Livingston Cricket Club

Another monster week for the Livi juniors.  With games every day (nearly) and two on the Sunday you can bet there’s a few frayed nerves and weary legs.  However, come the Sunday evening (19^th June), it didn’t seem that way.

Week started weirdly with a monster team of top athletes from Watsons slaughter the under 14s.  So much so that Matteo, Srikar and Adit came back a second time to put a wee total on.  No total would have been high enough for Watson’s Luca who tonked a 50 in super record time.  Player.  Have said that before too.  The Watson’s lads were supremely cool with the wee’est Livi players, many of whom would never have faced anything of the likes of the opposition.  Great start.

On Tuesday, no under 18s so adults again took on the juniors.  Some great batting from Srikar and Lennon as well as magic bowling from Alex but wasn’t enough to get them over the line.  Current score is 2-1 to the seniors.

Wednesday a top under 16s team took to Grange who put out a young and spirited under 16s.  Livi put on a monster total on a top pitch with 167 runs scored.  50 partnerships for Srikar and Arsh as well as for Matthew and Jagat.  In reply, David took 3 wickets and lots of catches and stumpings for our magician Dylan.  Grange got to 97 and then the 100 minute drive home due to bad roads was a joyful one.

Thursday saw the visit for the first time from Falkland in the under 14s cup.  Falkland batted first and put on 93 runs, with the last 8 wickets falling for 20 runs or so.  4 run outs, wickets for the usual suspects and a lot of fun.  In reply, Livi went about their task and surpassed the total comfortably after 12 overs.  

Friday night wee team were at Grange for some experience building. Great to see Livi pals John Blain and Adrian Graves and big thanks to new pal Johnnie for running the game lovely.  Shout out to Tanya for fielding with a dislocated finger and without complaint.

Saturday sees Livi players through all three XIs and Zaki was the top performer with 50 not out at Clacks 2s.  First of many and now its time to move to a 100 sunshine.

Highlight of the weekend though is the ECB Under 13s finals day at Inverlieth.

In the semi Livi defeated Uddingston “comfortably” according to some reports but it never was.  Batting first, Livi lost 2 wickets for 4 runs with Matthew getting a golden.  However, thoughtful batting from Srikar, Max and Archie as well as a few from Griff got Livi to 86.

In response, Uddy lost their top dude N. Umeed for 0 with Matthew running him out from behind the stumps. His wee bruv Simon wasn’t far behind and then broken bat boy Ans Ali hit a lovely 30 (retired not out).  Livi bowled with purpose and fielded well and with Matthew takin 2 wickets for 8 and 3 catches, as well as Srikar taking 3 key wickets as well as brill bowling from Alex, Vivaan and Max, restricted Uddy to 68.  Livi through to their first final at this level.

We came up against Carlton in the final who rolled us in the most polite manner.

Livi could only achieve 55 with highlight being Matthew’s blistering 28 including 3x 4’s in one over from Livi old boy Olly Stones.  

In response, despite losing brilliant James Stornach for a few, John Gill and Olly Stones surpassed the total without breaking sweat. 

Congrats to Carlton.  The players aspire to the performance levels you achieve and play the game in just the right spirit.

Here’s the best photo of the year (credit: Kelly Foley)

Onto the next finals day then…