Match Report
vs Preston Village (2010-05-01)
Dunfermline 2s first game of the season was Away to Preston Village – who were new to the league after being relegated from Division 3.
The trip to Preston Pans got off to a delayed start as a result of all the on goings at McKane Park – which involved setting a BBQ on the square to try and dry up a damp patch on the wicket in order that they could get their game with Aberdeenshire on.
No such problems at Preston Pans – the wicket was Damp all over – and would have required a massive BBQ to dry it out.
Richard Cox Junior making his debut as captain swiftly won the toss and elected to bat on this lovely damp batting track.
Young Jordan Davidson was asked to pad up as was last years captain David Miller.
Both took the crease. The bowling was Medium pace from both ends. And straight from the start Jordan looked by far the more comfortable of the two batsmen. Jordan continued on from where him and Chad had last of last year and played some beautifully free flowing shots. One in particular in the first few Overs was a massive six straight back over the bowler’s head.
Miller and Davidson took the score to around 69 before Jordan departed caught in the covers on 49.
This brought on form Alan Leitch to the crease. Leitchy had been scoring runs with ease in the threes so had fully merited his call up to the 2nd XI. Unfortunately Alan didn’t last long before being clean bowled – and didn’t trouble Scribbler the Scorer.
Next in was Dave Hinds. Hinds didn’t look quite in the same nick as he was in last season – but its still early days yet – he departed – caught out for 6.
Skipper Cox then arrived at the crease – he survived an early escape when he sent a ball up into the volcanic ash cloud……3 fielders ran for it including the wicket keeper as the ball came down in the middle of the square and also in the centre of all three fielders. Cox didn’t last too much longer though as he was caught out for a brisk 11.
Young Wicket keeper batsman Jamie Penman came to the crease and put on a good little partnership with Miller. Miller was now starting to score more freely now his eye was in. However in the 42nd over while trying to accelerate things he was caught out at point for 67.
13-year-old Ben Wilkinson then joined 15-year-old Jamie Penman. They saw out the Overs with both youngsters playing some sublime cricket shots on a difficult wicket. Jamie ended up 20 not out and Ben 15 not out.
Final tally was 187 – not a bad score on this wicket – and on a positive we had made use of our full 50 Overs.
Tea was had back at the community centre at the Picnic tables.
Rob Conners back this season after breaking a finger in training and old-stager Keith Graveling opened the attack. Keith was first to break through the Preston Village defences. Rob was bowling brilliantly from the other end – but the batsmen kept playing and missing – playing and missing – playing and missing.
Shipley came into attack with his slower than slow balls and took two quick wickets for 23. Jordan came on after Keith had finished his tight spell (10overs 1for 19) and surprisingly bowled leg spin. Well the first ball was there to be hit out the ground – full bunger – however as is so often the case the batsman managed to welly the ball straight into Richard Cox’s hands at square leg.
Anderson was batting well for Preston Village – however he was dropped not once not twice not even three times – I think it may have been 5 times. Culprits being:-
· Rob Conners
· Ben Wilkinson (A tough caught and bowled chance)
· David Hinds (Walked in too far on the boundary and then made a 9.5 dive to get a hand on it)
· David Miller (Hard spinning, swirling dolly at cover)
And another that I have forgotten for now. Writing this match report two weeks after the event is too much for my memory. But Note for Record Dave Hinds DEFINITELY Dropped one. (Last year he was adamant he never dropped one on the opening day of the season even though it was recorded)
Anyway it’s getting hard as I say to remember the ins and outs. Vinces two quick wickets turned an evenly matched game in our favour. Ben Wilkinson came on and bowled a tidy spell from the other end.
The game wasn’t won yet though – Cox brought himself into the attack and with his dolly mixtures bowling (Spin/Medium/Full Toss) took 4 wickets.
With the game evenly poised going into the last few Overs and Anderson running out of Partners the nerves were starting to jangle. But Dave “Torpedo” Hinds came to the rescue. A torpedo spinner bowled – skied up in the air by the batter. And there was "safe hands" Miller to take the catch which came down covered in Ice and Ash in the Covers.
Game over game won – and a good start to the season. Positives – we batted 50 Overs and Ben and Jamie batted beyond their years.
Negatives – the fielding was poor – dropping the main batsman 5 times may have proved costly.
Summary
D Miller 67, J Davidson 49, J Penman 20NO, B Wilkinson 15NO
R Cox 7 Overs 4 for 24, D Hinds 4.2 Overs 2 for 26, V Shipley 8 Overs 2 for 23 (Not to forget K Graveling 10 Overs 1 for 19 and RR Conners 9 Overs 0 for 21)
Some match Stats:-
Opening Partnership - J Davidson Miller 74
Most Boundaries - J Davidson 6x4 1x6
Best Strike Rate - B Wilkinson 15 of 7 balls
Most Balls Faced - D Miller 128
Most Wides Bowled – R Cox 7
Most No Balls – R Cox 2
Best Partnership – 5th Wicket – Paterson/Balloch 71
Most Boundaries –
Most Balls Faced –
Report submitted by David Miller
Match Report From Dunfermline Press - This can be found here
The Knights' second Xl got off to a winning start in their East League Division 4 campaign with a healthy win over Preston Village on Saturday.
Chief contributors in their total of 188 for 7 were David Miller with 67 and Jordan Davidson with 49.
Youngsters Jamie Penman, with 20, and Ben Wilkinson, with 15 not out, added some useful runs towards the end of the innings.
Opening bowlers Keith Graveling and Rob Conners bowled tightly but it was when skipper Richard Cox introduced himself to the attack that wickets began to tumble.
Cox finished with figures of 4 for 24 and he was supported by David Hinds, who took two wickets.
Preston Village were eventually bowled out for 173 and the visitors won by 15 runs.
Dunfermline Knights 2nd Xl 187 for 7 (20 pts). (D Miller 67, J Davidson 49). Preston Village 173 all out (8 pts). (R Cox 4 for 24).
The Match Report from Preston Villages website can be found here