On a cold night for spectators at Myreside the Tigers played their second match of the season. The team had nine players: Rudy, Jack, Catlin, Manu, Robert, Charlie, Innes, Gavin and, on loan from the Lions, Ghazi.

Carlton bowled first with Rudy and Jack taking the ball first up. Rudy struck in his second over, picking up a wicket bowled and then keeping a cool head for a run out. At the end of the first four overs the Watsonians2 had 10 on the board. Manu and Charlie then bowled an extremely misery four overs which included a rare wicket maiden for Charlie and a juggled return catch for Manu, meaning only 5 more runs were added to the opposition's total. Caitlin and Innes bowled the next four overs for just 18 runs, with Caitlin picking up wicket. Then Gavin, Robert and Ghazi bowled 6 overs for 15 runs, with Gavin collecting another wicket. In all only one boundary was hit and six wickets were taken, leaving Watsonians2 with 62 runs to defend. A shout out for Manu for taking 2 catches, included the one of his own bowling.

As with the bowling, Jack and Rudy opened the batting. Jack pulled a ball to the boundary in the second over and Rudy hoicked over mid wicket with enough power for the ball to comfortably clatter into the boundary on a full sized pitch. They made 14 runs off the bat plus extras to get the Tigers off to a good start. Catlin and Ghazi kept things going, Ghazi hitting another boundary, and after the eighth over the Tigers still hadn't lost a wicket and had 57 on the board.

Next came Manu and Robert, who continued to run their singles without taking risks. Twelve overs down and still no wickets given away and 28 more runs had been added. Charlie and Innes batted in much the same way and got through their four overs for the loss of only one wicket. The score moved on to 85. With our team having nine players, Gavin came in on his own for the final two overs and smacked 14 runs off 11 legal deliveries, including two boundaries and some hard run twos, which was a great effort.

It was great to see the team only lose 1 wicket. The Tigers finished with 101 runs, comfortably winning the match.

Both sides gave away a lot of runs in extras. In fact, well over half the runs scored came in wides, so we need to work on our bowling accuracy. But well done Tigers for their first win of the season.

Wickets for Gavin, Charlie, Manu, Caitlin and Rudy. Plus a run out for Rudy.

Boundaries for Jack, Rudy, Ghazi and a couple for Gavin.

Well done. The Watsonians1 team next week might be tougher.

A pleasing aspect of the bowling and fielding was how much more energy there was in the team. There were calls to the fielders for which end to throw the ball (well done Manu), the backing up was much improved and balls were chased hard to save boundaries. Gavin showed some excellent awareness to run to the stumps when he saw the keeper out of place. Fielders made their voices heard, especially Charlie who didn't stop shouting. I don't think there were any dropped catches; Innes' run out was excellent and Rudy almost made another runout with a great pick up and throw from square leg that almost hit the stumps. The bowling itself was even better with a substantial reduction in the number of wides bowled.

With the batting we couldn't seem to get any momentum going. Like the Watsonians, we lost two wickets in the first over. Robert hit a boundary but there weren't many singles run at the beginning. Rudy and Innes batting second ran hard but couldn't get the boundaries. And a couple more wickets lost meant that half way through the innings we had scored 29 runs but lost 20 of those.

Then Caitlin and Ruaridh came in and suddenly we were back in the game. Ruaridh hit three of his first four legal deliveries for 4. Caitlin scampered everything she could, at one point turning a nudge into the legside into 3 runs just by putting the fielding team under pressure and forcing mistakes.

Ruaridh scored 19 runs off eleven balls for the loss of only one wicket, completely forgivable given that he had to go for it, which was fantastic. But we were too far behind. Charlie and Gavin ran hard, giving away a close run out, but the chase was never really on.

We lost, but strangely, the team perfomed much better that last week when we won comfortably. If we keep improving at this rate we're going to have a fine team. Let's keep playing aggressively, running aggressively and fielding aggressively.

Highlights:

* Wickets for Ruaridh, Gavin and Rudy.

* A run out for Innes

* Boundaries for Robert, Caitlin and 3 for Ruaridh

On a sunny evening at Peffermill we played our fourth match of the season. Our opponents were Edinburgh South, who batted first. Robert and Ruaridh opened the bowling well, giving little away but not managing to pick up a wicket. There were a good number of dot balls and only one boundary taken. Caitlin and Manu bowling the next four overs and again there were plenty of dot balls. A couple of boundaries at the end of the spell meant Edinburgh South were in a healthy position and the halfway point of their innings without looking overly dominant. The Tigers were still searching for their first wicket. Charlie and Callum bowled the next four and although a few wides were given away only 2 runs were taken with the bat. On the penultimate ball of the spell the batsmen pushed a ball to point and took off. Rudy picked up and shied at the stumps, scoring a direct hit and giving the Tigers their first wicket. At that point the game looked pretty even. Rudy and Jack finished off the bowling. Fielding at third man, Ruaridh made another direct hit to catch the batsman short. Jack made another direct hit a couple of overs later, though this time the batsman had made her ground. And then in the final over Callum hit from cover meaning Edinburgh South had their third run out with a direct hit and Edinburgh South had only added 4 runs from the final four overs. The Tigers had a target of 71.

