Pringle: Cricket Match Reports Last update: 10-may-08

U11 v Stewart's Melville (7 May) Won by 76 runs

The second away game of the season was an all 1st form match in the sun at Stewart’s Melville. While we warmed up with cricket balls, the opposition half-heartedly messed around with spongy balls. This was to cost them dearly. Daniel won the toss and elected to bat first on the artificial wicket. Jamie and Tim were disappointed with the way they lost their wickets early on, but Daniel went on to play an excellent innings of 59 with powerful cuts and pulls and one exquisite cover drive. Luc did not find the fluency that comes naturally in practice, but he ably supported Dan. The innings was finished off with some spectacular big hitting from John. It was clear after a couple of excellent opening overs from Daniel and Ali that our score was safe, but Tim made victory certain by ripping through their middle order. Jamie was keeping wicket for the first time and produced an excellent display that will keep Jordan on his toes in practice.

U11B v Clifton Hall (6 May) Lost by 46 runs

The team played a great game bowling and fielding very strongly setting up a great base for our next game. Unfortunately our batting still did not match the conditions and we struggled to score and were forced to make silly decisions causing the loss of wickets. Noteworthy performances by Euan as captain leading the team well, also Hamish with two amazing catches busting the team spirits when it was sorely needed.

Pringle 1st XI v Cargilfield (3 May) Lost by 2 wkts

This was a very exciting match which went down to the second to last ball of the match.  Merchiston batted first and put on a decent total, 141/6 in their 40 overs – probably 20 shy of what they should have reached.  Once again Andy I was excellent up front with 39, and Tom D (34) and George H (34*) batted well in the middle order.  The team talk before we fielded was to cut the mistakes (dropped catches and missed run outs) which have cost us so far this season.  A super start by the ever reliable George had Cargilfield 21/2.  But then the mistakes started to happen and Cargilfield capitalised on it – we dropped their key batsman early on and missed a few run out chances. Credit must be given to the Cargilfield boys who ran superbly between the wickets and put the fielders under immense pressure.  A great spell from Andrew I brought Merchiston right back into the game and 2 runs were needed in the final over with Robert D to bowl – ANOTHER drop catch eased the pressure on Cargilfield and they won with two balls to spare.

U11 v Cargilfield (3 May) Lost

A sunny Saturday on Rogerson Slopes was the perfect setting for the boys to exorcise the ghosts of the lacklustre Loretto performance against a notoriously strong Cargilfield side. The boys were especially motivated by the presence of a large crowd of excited Pringle parents. Dan won the toss and elected to bat. The Cargilfield bowlers were incredibly accurate throughout the innings and conceded only 6 extras, but the Pringle batsmen really applied themselves and Jordan led the way with a fluent 29 based on sturdy defence and scything pull shots. 63 was always going to be a difficult target to defend, but Dan and Ali steamed into bowl and had their opening batsmen in real difficulties for the first 6 overs. Once they survived our opening onslaught they were always favourites to win, but ferocious yorkers from Luc , flighted tempters form Lawrence and clever variations from Tim and Xander meant that Cargilfield could never take anything for granted and Xander and Dan were rewarded with a wicket apiece.

U11 v Loretto (29 April) Lost

We arrived late at Loretto after posing for the school photo and suffering a navigationally challenged bus driver and were greeted with an extremely soft and low-bouncing pitch. The Loretto opening bowlers showed good discipline in bowling full and straight, but Jordan C and Tim H looked comfortable until Loretto’s fantastic wicket-keeper stumped an unlucky Jordan with some incredibly quick glove-work. It was Loretto’s first change bowlers that really decided the match. Two very small spinners came on and enticed our batsmen into a succession of ill-advised swipes across the line, with only Jamie M showing the necessary discipline and footwork. 56 was a realistic target to defend on a spongy pitch, but some wayward opening bowling and some fine pull shots from the Loretto opening batsmen meant that they reached the target for the loss of only two wickets. Special mention must go to Ru H who took a full blown cut shot right on the chin. He was phenomenally brave about it and we hope to see him back in the team soon.

