Mike Letchford and Michael Kelly picked up their awards for Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year at an extravagant bash at a local curry house earlier tonight.

Letchford's award recognised not only his position at the top of the run charts, but also his never-say-die determination to play every game, despite picking up an injury virtually every time he attempted a single.

Young Michael not only bowled consistently well, but showed a Kellyesque level of disappointment when he lost his wicket, which wasn't often. Bodes well for the future.

Many thanks to House of Hearing for their generous sponsorship of tonight's dinner.

Bellevue eased to victory at a dry and not-too-cold Inverleith Park last night, as the sun set on another successful season for Kelly's men (and women).

A destructive onslaught with the bat from young Parks (although not as young as in this photo) put the seal on a fine all-round performance, and snuffed out any lingering hopes D Mains might have had of defending their under-par total of 56.

Batting first on the suspect artificial surface, first Gadhia and then Osbourne had taken the attack to the Bellevue bowlers after watching a steady procession of D Mains batters fall at the other end. Norrie removed the opener with a cunning slower ball, and Liddell deceived the big-hitting South African with a well-delivered yorker. Both made 22, but with their teammates only contributing 8 between them, Kelly was confident that his strong batting line-up had enough in the tank to finish the season on a high.

And so it proved, as openers Coco and Craig ran well between the wickets to get things moving from the start. Coco departed for only 2 by chipping a catch to the grizzled D Mains skipper, but Craig stuck around for a while, even finding time to pay tribute to the absent Letchford by pulling a muscle, before mistiming a shot off Osbourne, the ball hanging long enough in the air for the bowler to scamper to mid-on and take a well-judged catch.

By this time Parks was moving gradually through the gears, reaching his retirement with a flurry of well-struck boundaries, including one massive six up the hill. As one young starlet departed to deserved applause, another entered, as Kelly Jnr, having starred behind the stumps in the first innings, came in to finish things off with a series of impeccably-straight defensive strokes. Daines too seemed content to spend some time at the middle, honing his technique and managing to keep the elbow high, but found the odd gap, and along with a generous contribution from byes, it was enough to see Bellevue home in the ninth over.

Big thanks to all the supporters, and those who played such a big part throughout the season, notably John, Mike, Kat, Cathie and Heather. Congratulations to JK for finishing top of the batting AND bowling charts (beating Letchford in the batting only by virtue of a better average). Note that my post-match analysis in McDonalds was wrong! How unlike me to make a mistake in the stats...

Winter well everyone, and see you in the spring if not before!

Bellevue's winning run under Skipper Kelly, dating back to 26 June 2008, finally came to an end last night as darkness descended on Inverleith. Chasing 119 to win, Inchcolm got the runs with the last ball of the game, having benefited from a slight revision of the target midway through the final over(!)

Batting first, Bellevue's innings got off to a slow-ish start, and apart from some lusty hitting from Matty Parks in the middle, never really gathered pace. Kelly Snr, aware that he was one good innings away from the top of the run charts, promoted himself to no.3, and after the early loss of C. Robertson and Letchford, settled down to craft a typically nerveless unbeaten 28. Parks smashed a couple of consecutive sixes in the 10th over to lift the run rate, but once he and Kelly departed, things slowed down a little, with Quinn and Kelly Jnr unable to get anything on a series of leg-side deliveries.

118 was a reasonable total, but Inchcolm were up with the rate from the off, and batted sensibly and with remarkable skill given the rapidly fading light. Only Liddell bowled economically, his four overs containing a rare maiden, and conceding only 9 in total. Despite taking wickets fairly regularly, with better-than-average catching from young Senthil and the slightly, erm, older Letchford, Bellevue were unable to stem the flow of runs sufficiently, and with two required off the last ball, Munro found a gap at extra cover and it was all over.

One chance left to finish the season on a high (and remove JK from the top of the runs chart at least...!!) - it's D Mains next week!

Letchford and Kenny Roger with the bat, and the Kellys, Dainzy and Steve Liddell with the ball, put paid to any hopes E=MCC might have had of gaining revenge for their defeat at Peffermill earlier in the season. Coco Lanson, continuing his fine run of form, also chipped in with some useful runs at the top of the order, and even brought his best man along.

With 150 to chase, E=MCC came out fighting, with some top notch hitting from opener Marks, but once Liddell bowled him off his legs, the soft underbelly of the batting line-up was exposed, with everyone below the top three departing for a duck!

Another convincing win for Kelly's men, then, and the old master pronounced himself satisfied with the evening's work. Apart, perhaps, from some personal disappointment at one or two lapses in the field, but I'm sure it won't happen again, John. Mrs Daines, making her first appearance for Bellevue, maintained the fine Daines tradition of being outstandingly late, and Mrs Q maintained a fine tradition of supplying quality traybakes. Thanks to all players, supporters and support staff.

