The U19 Indoor finals were kicked off by the most local or all local derbies – the ‘Loc v the Dark Side. And, again, the Dark Side Storm-troopers (this time Darth Sher’s!) prevailed. Clydesdale batted first and scored 127/7 off the 10 overs. Patrick Barbour led the way with 38*, Shreyas Chitnis made 31, Lyle Hill 29 and rumour has it that Poloc wicket-keeper Scott Millen owes Johnny MacKay another bat! (Scott again challenged Johnny to hit a six and Johnny again obliged – this time a high, soaring, elegant drive off the back wall…that wouldn’t have made it out the 30 yards circle in an outdoor game…but a bet’s a bet!) In reply Johnny, Lyle and Shrek bowled four great overs straight up and left Poloc 8/4 with wickets for Johnny and Lyle and two run outs. Poloc would eventually finish 56/7, with Lyle claiming a second wicket (lbw).
Poloc then beat Prestwick meaning that only a disastrous loss could rob the U19s of six in a row. What happened next was the most one-sided game of WJCU Super 8s cricket ever. So one-sided that it could almost get a ball by ball account and still keep you interested! (Indeed, so short was the game that the full game may appear on Mike Stanger’s next 10 minute Cricket Scotland video!) Prestwick batted first and were 4/4 after 8 balls and then 9/6 after 13 balls! By this point Johnny had 3/4, Lyle 1/6 and there had been 2 run outs! Tart’s over then saw a mini recovery with 8 coming from it before Johnny returned to claim a 4th wicket…and with possibly the first ever Indoor 5 wicket haul a real possibility, you guessed it, the innings ended with another run out. Prestwick 19 all out off 27 balls. In reply, the game was over after only 12 balls – Paddy 13* and Tart 9* as the Tournament win became official.
Andrew Scobie picked up the Shield and there was further celebration (or actually celebrations) for the U19 team as Patrick Barbour was unanimously voted Player of the Tournament.
