Hawick & Wilton CC vs Dollar Cricket Club

Date: 10/07/22 | Location: Buccleuch Park, Hawick | Overs: 30 | Conditions: Hot and Sunny

On Sunday we ventured down the A7 through the sprawling scenic Borders to arrive in Hawick as we squared off against our newest foe. The conditions would not have looked out of place in St. Lucia, and the wicket seemed as if it might encourage some unnerving bounce. Stand in skipper Cameron Glasgow called tails but the coin fell one revolution short and our hosts decided to take the first stint in the field.

Adam Buchanan-Smith and Alan Douglas took up their regular role as openers. The opening pair of Johnston and Stewart got the ball moving away from the batsmen early and often and runs were at a premium. Douglas got things going as he found the rope with a thick outside-edge and the duo began rolling back the years with quick sprints announced by raucous shouts.

The first wicket stand was broken before it could reach double digits as Stewart pitched one on a length in the corridor that curved away and took a snick from Douglas’ defence to make its way to the keeper, out for 7. Simon Breasley entered at 3 and quickly got off the mark as he cracked a full toss back past the bowler. The talented Stewart continued to find his troubling movement and doubled up his tally as Buchanan-Smith fell in near identical fashion to Douglas, out for 1. Score, 15/2 after 7.

The skipper walked past Buchanan-Smith on his way to middle and was almost sent back quickly as he gave an early chance, but the man at extra-cover gave Glasgow a lifeline. Spurred on by his extra life, Glasgow fired off a string of early 4s, including one that sent the square-leg umpire ducking for cover. Spurred on by his partner, Breasley started slicing the cherry into bits as he moved the ball all over the off-side. The run rate was now looking promising as the pair got the electronic scoreboard jumping up in multiples of 4. Score, 44/2 after 12.

The pitch started to take its foot off the accelerator, but kept encouraging movement and the undulating bounce began to rear its head. Glasgow would get another life as he was dropped at square-leg, but was clearly unmoved as he confidently navigated his way through the 30s, and put the foot down in the 40s as he smashed a flat 6 past mid-wicket and following it up he fizzled 4 down the same avenue to bring up his half-century.

Breasley joined in on the boundary bonanza as the batsmen deadened the attack. Our second 100 stand of the season was brought up (Smith & Glasgow, Comrie) and it started to seem the batsmen were concreted in at the crease. Unfortunately after the pair pushed through for a quick 2, just as Breasley made his ground an old rugby 7s hamstring tear opened itself up and even his Yorkshire resolve could not handle the pain so he begrudgingly walked off “retired hurt” for a very well played 39. He surely would have made full use of the ball as well on the up, up, down track. Score, 119/2 after 20.

Tim Dillon entered the searing heat and joined Glasgow, who now had his eyes fixed firmly on a mammoth total. The skipper sent his second maximum flying over fine leg, and Dillon got in on act as showed a delicate touch to glide the ball past third-man. Unfortunately that would be it for Dillion as Tait found his outside edge and the ball fired straight to 2nd slips diving right mitt, gone for 6.

An over later Glasgow would fall short of his ton as the Brogan found the patch on the wicket that was not for bouncing and a daisy cutter removed the skippers bails, out for 81. An absolutely stellar knock from the captain, and the highest score in the post-Covid era of DCC. Well played Mr Glasgow, who in the process capitulated himself into a distant 1st place in this years run scoring charts. Score, 140/4 after 27.

Pete Matthews and Charlie Dunn entered at 6 and 7, and without the luxury of time quickly set about adding valuable late runs. Dunn’s youthful exuberance to push for 2s tested Matthews’ lungs, but his long legs were more than up for the task. Despite the screaming heart-rate, Matthews dealt with any questions with astute confidence. The dangerous Stewart was brought back on to close the innings and Dunn started to hog the strike as he unleashed a collection of late whacked 4s and both men walked off with their wickets intact, Matthews on 3 and Dunn on a quick fire 16. A fine late stand of 29 propped up by extras.

DCC: 178/4 after 30
Top Scorers: Glasgow, 81 | Breasley, 39** | Dunn, 16*

A sociable tea was taken as we headed in to our hosts fantastic club house which sits a top their modern grandstand. Thanks to all those who kept us fed, and more importantly hydrated on a scorcher of a day.

