This was the first time we had entered the Cricket Scotland S1-S3 qualifying competition which was hosted by GWC. Having had very little quality opposition in the eight games we have played so far this term, it was a welcome challenge to face older players in this U15 competition.  Bigger boys, with big levers and who hit the ball a long way: it would be a test bit one that would show me who has the heart and bottle to stand up and not wilt under pressure when things get tough. No expectations of winning a game but more the chance to play against better opposition before we head in to the second half of the season after half term.

We would play three games, each one ten overs per side, and on what was a very blustery and at times bitterly cold day, it would be important that we bowled a disciplined line and length to avoid being hit to the boundary and then with the bat, play each ball on its merit and just look to accumulate runs as boundaries would be hard to come by given the speed the older opposition bowlers would bowl at. 

First up was Edinburgh Academy who included two old boys in their team and it was nice to see Jack and Finn again! Their big openers were quick to latch on to anything marginally short and peppered the boundary but once we dismissed them, wickets began to fall and they scored 106-7 in their 10 overs. In reply, we scored 48-2, batting very carefully, running the singles and we batted very sensibly against some quick bowling. Lots learned and after a nervous start with the ball, we bowled much fuller and took wickets which was super to see. Milo and Thomas bowled very well indeed and deservedly picked up wickets.

Our second game was against GWC, a team containing a number of Scotland u15 and Eastern Knights players  no easy task but batting first again, we scored 62-2 with Cody and Charles batting extremely well together against an excellent bowling attack, Cody was quick to punish anything loose and he won admiring comments from the opposition for his aggressive stroke play,  A terrific batting effort and although we bowled well, GWC easily chased down the target to clinch victory.

With my fingers icy cold and feet like blocks of ice, we faced Merchiston U15s in our final game of the day. We swapped the batting order around and Charlie SW opened and carried his bat ending up 20no after ten overs as we scored 48-1.  A super display of controlled batting, pushing the ball in to the gaps and rotating the strike well up again at some big, tall boys. Merchiston lost five wickets chasing down our total but it was another excellent effort with both bat and ball. 

In all three games, we lost fewer wickets than the opposition and just lacked the strength and power to hit boundaries unlike the 15 year old opponents. We did however bat very well, technically correct and all opposition coaches were very complimentary about the standard of cricket we played.

A very good day indeed and an excellent cricketing experience which we has been in short supply during the first half of term. Well played, boys!