Letchford's runs bring him into joint second place with Norrie in the run chase, with Kenny R just nosing in front. All to play for with two games to go. Meanwhile JK, with his ability to bring himself on whenever he spots a bunny, is running away with the bowling "prize"...

Bellevue ran out winners at Inverleith Park tonight, as established Bellevue starlet Norrie, and dynamic father-and-son duo Sandy and Andrew Robertson, on their first Bellevue appearance, combined with bat and ball to put the game beyond the university side.

Bellevue, batting first after Skipper Kelly's first correct call of the summer, started hesitantly, with only Craig Robertson (no relation) of the top 3 troubling the scorers much. Thereafter Andrew R and Norrie settled down to establish a platform, keeping out the good balls, and smacking the bad ones to the boundary. Daines and Kelly built on their good work, and Jordan even got in on the act with a defiant unbeaten knock (1 not out) at the end.

Having eventually scrambled to a total of 119, Quinn opened the Bellevue attack from the Tree-lined Avenue End, using the downslope to help his creaking limbs to the bowling crease, and the generous wind assistance to generate some away swing, though with no reward in the wickets column. Sandy Robertson, in need of no such aritifical help, began with an eventful over which went for 15, ran out one of the openers, and prised out a further wicket as Hewitt, still perhaps distracted by the farcical run-out off the previous ball, cut straight to gully. Sandy settled down thereafter and capped a fine spell with another 2 wickets to finish with figures of 3-24.

Norrie, coming on first change, increased the pressure with some tight bowling, and in his second over trapped two Informatics batsmen in front to leave the despairing umpire with no choice but to raise the finger. Kelly Snr popped up late on to demolish someone's stumps with another outrageous inswinger, and Andrew Robertson capped a fine all-round performance with the final wicket in the 19th over.

Many thanks to Nasty Jen and Broon for their excellent efforts in the field, and the Robertsons for playing with less than 24 hours notice!

Bellevue eked out another win to continue their long unbeaten run at Peffermill tonight. A savage display of hitting at the top of the order by I'Anson and Letchford gave Bellevue enough momentum to eventually crawl over the finishing line, but it was a close thing for a while...

With Coco and the Letch taking such a liking to the Staff's opening bowlers, Bellevue were well set on 110 after 12 overs, chasing a target of 133. However, the Staff's change bowlers tightened things up considerably, and Bellevue's middle order found themselves becalmed. A similar pattern had emerged in the Staff's innings, with them struggling to keep their considerable early momentum going. Kelly Snr, in an exemplary spell of inswing bowling, had dried up the runs in the best way possible, by crashing the ball into the stumps at regular intervals, finishing with the well-deserved figures of 4-12. All round it was a good fielding performance, with debutant Craig Robertson starring with some fine stops at midwicket.

Now, with only a few overs left, the run rate creeping gradually upwards, and Sethu and Malken giving very little to hit, Bellevue's travelling support were shivering with the excitement of it all, albeit helped along by the brisk wind and non-tropical temperature. Quinn, having made it to the middle without his bat, may as well not have bothered retrieving it, as he neglected to use it on a straight delivery and was sent on his way. Mercifully Gompertz was eschewing his normal gung-ho shot-making in favour of the 'safe and solid steering the side home' approach, and old stager Kelly was on hand to clump a fullish delivery over mid-off for a comfortable single to win the game.

Thanks, as ever, to the travelling support, scoring and catering contingent.

Bellevue, batting first on a variably-bouncing artificial strip at Inverleith Park, made a shaky start, with Coco Lanson, A Quinn and Kenny D all departing whence they came for not very many. Letchford also had to depart before troubling the scorers too much, having found a new way to hurt himself at the crease (wrenched a calf muscle I believe). Thankfully Norrie maintained his excellent record with the bat, cracking a couple of fours in his unbeaten 31, and Stevie Liddell along with the two Johns kept the scoreboard ticking over, with a decent contribution from extras making a total of 127.

Norrie, opening the bowling from the gently-sloping-end, prised out a wicket in his first over, and Quinn, from the tree-lined-path end, did the same. With Fairfield, Hamilton and Liddell keeping a lid on things fairly effectively, and Hamilton in particular nipping out regular wickets, 127 was always going to be too much. Another excellent performance in the field, with Monsieur Packer making an outstanding debut behind the sticks in place of the injured Letchford. Special mention to Steve Fairfield for a solid bowling and fielding performance despite being rigged up to a blood pressure monitor throughout. Glad it didn't go down to the wire...

Thanks to Katriona for scoring, and to all the supporters who showed up - your support is very much appreciated! Top work all round.

Bellevue came up against a misfiring E=MCC team tonight, and after putting 141 on the board with major contributions from Roger, Webb and Gompertz, defended it fairly easily by bowling the students out for 31. Special mention to Ben Packer, who cracked 16 runs in his first proper game of cricket ever, and Michael Kelly, whose allround performance was outstanding.

Quick turnaround now - next game on Monday night!