained when Willie Small replaced Colin Fox and proceeded to pick up two wickets which was matched by two run outs thanks to excellent fielding by Churchill and Angus.

This put Westquarter well in control and Murrayfield/DAFS struggling at 42 for 6 as Bobby Angus finished an impressive fifteen over spell with figures of 2 for 21. The arrival of Kidd provided the visitors with some relief and entertainment as he smashed his way to 26 including 4 fours and a six before he was undone by a Willie Small slower ball. At the other end Watling had been holding up one end after coming to the crease at the fall of the first wicket until he was last man out for 40 with Murrayfield/DAFS reaching 97 in reply.

This was an excellent team performance posting a competitive total with the bat and backing this up with excellent bowling and fielding.

Details: Westquarter 165 for 9 (S Sutton 28, W Small 28, J Sharp 21no) 25 pts; Murrayfield/DAFS 2 97 all out (W Small 4 for 34, J Sharp 2 for 7, B Angus 2 for 21) 5pts.