Michael Shean has been looking back at the innings he played to help Heriot’s progress to the Citylets Scottish Cup quarter-finals against the odds.

On Sunday, May 28 the Edinburgh side were through at Hamilton Crescent taking on West of Scotland in the second round.

And when Scotland fringe man Adrian Neill took three wickets to lead the way as Heriot’s bowled out the hosts for 135 the visitors looked to have the upper hand.

Heriot’s reply started fairly steadily, but then West’s bowlers got a second wind and wickets started to fall at regular intervals.

All-rounder Shean, who is from South Africa and has been living in Edinburgh for a couple of years, was left at the non-strikers end as team mate after team mate trudged back to the pavilion.

And when number 11 batsman Duncan Hamilton walked out to the crease they still required 41 runs to win and secure a path to the last eight.

Recounting the situation 25-year-old Shean, who has only recently been promoted from the second XI to the firsts, said:  “Wickets just kept falling around me and when Duncan came in we still had quite a lot of work to do.

“I knew that I had to take the majority of the strike if we were to have a chance, but we had quite a bit of time left so we both just tried to stay calm.

“I knew that I had nothing to lose really so I played each ball on its merits and tried to get boundaries when I could.

“I got over the half century mark and then, when I hit a six at one point, that was the ties scored.

“Duncan then had to see out an over from their best bowler and he did well which allowed me to then hit the winning runs in the following over and it was a great feeling for me and the team.

“I had not been involved in many matches like that where there were so many highs and lows in one match, but I think there is a great team spirit at Heriot’s and that pulled us through.”

Shean finished on 67 not out while Hamilton was one not out after a dramatic innings.

Heriot’s are now due to be taking on Tayside Group Forfarshire in an all CSL Eastern Premiership quarter-final at Goldenacre on June 25 with Ayr and Watsonians also in that half of the draw.