Eastern Academy Thwart Late Rally by Norway Under 19

Home captain Patrick Baker won the toss and in warm sunshine elected to bat against the touring Norway Under 19 team at Craiglockhart in a match that was being played in coloured clothing and using a white ball.
 
Openers Ossie Malik and Kyle Smith attempted to repeat their form of two days earlier but were separated in the tenth over with the score on 38 when Malik slashed a lifting delivery into gully's hands. Smith departed soon after, following which Baker was the dominant partner in a stand of 43 for the third wicket with Nik Hunt. The captain continued to bat assuredly but his partners did not find run scoring easy on a slow wicket with variable bounce. Fraser Boyd, batting at number seven, did more to take the game to the opposition and as a result he contributed 27 to a stand of 63 with Baker for the sixth wicket. Fraser's approach drew favourable comment form the Norwegian coach, former Middlesex and England spinner John Emburey. Baker was eighth out for 75 (73 balls, 126 minutes, 11 x 4) with the score on 185 at the start of the 39th over and a couple of boundaries and three scampered twos by Ally Maxwell in partnership with Alex Sim took the home total just beyond two hundred.
 
Sim struck with the first ball of the Norwegian innings when opening bat Awais edged to 'keeper Boyd.Even with a stand of 29 for the fourth wicket between visiting captain Waqas Ahmed and Hamza Mujaddidi, the home attack continued to be on top and reduced Norway Under 19 to 58 for 7. However, their lower order decided to go on the attack and Mansoor Ahmed was involved in stands of 47 for the eighth wicket, with Haris Mohammad, and 42 for the last wicket, with Ali Nasir. Captain Baker ended their rally when Nik Hunt took the third of the three fine catches which he held during the innings. Good catches had been a feature of the innings together with a smart stumping by Fraser Boyd.
 
This was only the second match on grass for our visitors who had fielded and bowled well in restricting our progress in the sixteen overs following the relaxation of the fielding restrictions after 12 overs. Their manager, Bob Gibb from Aberdeen, was pleased that his side had attained a creditable total after a deflating start. We wish them well in their quest to attain ICC Associate status.
 
Our thanks go to the groundstaff at Craiglockhart for their assistance in staging this match at fairly short notice and to the caterers at near-by Myreside for providing an enjoyable tea.    

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