Buckie CC v RAF Lossiemouth |
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Macallan League |
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Batting collapse leads the way
Buckie CC entertained RAF Lossiemouth on Saturday, to Linzee Gordon Park, for a match sponsored by James Jappy Painter. On a beautiful spring day skipper Corsie won the toss and elected to bat.
Corsie and Eadie Walls opened the batting, resplendent in their new logo’d shirts, sponsored by Macro Forests. Thanks from the entire club to proprietor Gerry Cross for this generous gesture.
The opening pair was batting against, arguably, the most useful opening tandem bowlers in the league, Wolton and Patten.
Corsie again looked his top class, and was not in any real trouble, but unfortunately the other Buckie batsmen did not cope with the two quick bowlers. With the score on 7 Walls gave first slip some catching practice when he didn’t pick the right line of a ball from Patten. Daniel Walls, Anthony Wilson, Barry Newlands and Guy Lindsay all fell for the addition of only 24 runs, and Buckie were reeling on 31 for 6, and Corsie stranded. Buckie needed someone to stay with John and build a partnership. Mike baker was next and he and John did just that. Mike’s 18 off 41 balls were just what John required to lead a stand of 62 before Nash claimed Baker’s wicket. The collapse began again with all 4 remaining batsmen failing, with the addition of only 28 runs.
Buckie were all out for 120 with John Corsie scoring 80 magnificent runs, Mike Baker 18 and extras next top on 9. All other 9 members of the team contributed 13 runs. Even against some very good Lossie bowling, this problem has to be addressed in coming weeks. Magnificent figures for the Lossie bowlers, Patten 5 for 39, Nash 3 for 8 and Wolton 1 for 17.
After the interval Buckie’s bowlers had to bail out the batsmen with a very good performance. The two Lossie openers started the innings with gusto, scoring 35 runs in just 7 overs, when Creamer got lucky when he bowled a quite awful ball that was played on to his stumps by Coe. At 53 for 1 the skipper brought himself on and took the valuable wicket of Wolton in his first over, caught by Javid at mid-on. Wilson then had the opener caught at slip by Corsie and then when in the field, fired in a bullet return to the wicket keeper, that allowed him to run out Patten.
Suddenly the Lossie jitters could be felt all around the ground as they slumped to 55 for 4. 21 runs were added when Wilson had Sims caught by Creamer. Another 20 runs and Creamer claims Boardman, 96 for 6. 15 more runs and Mike Baker takes two wickets in 3 balls, 111 for 8.
Lossie needed only 10 runs to win, but everybody in the ground knew that it felt like 50 to the away side, as they poked and prodded the ball around nervously. The captain Gary Oldfield was still there though.
Creamer, now in his second spell, was bowling much better and Oldfield lifted one to extra cover. With shouts of ‘Catch it’ all around the ground the easy chance was put down. Oldfield then went on to hit the winning runs for Lossie.
In the end a tremendously exciting cricket match for the spectators and players alike, played in superb spirit, but alas Buckie’s one and a half year winning streak came to an end at the hands of a very useful Lossie side, by 2 wickets.
Buckie should be proud of their bowling efforts and fighting spirit, but John Corsie cannot beat sides on his own. Buckie’s batting was woeful and has to improve if they are going to compete at the top this year.
Next week Buckie 1 st XI travels to Highland for a game sponsored by Louis Fish and Chips.
The seconds open their campaign at home in a game sponsored by Macro Forest Ltd. Both games start at 1 o’clock.
Terry Curran
