Cornets pride drives Biggar Cricket to victory.  

Following last weeks efforts against a strong Penicuik XI, Biggar cricket Club visited Whitstone Park in Peebles to test themselves against the challenge of Peebles Sunday Development XI.  The side had six changes from the previous week and is a pleasing sign of the strength in depth that the club is able to call from such a good number of players.

Before setting off the team were able to see Cricket Club secretary Alastair Stewart sashed as this years Cornet and must have been inspired  by the obvious pride this Biggar stalwart had in being deservedly honoured with this office (Cornet not secretary). Well done Alastair and good luck with your year.  

Biggar won the toss and put peebles into bat on a cloudy afternoon.Chris McKeand opened the attack and despite it being his first bowl for nearly a year was able to take a wicket in his first over, to get Biggar off to a great start. Geoff Smith opened from the other end and soon hit the same rhythm as he had against Penicuik Both McKeand and Smith bowled with good variation to keep the batsmen on their toes and were rewarded with figures of 3 for 23 and 2 for 23 respectively. Smith had even strengthened the double act by taken a fine catch at first slip off Chris's bowling and Ian McKeand then repaid the compliment by holding on to one off Geoff's bowling.  In deed if it hadn't been for peebles opening bat Taylor the scoreboard would have looked even better, but Biggar were happy with 46 runs  for 5 wickets after the first 10 overs. McKeand was replaced by Aird Jardine who quickly settled to bowl a nagging line and length before delivering the 'ball of the day' to remove Caddick. It was a little quicker, pitched on middle stump and moved away to take the off bail. Needless to say 'Eddie' was delighted with this and so were his teammates who had just seen him snap up a smart catch to remove the dangerous Taylor for 41 off the patient Calum Moorhouse. Calum took advantage of this prize wicket to bowl a full 8 over spell that will have given him great confidence and experience. He finished with the tidy figures of 2 for 36, his second wicket being another catch from Geoff Smith. The Peebles innings was wrapped up by Chris Huntley, using the pitch wisely to claim 2 wickets for just 6 runs and leaving a target for Biggar of 108 to win.  

Biggar knew that they had time on their hands when they opened with John Stewart and Ian Mckeand, but once again Geoff Smith was able to break their partnership when a muted appeal was rewarded to send McKeand on his way, LBW for 1. David Raftery joined Stewart to build a firm foundation for the Biggar innings and was looking well set before becoming a little eager to score off bowler Pace and was bowled for a very good 23. Wicketkeeper Hamish Martin was in at no.4 and showed no ill effects from his diving display behind the stumps earlier, settling quickly to strike a couple of early boundaries. At the other end John Stewart was beginning to also strike the ball well but his patient innings was ended as he too, missed a good ball from Pace. Matt Savage replaced him and began, once again to play sensibly. Waiting for the bad ball to punish and leaving those he didn't need to play.  Martin's innings was ended by a quick yorker from Peebles skipper Williamson and left Biggar in a good position at 59 for 4 with plenty of overs to reach their target. They were able to do this without losing another wicket as David Adams and Matt Savage put on 49 for the fifth wicket. Adams taking the opportunity of being dropped early on to finish on 24 not out and The rock, savage on 31 not out.  

On their return home the team were met by a jubilant Cornet who had had a great ride out and was pleased that his year had also started with a cricket victory, not knowing he had inspired the performance earlier in the day.

  There is no match next weekend (18th) - although the juniors will have their usual morning session at The Rugby Club - but the side return to action against Gala on the 25th. Please call David Adams (01899 221274) to advise if available.   All members (young and old) are remineded that memberships are due (£5 juniors, £25 adult, £30 family) and can be paid to any comitte member. Forms are available on the website      as is an order form for kit  which will have the newly designed Biggar CC crest sewn on