On September 1st 1985 The Scots took on the English at their own game, Cricket and were victorious!
I remember it making the news, both local and national on this day back in ‘85, over 700 teams started the competition and for a team from, not only Scotland, but a wee place like Freuchie to go there and win was unbelievable.
The Fife village of Freuchie made Scottish – and English – sporting history by becoming the first side from north of the Border to win the national village cricket championship at Lord’s. Freuchie did Scotland proud in the final of the National Village Championship organised by the Cricketer International magazine.
Freuchie beat Rowledge by losing fewer wickets in a tense climax to an absolutely spellbinding game. The crowd in attendance was, according to frequent visitors to Lord’s, greater than at many first class county matches.
The kilted Freuchie team were led by pipers on a procession with their supporters from their hotel to the gates at Lord’s.
Although Freuchie made a nervous start, the vocal encouragement supplied by the huge support from Scotland brought about a magnificent rally. With 15 overs of the match remaining, and six wickets down, the Fifers looked in trouble.
However, an exciting climax featuring George Crichton and David Christie took Freuchie from 101-7 to 133 before the Scottish captain was run out off the last ball of the penultimate over.
A single by Crichton from the first ball of the last over levelled the scores and brought Brian Christie to face the bowling of Prior. Christie stepped across the crease and the ball ricocheted off his pads and ran down to long-on. Immediately the mass of tartan-clad supporters swarmed on the field, but as the batsman had not attempted a stroke, no run was given and the players returned to the fray and the spectators back over the fence.
Surrounded by the opposition, the Freuchie captain’s son successfully blocked the remaining deliveries to achieve a remarkable win. It was a magnificent game of cricket and, in Scotland’s bi-centenary year, a fitting tribute to Freuchie and Scotland.
