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Highland vs RAF Lossiemouth 6th June 2009
It was always likely to be a close affair, with both teams unbeaten in the league this season, and desperate to take the opportunity to open a gap at the top, and so it proved. Having won the toss, Lossie elected to bowl, and had the perfect start, skipper Patten striking third ball, Crabtree caught behind fending off a bouncer. Things got even better for the visitors two balls later as Rob Nixon got the thinnest of edges trying to cut, and Highland were staring down the barrel at 0 for 2. A steadying of the ship followed, with Ryan looking in good touch, and Stu and then Akram provinding support in partnerships of 32 and 45 respectively. But with the score on 77 for 3, Dave Wolton held onto a fiercly struck drive at short extra cover to dismiss Ryan for a well made 38, and Akram soon followed, stumped as he advanced to try and drive Boardman. Not one to be phased, Regan soon unveiled the reverse sweep, but when he and John Paul fell in consecutive balls, Highland were struggling at 101 for 7. Kenny Goodwin and Rob Outram added 27 valuable runs before Kenny fell to a juggling catch in the covers. The remaining batsmen were unable to offer much resistance, and Highland were soon all out for 133.
Having decided to open with himself and Nixon, Crabbers may have been regretting the decision as his first over went for ten, with two overpitched deliveries crunched to the cover boundary. He soon settled into a better length, however, and was rewarded with the wicket of the dangerous Woodward, before Rob picked up the important scalp of Wolton, caught behind. Crabbers quickly bowled his namesake, and soon had the next man, Ryan taking a superb catch diving forward, and Lossie were reeling at 28 for 4. Steve Laider was batting well for the airmen, however, and was able to take the score along to 90 before Kenny Goodwin got him to chip one in the air towards point, where Ricky took a good low catch. Kerr scored some quick runs for Lossie before Crabbers, back for his last two overs, was able to remove him, and with his second last ball, produce a belter to leave the game on a knife-edge; Lossie needing 14 runs, Highland needing two wickets. Kenny came back on, and with seven runs needed, Boardman chipped the ball into the covers, and Ravi held the catch to bring in the last Lossie batsman. As they edged closer, a wide and a scrambed two meant that the scores were tied, before Rob produced the magic ball - a quick, gunbarrel straight yorker that thudded into the last batsmans boot plumb in front of the stumps to end what was a fantastic game of cricket. Both teams gave their all, and it was a tense, fiercely fought game that ebbed and flowed throughout, but was played in a great spirit and with real enjoyment by the twenty-two guys involved, and it will undoubtedly be discussed and remembered in pubs in Inverness and Lossiemouth for many years to come.
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