Pringle 1st XI v Brockhurst (26 April) Draw

This was to be the first time match of the season, and it was going to be a huge challenge for the boy’s concentration. Alex D won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to put the pressure on and take a few early wickets. The opening bowlers Angus S and Robert D were super and Brockhurst found themselves 14/3 after 9 overs. Then disaster! We dropped their key batsman twice in a few overs, a mistake we were to pay for as he upped the run rate and caused a lot of uncertainty amongst the fielders with his hard hitting. He was dropped again later on in his innings but the damage had already been done as he and another batsman put on 130 for the 4 th wicket. Brockhurst eventually declared on 166 leaving Merchiston 31 overs to reach their total. The openers Dougal B and Andrew I were superb in their approach putting on 64 for the opening partnership. The total set was too much for us and the team closed up shop with 10 overs to go and our score on 85/2. 3 silly wickets were lost in the final 3 overs which were bowled by unrecognised bowlers

Pringle 1st XI v Stewart's Melville (24 April) Won by 53 runs

After a disappointing loss the previous Saturday the boys were very keen to get a win under their belt. Being put in to bat first on a sticky wicket the openers stuck to their task and played each ball on its merit putting on 60 runs for the opening partnership. This platform was perfect for Alex Docherty to play his natural game, and he put on a further 70 run partnership with Andy Ibbetson. The team managed an excellent 164 in their 25 overs only losing two wickets. Unfortunately the bowling and fielding wasn’t as sharp as the batting and we missed a few runs outs and catches, which a better team will take advantage of. A good win nevertheless.

U10 v Loretto (24 April) Lost by 9 wkts

The boys were very keen to win their first cricket match of the season. Loretto won the toss and elected to bowl first and started well getting our key batsman, Jordan, out early on. Angus H and Daniel M pulled things back a bit but when they were out wickets tumbled regularly. Credit must go to the Loretto bowlers who made life very difficult for the team. The Merchiston bowling attack started well and put on some pressure early on, but unfortunately did not take their opportunities with dropped catches and missed run out. Loretto eventually eased passed the score with only one wicket down. A lot of hard work is required on the batting.

U11 v St Mary's (22 April) Won by 74 runs

St Mary’s opening bowlers provided a real test for the team, but a magnificent innings from Daniel N (84) and some fine bowling (Tim H 2/4), supplemented by good catches from Luc and John, were enough for a win in the rare sunshine. A lot of work is needed to improve the batting though.

U9 v St Mary's Melrose (22 April) Won by 13 runs

The U9 team began their season strongly.  Michael G the captain won the toss and chose to field first.  The bowlers did a good job to contain the St Mary’s batsman, but more work is needed in this area.  The batting was a lot more confident than the bowling with the big hitters being Angus H, Daniel M and Lochy E.  The team never looked like losing apart from a few silly run outs.

A good team performance.

Pringle 1st XI v Edinburgh Academy (19 April) Lost by 25 runs

The team had been training all winter getting ready for an action packed cricket season.  Fortunately the weather held out, and the boys were raring to go in their new kit sponsored by Starnet.  Merchiston won the toss and opted to bowl first on a sticky wicket, and it proved to be a good decision as the opposition were soon struggling on 30/6.  Poor discipline with the ball and sloppy fielding allowed them to miraculously recover to 91 all out – a very defendable total.  Merchiston began their innings slowly, keeping the score board ticking.  Andrew I was the first to go playing a poor shot across the line, and then the rot started.  Merchiston found themselves in a big hole at 39/6.  Unfortunately we weren’t able to recover from that position and were eventually bowled out for 67.

A very disappointing game, with little application being shown by the top order batsmen.

U11 v Edinburgh Academy (19 April) Won by 59 runs

After one training session the boys weren’t entirely prepared for this match, but were very excited nonetheless. Merchiston won the toss and elected to bat first, which turned out to be a good decision as the team posted 130 in their 25 overs with Daniel N (39) and Tim H (28) scoring the runs. Daniel N bowled really well putting the Academy on the backfoot from the first over. They never really recovered from that over and could only muster 71 in their 25 overs. A good opening match in the bitter cold!

U10 v Edinburgh Academy (19 April) Lost

The 13 J4/5 boys selected for the match were very excited and nervous about their first cricket match against the Academy.  The match was 26 overs of kwik cricket with each boy bowling two overs and batting in pairs for 4 overs.  The standout bowlers were Angus H, and Rory L.  Unfortunately our bowling let us down and we conceded too many extras gifting the Academy free runs.  The team batted well in patches but lost concentration occasionally losing crucial wickets at crucial times.  A very valuable game where the boys learnt a lot. 

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