The fielding and teamwork continues to improve. It was great to see three direct hits. Pity we couldn't get any wickets in the normal fashion but it wasn't for a lack of effort.

The batting began with a bit of a shock. The Edinburgh South team had a girl aged 11 who is trying out for the East of Scotland U17 team. She bowled very accurate, full off spin and was simply too good for our opening pair of Robert and Callum. She took 4 wickets for 1 run in her opening 2 overs. Callum hit a 4 but after four overs we were on -3 runs. Rudy and Manu, facing an easier bowling attack, then put on 31 and got us back in the game.

They didn't lose a wicket and both made their best scores of the season, with Rudy hitting 3 boundaries and Manu scrambling hard with his running and being aware of his opportunities.

Ruaridh and Caitlin carried on their excellent partnership from last week, with Ruaridh again hitting three boundaries. A couple of run outs cut their final total leaving the last pair of Charlie and Jack with some hard work to do.

Unfortunately the star bowler came back to bowl. She picked up another two wickets, and Callum's brother Nate, who had been fielding for the opposition also picked up a wicket. Charlie hit a boundary but we were left 30 runs short. Those 30 runs were the 6 wickets taken by that very-talented-but-not-very-much-fun-if-you're-playing-against-her girl.

Highlights

• Run outs for Rudy, Ruaridh and Callum
• Boundaries for Charlie, Callum and 3 each for Ruaridh and Rudy.

The Tigers batted first to allow Max D'Ullise to bowl an over before heading off to a scout camp in that rain. He and Ben Stronach opened the bowling for the Lions. Gavin and Chris opened the batting for the Tigers. The first 12 balls gave only a wide. In the next 12 Gavin hit a couple of boundaries to get us going and we lost a wicket. Robert and Innes came in next. Unfortunately Ghazi, who played for us only a couple of matches ago, found himself on a hattrick in his first over. That wasn't to be and in the next over each of our batsmen hit boundaries to pull back some momentum for the Tigers.

Our next pair were Ruaridh and Charlie. Ruaridh doesn't hang around. He hit his first 3 balls for four, all in different areas. A few minutes later he had hit 8 boundaries in 15 balls. I doubt there has been a more destructive innings in the league this year. Charlie supported him well and we were beginning to put a decent score on the board. Rudy and Manu came in last and put on 18 more runs with Rudy hitting the last bowl for 4 and Manu running well. The tigers score 48.

Ruaridh and Gavin opened the bowling and didn't give too much away. There were two close run out shouts, both direct hits from Rudy fielding at cover, but the miserable umpire (Rudy's father) gave them both not out. I should point out Rudy's father doesn't clean his glasses as often as he should.

Robert and Innes took over the bowling and the umpire must have finally wiped those glasses because we picked up our first wicket with a direct hit from Ruaridh at mid on, catching Fergus short. In the next over Innes picked up his first 2 wickets for the Tigers. Good, accurate bowling doing the trick. The next four overs were bowled by Chris and Manu. Only 1 boundary and a few singles were scored, and Chris picked up a wicket. Manu was very economical, going for only 6 runs in his two overs.

Rudy and Charlie bowled the final overs. Charlie picked up a wicket, having Ben Stronach stumped by Ruaridh (who was now keeping). Rudy hit the stumps with a good length ball, lighting up the fancy LED bails we were playing with, but those heavy bails refused to fall to the ground, but he picked up a wicket with his final ball, having Zara caught at mid wicket by Gavin. The Lions scored 66, winning the match. So we lost by 18 runs.

Good fielding again. We scored more runs than the Lions but lost 4 more wickets and that was the difference. We hit five more boundaries but their running of singles was very good.

Highlights:

• Boundaries for Gavin(2), Robert, Innes, Rudy and Ruaridh(8)
• Catch for Gavin
• Stumping for Ruaridh
• Run out for Ruaridh
• Wickets for Chris, Innes(2), Charlie and Rudy.

We were away at Stewarts Melville this week with grey clouds above and a tiny bit of rain in the air. Our team was just six. Gavin, Jack, Robert, Callum, Manu and Rudy.

