Bellevue and Tranent finally got this fixture off the ground last night, three weeks after it was cancelled due to somewhat similar weather conditions (rain through the day and evening sunshine). The Meadows pitch, somewhat predictably, was soft and a little variable, but Bellevue, batting first, negotiated it reasonably, with Quinn and Liddell each posting an unbeaten 26 to lift the total to a respectable 104. Quinn, having opened the batting, found himself at the top of the run charts after his knock, but it was a brief stay, with Liddell resuming his normal position in a flurry of boundaries, including (yet another) mighty six over a distant boundary. Liddell's runs in the game took his season's tally over the 100 mark, in the process becoming the first player in Bellevue's recorded history (probably ever) to do the 10 wicket/100 run double for the season. Top effort.

The game was reduced to 18 overs a side on account of the fading light at this stage of the season, and Tranent soon had their work cut out, with a slow start forcing the run-rate higher as the sun sank lower. Sandy bowled well, finishing with two wickets for his efforts. Liddell wasn't given much of a run with the ball by wily skipper Kelly, perhaps in the hope that Tranent's lower order would capitulate to his devilish in-swing in the gloaming, and allow him to steal the bowling honours at the last. Alas, the conditions were apparently not conducive to big booming inswing, and muttered comments were overheard after the game about the "ball being too new"...

Bellevue gradually tightened their grip, with two impressive run-outs courtesy of a pinpoint throw over the bails by (who else?) Stevie Liddell, and a direct hit from Michael Kelly. Michael also took a catch off Sam Galloway to give Sam his first wicket for Bellevue. But the Galloway contribution to the fielding effort was not yet complete. With Matt Corrie having to leave the game early (much to the disappointment of the female contingent in the crowd), Driller Dave came on as a substitute fielder, and rolled back the years with a vintage performance in the covers.

And so another successful season comes to an end. Liddell's excellence with the ball takes him into second place in the all-time list of wicket-takers, only one behind the ageless J Kelly. And another reason why he was only given one over in the final game becomes clear... :-)

Thanks to all who contributed to the team's cause this year - all the players, obviously, but special mention to John for his excellent captaincy and team organisation, Stephen for holding the purse strings, Cathie for bringing the kit (and traybakes) faithfully to every game, and Kat for scoring so efficiently, and even sans-controversy this year. See you all at the night out!

In their first game after the monsoon break, Bellevue got back to winning ways with a fairly comprehensive victory over Inchcolm on yet another sunny night at Newfield. Having lost to the same opponents in a close finish last year, Bellevue were keen to make amends, but got off to a shaky start, losing a wicket in each of the first three overs. Michael Kelly, though, is not one to let a shoulder injury and a long journey back from France earlier in the day disturb his concentration at the crease, and brought a sense of calm and reassurance in the face of some decent bowling and sharp fielding from Inchcolm. Quinn joined him with the score 10/3, and somewhat remarkably helped to steady the ship with a gradually-more-fluent knock of 28*. Thereafter, a needless run-out of the returning Craig (welcome back!) notwithstanding, Bellevue looked in command, with Kelly jnr retiring on 25 and Kelly snr finishing unbeaten on 21. The innings of the night, though, belonged to the stand-in captain Stevie Liddell, who included two big sixes in his knock of 26*, one hooked off his nose.

With 136 on the board, Dave Sharpe, making a fine Bellevue debut, and Quinn, opened the bowling, keeping things reasonably tight after having two leg-side deliveries despatched impressively for 4 and 6 by Palmer. Sharpe removed the other opener for 1, and Quinn enticed Palmer to drag a ball onto his stumps. With Hunter skying a catch to Robertson, who pouched it safely despite suffering a broken finger attempting a similar catch earlier in the season, and Humpage departing in similar fashion, the spine of the Inchcolm batting was broken. Tom hung around for a useful 27*, but there was little support elsewhere, and the run-rate was climbing steadily.

Sandy Robertson bowled a parsimonious spell, and the evergreen Kelly snr and Liddell wrapped things up, with Steve taking 4 wickets despite bowling probably his most wayward spell of the season. M Kelly took two catches behind the stumps, making it 4 catches out of 4, and the ground fielding was excellent too.

Top work all round. Thanks to the debutants Matt Corrie, Dave and Matthew Sharpe. Thanks as ever to Kat and Mrs Q, and the travelling/recuperating support. All very much appreciated.

Bellevue crashed to their second loss in as many games at a sun-kissed Inverleith Park tonight. With last week's game against Ed Uni Staff being scratched on what turned out to be a nice evening, it was a pleasure to take the field in bright sunshine, and genuine summer-like temperatures.

Despite losing to Informatics on a tricky wicket two weeks ago, Bellevue were still confident approaching this game, having not lost to E=MCC since 2005. However, after a bright start by I'Anson and Fairfield, with some forcefully decisive calling from Fairfield in particular, the academics' excellent bowling soon had us on the ropes. Ravi impressed with pace and movement from the Firth of Forth End, and old stager Schofield bowled a remarkably disciplined wicket to wicket line which allowed none of the Bellevue batsmen to free their arms. Twice the bowlers were on a hat-trick, and twice they were denied. Bellevue eventually stumbled to 70 all out, criminally not batting out the 20 overs.

