Accies v Musselburgh was the first game and after winning the toss Captain Andrew ‘Macca’ Maclaren decided to bat first. Unfortunately the innings didn’t last long with Accies being bowled out for 28 in the 6th over. Extras top scored with 10. Despite only having a low total to defend, Accies attacked the Musselburgh batsman, bowling well and taking two wickets before Musselburgh reached their target of 29 in the 4th over. Despite the loss spirits were high due to a really good bowling performance.

In the second game of the evening Musselburgh lost to Glenrothes, meaning Accies were still in with a shot of winning the group if a win could be secured v Glenrothes.

Rare as an Accies toss win is, Macca managed to win his second of the evening, this time putting Glenrothes in. 3 run outs during their innings meant that they never really were able to put a great score on the board, however a total of 44 to win was still a competitive total. A steady batting performance between Tamal and Macca ensured the target was reached in the 5th over without the loss of a wicket and Macca scoring 22.

With 1 win apiece the group is still wide open and Accies sit 2nd in the group with 9 points, Mussleburgh have 11 and Glenrothes 8.

The ESCA match reports can be found here.

The next group matches take place for Accies on 16th March.

Introduction to Umpiring
Players are keen to go on short Umpires’ courses, and one has been arranged in Edinburgh on March 29, and another in Glenrothes on March 22. They last two hours and are free.

I have been on one of these courses and I can promise you – they are fun and you will learn lots of good tips.

Contact Greig Hopcroft for the Glenrothes course g.hopcroft@scothosts.com and Lea Tsui for the Ravelston one leatsui@cricketscotland.com

Level 1 Umpiring
There is also a level 1 course arranged – this is a more intensive course for those who intend to umpire regularly, and there is an exam at the end of it. It is really intended for those who want to umpire regularly.  Sandy needs to know numbers well in advance in order to get course materials so people should register with leatsui@cricketscotland.com by 10th Feb at the latest.

The dates of the level 1 are Saturday 10th, Sunday 11th, Sunday 18th March at Cricket Scotland MES Sports Centre 11am to 5pm.

The first game of the evening saw the Accies take on the Eastern Regional Academy.  Having won the toss captain Geraint chose to bowl first.  This proved to be a good decision as some tight bowling and some sharp fielding led to the Accies bowling out the Academy for 98 with a couple of overs to spare.  The opening batting partnership of Andy and Tom got of to a steady start, but Tom fell to a good catch at mid-off and shortly after Andy nicked one through to the keeper to bring Angus and Graeme to the crease.  The two were able to steady the ship and keep the Accies within touch of the required run rate.  With 30 runs required for the win Angus went to a good bit of bowling bringing Ryan to the crease and with 4 overs left the game could have gone either way.  But a strong batting performance from Graeme and some wayward bowling meant Accies got the required total with an over and a half remaining.

With the Eastern Academy beating the Wildcats in the second game both teams had a point to prove going into the final game of the evening.  Geraint unfortunately lost the toss and we were put into bat.  With some good bowling and tight fielding the Accies were restricted to 10 runs an over for the first few overs.   Things took a turn for the worse when Tom hit a shot in the air towards the long-on fielder who dropped the catch but managed to run out Andy with the follow up piece of fielding.  With some gutsy batting and a few 6’s late on Accies managed to post a total of 108 to make for a competitive chase.  The Wildcats came out guns blazing and saw one of there batsmen retire within the 3^rd over.  But a tight bit of bowling from spinners Andy and Graeme along with a couple of quick wickets in the middle overs brought momentum back to the Accies.  Although the following bowlers gave it their all it was not enough to prevent the Wildcats batsmen from reaching their target with an over to spare.

So with all three teams winning one game each, the group is wide open.  With only one spot available to make the semi-finals its all to play for on the 24^th of February when the sides meet up for the return matches.

The Cricket Scotland report on the group matches can be found here:

http://www.cricketscotland.com/CMsixesweek42012

The full draw can be seen on the ESCA website.

In other news, Cricket Scotland have updated clubs on the rules for the Domestic Competitions to be played this season.

Accies 1st XI play their first round robin matches in the Cricket Scotland Cricket Media Super Sixes at the National Cricket Academy in the Mary Erskine School Sports Centre. Accies play in the first and last games, starting at 6.30pm.

Nets continue at Westwoods on Sunday from 11 until 1.

In the Murgitroyd Masterton T20 competition Accies will face Grange in the 1st round with a tie against either Fauldhouse or Marchmont awaiting the winner in the 2nd Round.

In the Presidents Trophy Accies will face Dunfermline in the 1st round with the winner meeting either Eastern Regional Academy U15s or Murrayfield DAFS in the 2nd Round.

With only the Activcity Presidents Plate Cup fixtures to be decided for Accies 2nd XI, it’s time to gear up for the season. Winter nets start on Sunday 22nd January and continue every Sunday until April 8th, 11am – 1pm at Westwoods Health Club. Please bring £4 to cover the cost of the hall hire.

Hope to see you there!

Accies 2nd XI will start the season on 28th April with 3 consecutive home games against Preston Village, Edinburgh South 2nd XI (5th May) and Livingston 2nd XI (12th May).

The middle of the season sees Accies play close neighbours Holy Cross 2nd XI twice in two weeks, at home on 23rd June and away at the Arbo on 29th June.

The league season will finish with 3 away games v Stirling County 3rd XI (11 August), Musselburgh 2nd XI (18th August) and Watsonians 3rd XI (15th August).

A full list of the fixtures are now available on the 2nd XI Fixtures page.

Group D fixtures will be played on January 27th and February 24th at Mary Erskine School with the first match starting at 6:30pm. Group D newcomers Wilcats VI are the first female side to enter the competition.

Group A consists of Grange, Carlton and Stenhousemuir, Group B contains Heriots, Murrayfield DAFS and SMRH and in Group C are Watsonians, Edinburgh University and Uddingston.

Each innings consists of a maximum of 10, 6 ball overs with batsman retiring after they reach 25.

The order of play has been announced and Accies face the Eastern Regional Academy in the first game of the evening before taking on the Wildcats in the last game of the night.

The fixtures see Accies travel to face Stirling County in the Scottish Cup on the opening day of the season (21st April). This is a week earlier than in previous years to accommodate the extra games from the group format of the Scottish Cup. Accies then travel to Ferguslie and Heriots in the cup.

The league season gets underway on the 12th May when Accies travel to Fife to face Freuchie before welcoming Penicuik to Newfield a week later. A full fixture list for Accies can be found on the 1st Fixtures page (http://www.acciescricket.co.uk/wordpress/fixtures-1st-xi/).

Accies have been drawn in Group D along with Musselburgh and Glenrothes.

Accies will play on 10th February and 9th March, with the first match on each night beginning at 6.30pm. All games will take place at Liberton High School with finals night on 16th March.

Group A consists of Tranent, Boroughmuir and Holy Cross. Group B consists of Morton, Edin Schools Academy and Carlton, whilst Fauldhouse, Marchmont and Edinburgh South all face off in Group C.

Stirling County 3rd XI

Musselburgh 2nd XI

Penicuik 2nd XI

MDAFS 3rd XI

Watsonians 3rd XI

Holy Cross 2nd XI

Preston Village

Edinburgh South 2nd XI

Livingston 2nd XI

Full details of the new league structure can be found on the East League website (www.eastleague.org.uk).