Spirited start for Biggar Cricket and awards for the Juniors..

What a busy weekend for newly formed Biggar Cricket Club. Friday night saw a packed Crown Inn host a very successful quiz night which raised a good sum of money for the clubs funds and provided a good evenings entertainment for all who attended. Thanks must go to The Crown for providing the venue and prizes as well as Inverarity Vaults for their prizes, not forgetting generous members who also donated raffle prizes. Top Raffle prize was a cricket bat signed by the Scotland cricket team competing in next years world cup. Before they leave for the West Indies next February the Saltires are in action in the C& G trophy through the season as well as hosting the touring Pakistan later in June in Edinburgh. Sunday morning saw up to 30 youngsters enthusiastically testing themselves on their cricketing skills as they aimed to get their Gold, Silver or Bronze badges in the national Kwik Cricket awards. A few tests remain to be done this coming Sunday but a high pass rate seems imminent and it is great to see so much budding talent being rewarded. The junior section continue their training this Sunday at The Rugby Club at 11pm. As soon as the Juniors had finished it was a race for some of the adults to get their sponsors hostelry before setting off for their first challenge of the season against a strong Penicuik side at Kirkstyle. The day started well with captain David Adams winning the toss and, after much thought, asking Penicuik to bat first. 'Cuiks Australian amateur S. Benseman has been short of runs this season and opened with M.Yan Hip a give the Biggar bowlers a good test. Matt Savage started where he had left off last season with a good line and length conceding only 13 runs from his 5 overs and unlucky not to pick up a wicket. Alan McCormick opened 'down the hill' found his rhythm coming back after years away from the game. All of the Biggar bowlers were given good spells to get used to bowling and help build the experience that only comes from time in the middle. All bowled well but with no luck as the 'cuik openers played steadily building a substantial opening partnership. Chris Huntley, now fully recovered and off his full run bowled some great balls that cut back and caused the batsmen concern and Geoff Smith bowled through his full 8 overs showing glimpses of pace from years gone by and good control, conceding only 28 from his allotment and also unlucky not to get a decision for a catch behind. Perhaps the umpire had seen Geoff's trousers!! Denis Lavery replaced Huntley and continued in the same vain, getting his rhythm early and bowling a very steady spell of 6 overs for 23 runs. But still no breakthrough, although both openers did retire having reached 70 and 56 respectively. The total had reached 150 before Biggar brought on their spin king David Bishop who, once settled on a fuller length, trapped Abul LBW to much delight from the fielders. David could not entice anyone else out so the youth element of Biggar's team Calum Moorhouse was brought on to bowl at the very testing time of the last few overs as 'cuik tried to accelerate. Calum held his nerve and bowled his best spell for Biggar to date and was well rewarded with the wicket of M. Lister ... bowled Moorhouse for 29. The innings closed at 219 - 2 and captain Adams was quick to praise the side for their spirited effort in the field, where there were many fine stops and a lot of hard work. He wasn't going to dwell on the catch dropped off his own bowling by wicketkeeper Gary Watkins who became more concerned about a possible collision with specialist gully Roger Bandtock. This was however the only blemish on what was a very tidy performance by Watkins behind the stumps, conceding only the 1 bye which is, no doubt, still in dispute. 219 was a big total to chase but Biggar's priority was to see out the 40 overs and if they got close towards the end they could 'have a go'. Specialist Gully Bandtock became specialist opener and Matt Savage volunteered to join him, both with dinners booked earlier than a 40 over game would allow. Bandtock had a confident start before being snapped up by a smart catch at second slip by 'cuik skipper Chalmers. David Adams came in at no. 3 and quickly started to punish the bad ball, managing to find the gaps even though playing in the air. He was more than ably supported by Savage who played with diligence as he made full use of his time in the middle highlighted with one splendid straight drive back past the bowler for four runs. Adams meanwhile rode his luck to reach Biggar Cricket Club's first 50 but fell soon after to another fine catch. He had scored 59 including 10 fours and 2 sixes. Clearly not keen on running!! Sadly he fell with the score at 107, 2 runs short of the hundred partnership with Savage.. His departure brought in Watkins who moves his feet well but was not managing to find the middle of his bat during his innings. At the other end Savage seemed set on carrying his bat for the full 40 overs until another fine tumbling catch by Thompson ended his innings at 33 with 5 4's. Watkins was trying to accelerate as the overs ticked away but the 'cuik bowling tightened up and needed some good defence to keep them out. Steve Williamson came in at 5 for an entertaining innings, notable for having to change his gloves and his calm running between the wickets. Once again it shows that there is nothing to beat the experience of playing in the middle and each match for Biggar will only help the latent ability in the squad surface and remove so much of the 'muscle memory' needed at the moment. Williamson was undone by a quicker ball from How for 1 to make way fro Bishop who settled quickly to play some fine shots on the off side before he too was bowled for 6. Denis Lavery joined Watkins and looked to be getting his 'eye in' before a 'misunderstanding' and some cursing left him run out for 2. Chris Huntley batted at 8 and saw the innings to its conclusion with Gary Watkins as they finished on 9 and 32 respectively. Officially this was a defeat for Biggar but we would claim an honourable draw to reward the great effort put in by all to take the game through all of the permitted overs and to post a very respectable 170 - 6. The afternoon was blessed with great weather and all involved agreed it was a fine way to spend a Sunday afternoon in sight of the Pentland Hills and would like to thank the supporters who travelled up from Biggar to enjoy the day. Next week sees the adult side travel to Peebles to do battle with their development side. Please advise David Adams of availability.