The opening game of the McCulloch Cup saw EK take on Stenhousemuir up at Torrance House. This is one of two 1st level midweek T20s that the 1st XI are competing in and is also a competition EK have decided to use as platform for giving players around the club and fringes a bigger role. With that in mind, The Skipper Gavin Meikle led a mixed, although still strong team against a Stenny team that I think would be described as... also mixed!

The skipper won the toss and elected to bat on the same pitch that has been used on Saturday. That being said, although it was a worn pitch, it still looked in very fine condition. Hard on the top, with an even covering of grass and only slight signs of wear at the wicket ends. With the sun still high and a wicket like this, who wouldnt bat first? A slight change to the traditional order saw Ziggy promoted to open with Smitt. The start was very inauspicious for both teams. The stenny opener struggled to hit the cut track, and bowled a 12 ball opening over, including a few wides that went all the way to the boundary. How is that for the yips? The downside for EK though, was one that did hit the track, got big on Smitt who hit it straight to a fielder to be caught. This brought PJ to the crease and he immediately showed that he was in good nick- effortlessly rotating the strike to allow Ziggy to perform in the pinch hitting role he had been promoted for. He didnt disappoint and blasted 39 runs off 19 balls, before giving a simple catch to midwicket. However his work was done as EK found themselves 67-2 after 5 overs. The Skipper came to the crease to partner PJ and between them carried this work on; racing each other to see who could hit a 50 first and at no stage ever dropping below 11 an over. This was an unrelenting assault that just didnt stop! When The Skipper was out for 57 runs after a partnership of 113, PJ cut loose in fine fashion. He was caught on the last but one ball of the innings for a superb 82 off of 48 and EK were in the driving seat with a commanding 233 for 4.

A brief commiseration with the Stenhousemuir bowling lineup. The temptation would be to say after having 233 caned off them that they bowled mince, or presume that they were a team of youngsters. This was not necessarily the case- whilst they wouldnt claim to be an attack to blow anyones socks off, they were workmanlike and were unfortunate to come up against a lineup of in form clean hitters on a very true pitch across a lightning fast outfield. The groundsman can give themselves a pat on the back, although I suspect that their drinks will have to be bought by the batsmen! We all have days like this in the field (we have had 2 already!) and the Stenny team was generally a little less experienced. With the benefit of a year or twos more experience and if they can keep that lot together, I doubt that will happen to them again next year. Great potential!

Que the second innings and Stenny emulated EK by getting off to a flyer! Poor Dangerous being the recipient of the long handle treatment, as he opened with The President, to record figures of 30 runs off 2 overs. Ouch! . A bowling change at both ends saw Stewy and Ziggy come on to bowl. Stewy showed a bit of nous and the benefit of his experience playing all these years at Torrance House and bowled nice and straight and just back of a length which isnt easy to get away. The question for The Skipper is why did Stewy only get 3 overs?! That aside though, poor Ziggy also got caned in his first two overs and for a fleeting second, it looked like Stenny might make a go of it. However the boundaries quickly dried up and wickets for Ziggy, Stewy, Clarky and Waz meant that Stenny never got going. Ziggys second two overs being miles better (read: unplayable) as he too clocked the length for these kinds of wickets and with his pace, gave the new batsmen a torrid time. Stenny thus came in at a respectable 158-4 to give EK a victory by 75 runs.

The author hasnt checked who TCS made Man of the Match. So in true Presidential Style, I have made an executive decision and made it PJ Coetzee for his absolutely superb, chanceless innings which was paced beautifully. It has been clear he has been in good nick for a few weeks - its nice he has not got the score to show for it. More of that at the weekend please!

A great game in the sun. The next McCulloch cup game will be next Wednesday against Drumpellier.