As per usual Tim Dillon got the reply underway, and was supported at the other end by Greg Stewart, who was making his first appearance for DCC since 2013 when he was a mere whippersnapper. The opening pair of G. Welsh and Brogan did not care for playing themselves in and looked for early boundaries. This aggression would be Brogan’s undoing as he looked to send one from Stewart over the rope, but young James Donaldson showed elite composure as he back-tracked from mid-off with his eyes fixated firmly on the sky-high cherry and took a brilliant one-hand catch as he twisted around on debut.

Dillon kept asking early menacing questions and often beat the outside edge of the talented bats. As Johnston put the bit between his teeth, Adam Buchanan-Smith replaced Stewart and started to keep the Borderers at bay with some befuddling bounce and a variety of lengths. Dillon would be left in anguish as he found Welsh’s outside edge, but the ball somehow ended up between 1st slips legs after a diversion of his hands and knees, the culprit will keep his anonymity…for now…

Dillon was fixated on a dangerous line and length and (embargo lifted) Buchanan-Smith would save his blushes as he made no mistake as the ball flicked Johnston’s outside edge and the resident slipper engulfed the ball as Dillon got his deserved reward, gone for a speedy 22. Score, 46/2 after 8.3 overs.

Spurred on by his redemption, Buchanan-Smith failed to let the batsmen get any momentum, and then he lobbed down a fuller one that drifted across the afternoon sky and struck Welsh clean on the pads that would have hit middle and middle, a beaut of a ball. At the other end Dillon rounded off his spell and was replaced by Charlie Dunn.

The runs started to dry up, and with the tie shifting in our favour Dunn let out a ‘howzat’ full of gusto that could have been heard in Dollar as he trapped C. Welsh’s back leg planted near the stumps, and despite the silence from the rest of the field, the umpire agreed with Dunn and Welsh went on his way. In the next over Dunn was left a whisker short of what would have been a sensational run out. Drinks were taken and the score at the halfway stage was 75/4- finely poised.

The always threatening break in proceedings played its hand once again as IMOM Dillon shared his secrets of cricketing espionage with Dunn who let off a seam-up delivery that made full use of the springboard wicket and Montgomery hoopingly gloved it to the ever reliable Glasgow behind the stumps.

Buchanan-Smith and Dunn rounded off their spells with a few half chances, but by the time of the 3rd bowling change Tait and Alexander (C) well and truly had their eyes in. Stewart was brought back on, and Tom Hall replaced ABS. The batsmen raced the score past the hundred mark, and despite the bowlers and fielders best efforts the Hawick men had skill in abundance and pushed the ball all around the quick outfield. Score, 152/5 after 24.

With the contest being diverted up a one way street, Glasgow whipped off his gloves and gave them to Buchanan-Smith as the skipper looked to conjure up a miracle. Alexander raised his bat, and soon after Tait also sent his bat skywards as the required runs headed towards single digits. With 16 balls left to go, Alexander nailed one through the close fielders and the ball reached the rope and the contest was over. A solid start undone by a brilliant 104 middle order stand. An extra special mention goes our Chairman’s other offspring: Cameron, who like his brother made his DCC debut today. The older Donaldson did an admirable job of preventing boundaries all afternoon long.

Hawick and Wilton: 179/5 after 27.3 overs.
Best figures: Dunn, 2 for 29 from 5 | Dillon, 1 for 25 from 6

Result: Hawick and Wilton CC Victory by 5 wickets.

Thanks go to Bruce Harper’s Bridge Street Bar for assuming ‘sponsorship’ of the MOTM award: a pint of Guinness for the recipient, nothing better. The BSB Man of the Match – Cameron Glasgow

A wonderful knock from the stand in skipper as he continued on with his great batting form he has shown all season long. His work behind the stumps was also first rate, and often found himself scampering around to plug the gaps of Breasley’s absence.

Glasgow had this to say: “I had to be on my game to be the best Cameron in the team!”

We give thanks to our newest friends for the very competitive game and the typically friendly Borders’ hospitality. We look forward to welcoming them to Dollar in 2023 and wish them the best of the luck with the rest of their league campaign.

We are back in action on Sunday against yet another new opponent in the shape of Hillhead CC (Glasgow). Start time 1300 in Dollar. Spectators most welcome.

Season Record
Played 8 | Won 5 | Lost 3

Ohhh DCC