Despite a low total to defend, the troops were not too downcast on taking the field, knowing that the pitch was not an easy one to bat on, and, well, the sun was shining so it couldn't be all bad. And things started well, with Liddell removing two batsmen early on, and Quinn and Robertson keeping things reasonably tight from the Stockbridge end, albeit with the odd leg-side wide (tricky footmarks at that end y'see. Upsets one's balance in the delivery stride).

However, Hewitt, guesting for E=MCC for the day, was proving impossible to dislodge at one end, eventually retiring on 25. And this was ultimately enough to see E=MCC over the line with an over to spare, Hewitt returning at the end after a creditable fielding performance from Bellevue to remove 9 batsmen, which included two direct hit run-outs and an actual caught-behind (well done Sharav).

Unfortunately Sharav was helpless as Quinn speared one down the leg-side at the end of the 19th over, and the batsmen ran two byes to win the game. A great, closely-fought game, played in an excellent spirit as usual. Thanks to E=MCC, and the travelling support, and Mrs Q for the traybakes.

I had a really beautifully-crafted match report written about this game, and then cleverly wiped it in a piece of computing incompetence. You're just going to have to take my word for it that was possibly literary-award-winning material.

Thanks to Informatics for another good-spirited game, played in appalling weather. Top marks to Wintour, for batting bravely when the ball was leaping off a 'lively, sporting pitch' and whistling past his nose, this being his first game of cricket since copping a bouncer on the nose in 2003, against the very same opponents. That time, the game was considered to be an honourable draw, on account of them having put one of our players in hospital. This time it was their own cricket supremo - Sujai - who departed for A&E to get 4 stitches in his lip, having worn a rising delivery when keeping wicket.

Thanks to all who turned up to play, Kat for scoring, and to Mohsin for kindly guesting for us. Stevie Liddell, you will notice, now tops both the batting and bowling charts. I think you'll agree this is a situation we can't allow to continue. Next game against Edinburgh Uni Staff in 2 weeks' time... Sign up now!

On yet another windy evening at Inverleith Park, Bellevue scraped home with a sharply-taken single off the penultimate ball to make it two from two this season.

With a reduced number of players at our disposal this week, it was an inexperienced-looking bowling attack that took to the field, after Quinn had won the toss and taken pity on an Informatics side which, at that point, had only six players. The plan had been to bat first, since we knew we would only have eight at the start of the game, but their need was greater than ours.

Quinn and Parks opened the bowling and kept things reasonably tight, but it was young Ben Porteous, coming on first change in his first game for Bellevue, who made a mark by taking 2-15 from his 4 overs. His first wicket owed something to a very well judged catch from Craig, who, with at least 3 team-mates converging on a skier, called decisively and then pouched it safely, despite the swirling wind.

Another product of the 'youth system', Sam Galloway, also making his Bellevue bow, came on and bowled tidily, and would have taken a wicket if Old Man Kelly had held on to another steepling chance at deep midwicket.

Informatics kept the scoreboard ticking over throughout, and finished on 109 from their 20 overs. Robertson and I'Anson began the chase steadily enough, but after spurning a number of cast-iron singles, Robertson called his partner through for a risky quick one, and a direct hit by the bowler sent Coco packing, much to his chagrin.

Robertson thankfully got his head down after this, and raced to 25 not out, and his first appearance on the honours board and with Psycho chipping in some useful runs, things started to look rosier. Liddell and Senthil formed an important partnership, with young Sharav playing a fine knock, hooking them from in front of his nose at times, and generally taking the attack to the bowlers, before departing for a highly creditable 16. Liddell, by this stage, had already been retired after a particularly fluent unbeaten 25.

The old men of the team, Quinn and J Kelly, then steered us home with one ball to spare. As usual with our games against Informatics, the match was played in an excellent spirit, and our thanks to them for a great game of cricket.

Bellevue began the new season with a good win at a windy and not-especially-warm Arboretum Road last night. Winning the toss, skipper JK elected to bat, and the team justified his decision, eventually reaching a total of 116 with good knocks from Norrie, laying to rest the ghosts of his first ball duck here last year, Dainzy and last year's Young Player of the Year, Michael Kelly. The Bellevue innings stuttered towards the end a little, with left-arm Crossers Gaware and Mehta keeping things tight in the final overs, but 116 seemed a reasonable effort.

CA Smith and Butt started the Cross reply well, but with Calum's departure, unbeaten on 27, and Nipun's failure to trouble the scorers, most of the momentum disappeared from the innings. Despite failing to take the frequent run-out chances, and Quinn's suspiciously-spot-fixing-esque five (or so) wides in his penultimate over, good fielding, the rapidly-descending twilight and some excellent bowling, particularly from Liddell, combined to squeeze the life out of the Cross batting effort.

Thanks to everyone who braved the cold!

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 sometime in September. Many apologies for not recognising this in print earlier, but I was waiting for a photo of Michael to replace the space (above right). Still waiting @ April 2011... :-)

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 the dinner.