LINKS   home   results & fixtures   stats   honours board   gallery	2008 MATCH REPORTS & NEWS 20/8/08      Another one bites the [mud] Another two, actually. Did y'all not cross your fingers? So that's us all the way through August, without bowling a ball in anger, or even in mild-mannered bonhomie. Very disappointing. I will update the stats sometime soon. Meantime, winter well, and see you next year! 11/8/08      Victims to the weather again That's the last three games all off due to waterlogged pitches. Fingers crossed for the game on Friday and then the last game against D Mains on 21 August... 27/6/08      Bellevue lose in low-scoring battle The most recent episode in the Bellevue-Charlotte Chapel soap opera got off to a bad start last night, when we arrived at Newfield to discover that there had been no pitch prepared. After hasty negotiations with the groundsman, we started the game on an unprepared strip. Bellevue were batting first, but not very well, and Charlotte's quick and accurate openers cut us to shreds. Once again, Norrie provided the only early resistance, making light of the surface to retire on 26*. A team total of 65 was never enough, and Charlotte, despite a few early scares courtesy of some incisive bowling from Norrie (3-9) and Matty Parks (3-5), rattled off the runs with a few balls to spare. Their total included a fine knock from D Porteous and another chap who batted rather better at no 7 than he had during his short-lived stint opening the innings. And that's probably all I want to say about that... 27/6/08      Bellevue win in last-ball drama On Monday night Bellevue played only their second ever game against Holy Cross, the 'Saturday' team of not only yours truly, but also ex-Bellevue Cricket Supremo S Fairfield. Sadly Fairfield was detained on business in the Borders on Monday evening, and so it was left to me to weather all the banter from the opposition... Cross had a decent side out, and a more than decent opening attack, which became apparent as we slumped to 10/3 after 5 overs. Reaching the dizzy heights of 35/5 at the halfway mark, we were staring an embarrassingly uncompetitive total in the face, but Norrie was still there, and gradually began to cut loose with some cleanly struck boundaries. Once he had been retired on 28no, Friendy, playing his first game for some time, took up the mantle, and (mostly) together with Quinn put on 56 for the 8th wicket. Anne Brown secured the Champagne Moment with a sweetly-timed clip for four through midwicket off grizzled Cross legend McGill. Having actually produced a total to defend, our opening bowlers Webb and May kept things tight, with Paul trapping one of the openers in his first over. While that decision might have been a little fortunate, his next delivery needed no umpiring generosity, nipping off the seam to peg back Sandy Robertson's middle stump. Thereafter, we had to wait some time for the next wicket, but with Friendy and Webb prowling in the covers, some sharp fielding kept us in the game, despite both Cartwrights and Suli Malik batting well. The pre-agreed voluntary retirals at 25 took the momentum out of the Cross innings a little, and they started the final over needing 10 runs to win. Friendy was bowling, in his own particular way. A single brought Andy Graham on to strike, and we was kept there for two dot balls, before smearing a four down the ground, and a two straight after. One ball left, three runs to win. Or two, depending on who you believe, or how you add up. Andy had to go for a big hit, he missed, Friendy, to everyone's surprise, had hit the stumps for the first time in approx 4 years, Andy was out, Bellevue had won! A mirror image of the last time we played Holy Cross - they won by 2 runs back in 2004. Great game, played in a great spirit. Thanks to everyone - and special mention to Chris Dann, who agreed to be our 11th man at the 11th hour, Norrie and Friendy, for their brilliant knocks, not to mention Friendy holding his nerve at the end. Charlotte Chapel await next Thursday - let's hope for a similar game and a similar result! 13/6/08      New website features Gosh, it's exciting. Firstly the all-new honours board, which Stevie Liddell, our resident team graphic designer, has produced for us. The idea is loosely based on the Lord's honours board, only this one is naturally more prestigious. It being 20/20 cricket we play rather than Tests, it seemed only fair to drop the entrance requirements to 25 runs or more for batsmen and 3 or more wickets for bowlers. Click on the little image above to view the outstanding performers over the last 5 years, or use the link above. Secondly, I have begun an attempt to keep an ongoing record of the leading catchers in the team. This is primarily because I am currently not featuring in either of the other two lists. Look forward to other spurious lists appearing soon if I get shunted off the Catches hi-score table. 13/6/08      Bellevue tie up D Mains series Last Friday night saw Bellevue wrap up the D Mains series with a convincing win by 8 wickets. Costley continued in his rich vein of form with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 27, after Liddell had taken 4-8 in the first innings. Old man Kelly chipped in with 3 wickets for only 4 runs, and Paul May took 2-14 in a fine all-round bowling display. Kenny Roger gracefully agreed to retire as the win was coming closer, in order to give debutant Jordan Smith a chance to bat. Sadly he didn't last too long this time, but great things are expected... 31/5/08      Bellevue win opener, lose second game to rain Last Friday the season began with a comprehensive victory over old foes D Mains. Norrie Webb, making his first Bellevue appearance for 4 years, ran amok with bat and ball, scoring a rapid 26no and finishing with the outstanding figures of 3-4. Costley, returning from exlie, also starred, as did Kenny Roger and another long-time absentee - Jamie Davidson, who took 1-17 and two catches. It would be wrong to leave out a mention for I'Anson and his platinum(?) duck. Not only first ball of the game, but first ball of the season! Undoubtedly his 2007 form will return soon... Last night the weather intervened, and MBC were unable to find a team, so it was cancelled. The fixture may be rearranged for later in the summer. All stats are now up to date. 20/5/08      Inaugural fixture against touring Aberdonians announced Friday 1 August will see Bellevue take on a team from Gerrard St Baptist Church in Aberdeen. Watch 'em at the coin toss, I say. 15/5/08      2008 season just a heartbeat away Well, maybe more like a week. The season kicks off a week tomorrow - Friday 23 May - with a biggie first up - D Mains. Newfield, as usual, 6pm. Skippering the side will be John "they said I would never walk again" Kelly. Be afraid.