We batted first with Gavin and Jack opening. They batted well, running their singles and defending against the good balls. Gavin clipped a boundary and the pair didn't lose a wicket. Robert and Callum faced some accurate bowling, but also ran hard for their singles, putting the opposition under pressure, and kept the scoreboard ticking over. They also didn't lose a wicket so we were on a healthy 37 halfway through. Manu and Rudy carried on in the same way, running hard, defending well and building the total. They carried on batting in the final four overs where Rudy cut loose, hitting four boundaries and Manu kept on running. So with some risky running the Tigers made it to 92 for the loss of no wickets. The not losing a wicket is particularly pleasing because in the last couple of games it is this that has really hurt us.

Gavin and Jack then opened the bowling and Gavin took a wicket in his first over. He then took another but the ball was signalled no ball. Another vast improvement has been our bowling accuracy, with the number of wides given away drastically reduced. Robert's first over was a maiden and Callum gave away just 2 runs in his first over before picking up a wicket with a low return catch in his second. SM were 35 after four overs and still in the game.

Rudy and Manu bowled the next four overs. Rudy was on fire. He bowled a double wicket maiden first up, fast and accurate, and even managed to clip the stumps without dislodging the bails with the final ball of his over, as he did last week against the Lions. He then took another wicket in his second over, all his wickets being bowled.

Gavin then came back and took another wicket, bowled, leaving him with figues of 11 for 2. Robert bowled another miserly over. Callum did the same. Rudy bowled the final over, another wicket maiden, leaving him with final figures of 2 for 4, all his wickets bowled. SM made 42 in all, meaning the Tigers picked up their second victory of the season. Charlie (Manu's dad) even provided celebratory chocolate brownies, so all in all, a pretty much perfect evening.

Highlights:

• Wickets for Gavin (2), Callum and Rudy (4)
• Catch for Callum (off his own bowling)
• Boundaries for Gavin and Rudy (4)

We played Heriots on another cool (cold) evening at Goldenacre. Our team was Jack, Gavin (captain), Caitlin, Robert, Charlie, Manu, Callum and Rudy. However Rudy went off the field after a few overs due to a knee problem and didn't bat or bowl.

We fielded first. Gavin and Jack bowled a good opening 4 overs. Jack struck with the third ball of his second over to pick up his first wicket for the Tigers. Well done Jack. Gavin then took a wicket with the first ball of his second over. Then Manu made a run out on the last ball of the over to make it 3 wickets in the first four overs.

Caitlin and Charlie then carried on the good work. Caitlin had the opposition batsman bowled in her first over and Callum and Manu made a runout in Charlie's first over. Callum and Robert didn't give much away and Gavin came back to bowl a maiden at the end. Heriots score was 74.

I didn't see the team bat because I had to take Rudy home. However, I was told the team batted well, especially Gavin, and we won by fifty or so runs. So that's two consecutive victories. May the good work continue.    

On damp evening at Grange Loan the Tigers played their final match of the season. The opposition, SMRH, batted first. Manu captained and took the gloves for the first half of the innings.

The first three overs, bowled by Gavin, Ruaridh and Caitlin, went for a run each. On the second ball of the forth, bowled by Jack, Manu effected a run out, and Jack picked up a wicket, bowled, with the final ball. Callum made another run out in the fifth over, Rudy bowled a wicket maiden and by half way through the innings the Tigers had taken four wickets and only a few singles had been scored. The following eight overs saw a number of boundaries, though Jack and Rudy both bowled maidens, meaning not a single run was scored off Rudy’s bowling and Jack finished with a wicket for just three runs. SMRH scored 43.

Gavin and Jack opened the batting and were fairly sedate until Gavin hit 16 off an over, including three boundaries, giving the pair 22 runs from their 4 overs. Rudy and Manu calmly put on another 21 runs. Ruaridh and Callum batted next with Ruaridh hitting his usual flurry of boundaries and getting out in crazy fashion as only he knows how. There was even an all run five as the ball zinged around and run out chances were missed. The pair put on 39 and Ruaridh passed a hundred runs for the season. Caitlin and Charlie rounded off an easy victory by playing out the final overs, with the team finishing on 87.

So the Tigers won 5 and lost 4 and 2 matches were rained off. Overall the coaches were very impressed with the improvement shown by all the players. Ruaridh finished top scorer, Rudy took the most wickets and Manu took the most catches. There was some excellent fielding with at least 4 run outs coming from direct hits. Everyone took wickets and everyone made runs and the matches were played with a good spirit. Thank you everyone and we look forward to next season.