Kai Tak vs. Mainlanders

PKV1 - 7 January 2006

Mainlanders 110 all out (31.1 overs)

Kai Tak 3 for 111 (17.1 overs)

Kai Tak win by 7 wickets

Saturday sees us at our least favourite venue, Po Kong Village. I lose the toss (again!) and no surprises, Mainlanders elect to bat. Morls opens up, sprays the first one missing the pitch completely but soon settles into his usual immaculate line and length and produces the occasional unplayable delivery. The scoreboard ticks along slowly until Mohsin makes the breakthrough. Morls then chimes in with a wicket from his second worst delivery of the day, a knee high full toss which somehow finds the inside edge and crashes into the stumps. Mainlanders 2 for not many and the Tak' sense a rout is in the offing. Next over Mohsin bags 2, the big wicket of Najeeb well caught by Bob in the covers and an LBW (the shout before it looked plumb as well!). Have a rest Morls and on comes JG looking for some form at the bowling crease. He doesn't disappoint, chiming in with a wicket in his first over and settling into a very tidy line and length and some away movement to the right handers (must be reversing JG as you normally bowl innies!). Fidel replaces Mohsin and is soon in the groove, recapturing his early season form and producing the ball of the day - pitches on middle, batsman plays down the line as the ball seems away and hits the top of off sending it cartwheeling -superb! The opposition 6 for 50 odd at drinks - lets wrap this up boys. Mainlanders manage to put a partnership together and creep towards the 100 mark. Bob replaces JG after his impressive spell and straight away is landing the ball on a hankie, his quicker ball proving devastating resulting in 2 catches at point to mistimed, impatient attempted slogs. Should have had 3 for but we won't go there...........Hawke is tossed the ball hoping to build on his return to bowling prominence! Again on the money - some nice away movement combined with hitting the pitch hard sees a well deserved caught behind chance, thankfully not spilled by the part time keeper! Mainlanders eventually all out for a paultry 110. Superb effort in the field with only one difficult chance being grassed, an improvement in the wides department and all 6 bowlers doing their job and deservedly getting a wicket. (Mohsin 3 for 23, Morley 1 for 12, Gordon 1 for 14, Fidel 1 for 30, Ward 2 for 13 and Hawke 2 for 11).

Right lets not choke here boys - forget the low total and go out and bat normally. Mohsin opening up with Carl, off to a flier - 20 off the first 2 overs with both the lads finding the boundary. Carl looking composed and solid for his first tilt up the order, the right and left hand combination looks to be a winner until Mohsin walks across his stumps and is given out adjacent. Mainlander's opening bowlers now settling into a nice line with some movement with the new ball. Haskett gets a good one and feathers it behind - 2 for 30 now. Don't panic lads we have this in the bag still. Ellis strides out looking to consolidate with McGann. The oppo have their slip cordon stacked now leaving gaps all over the place. Sensible shot selection sees the scoreboard ticking over nicely until Carl finally can't resist a wide one, opens up and into an expansive cover drive and edges behind for an impressive 27. 3 for 60 and the dependable Morls arrives. Right mate lets be here at the end is all that is said. Some sweetly timed drives by Morls and good running between wickets has us rattling up the 110 in 17 overs without further loss of wickets, with Morls unbeaten on 29 and myself 36.

A great win lads with everyone contributing and playing to their potential - something that was sadly lacking in our performances before Xmas. With 4 more League games, let's get some momentum going and be in top form for the end of season Cup competition.

Bring on the Crusaders next week at KCC

Go the Tak!!

Dave