The portents were not good: a team with a dress code arrives in a luxury coach carrying players and impressive support and the feeling that a club whose away trips take them to places like Edinburgh and Aberdeen might be too strong for Ouseburn CC was reinforced in the first over when Falkland opener and skipper Jack Henderson played a perfect hook shot on to the roof of the gazebo specially erected for the fifth round village cup tie at Ouseburn yesterday. . The gazebo never really recovered failing to withstand a stiff breeze and had to be dismantled. Fortunately Ouseburn fared better than the gazebo and did recover despite a partnership of 153 for the first wicket by Ferguson and Henderson. Tom Parker and Olly Rose brought some measure of control and although there was some more excellent stroke play from Brock Ditchburn a final score of 307 for 6 whist daunting was not as bad as we had feared at one time.
613 runs to go
Ouseburn began slowly but the loss of an early wicket brought Dave Cummins to the crease and he and Tom Parker then put together a partnership as good as anything I have seen at Lightmire Lane to a point where the group amongst whom I was sitting thought the home team slight favourites. Tom's 155 was magnificent and he received excellent support from Dave who made 88. Cummins' dismissal brought Jamie Bryant to the crease but he was tragically run out and Parker followed next ball. Ouseburn sent up the heavy guns in the form of Russ Robshaw and he, together with skipper Morrison got Ouseburn back into contention. The boys from Fife were not done however and skilful bowling and excellent fielding, the latter perhaps the deciding factor between the two sides, strangled the flow of boundaries.
With two overs to go it was anybody's game but a tight penultimate over left Morrison and Rose needing 10 off the last. Boundary needed but one would not come and the skipper was left to try and hit a four off the last ball. Two runs only were forthcoming and I suspect a slightly relieved Falkland CC were the victors by one run.
No doubt there were inquests and lots of ifs and buts as the game was digested over pints of beer, supplies of which had had to be replenished twice during the afternoon but we had seen a wonderful contest which judged from a deck chair at least appeared to have been played in a splendid spirit. Congratulations to the visitors who are now faced with another long trip as Scotland's last representative in the competition. Next stop for the boys from Fife is Hawk Green near Stockport. All Ouseburn players and supporters will follow you with interest. Good luck and may your next match be as memorable even if you would prefer it not so tight.
Finally a word of thanks to all at Ouseburn CC who worked so hard to make the occasion such a success, I have rarely enjoyed an afternoon's cricket more.
The tartan army
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