Kai Tak Vs Millenium, M.R
Millenium 182 C.Williams 10-3-49, B.Morley 9.5-2-32, T.Patidar 1-2-6, B.Ward 7-2-43
Kai Tak 5 / 185 S.Campbell 76, T.Patidar 43
Another must win game for the Tak against a very dangerous Millenium outfit. The day started well with a temp around 23 deg c and blue skies all round! The DB guys were in fine form early in the nets, taking the piss now with this whole turning up early thing!!! Bob Ward was looking worst for wear after a dodgy curry cooked by Hawkey, who i must say turned up even though he was debilitated by his strained shoulder (hmmmmm)
Anyway, the boys were keen and it was great to see Brett Morley back in the Tak colors (all be it in the old ones!). We lost the toss and they went into bat, playing right into my hands!! It brought back memories of Yor with Morley and Williams opening up the attack. Both the boys on track early and with big hitting Rizwann struggling with his Jenny Craig programe, they were looking for boundaries rather than runs. It was rather comical to see the ball get hit to near the boundary only for them to struggle through for a single!!! We were holding them on the runs front but not getting the needed wickets. Willow finally struck with a great catch by Al Williams in gully, running backwards. This kind of made up for his dropped catch against Rizwan. The dangerous Adnut Butt came to the crease and went about his business. The pressure was on him though as Rizwann was rejecting any runs by this stage. The game took a turn when Rizwann went to ground in pain and called for a runner. The Tak not happy at all about this as having a runner for being a fat bastard is not really in the spirit of the game. However we conceded and allowed it. When the youthful opener came back in to run for Rizwann things turned sour as he was sprinting the runs and even calling for quick 2s!!! Dwight behind the stumps became rather agitated and was reminding Rizwann of his weight problem. Riz was very lucky to be still there, i think he was dropped about 3 times, much to his disgust!! Bob Ward came on and with his tummy rumbling, he produced some great bowling and was rewarded with the dangerous Butt for 38 caught by Mr Cricket, Patidar! The comical game continued when Al Williams pointed out to me the umpire coaching the incoming skipper, explaining the bounce and turn of the deliveries...what tha??!!!!! Obviously the umpire is better at umpiring than coaching as he then proceeded to give the skipper out 1st ball LBW!!! Laugh.... i could not stop!!!! We then managed to restrict their runs, and when Rizwann retired fat, i mean hurt, it became a real struggle for them. Dirk Grobler bamboozled them for a few overs by giving enough flight on the ball we could all have a cup of tea and a chat before the ball made it to the batsman. Was hilarious to see a batsman swing about 3 times in an attempt to hit a ball!! Morls came back on and got a couple of deserved wickets and as did Willow. Then the command decision of the season. I brought Mr Cricket on and asked for some wickets, "no probs skip, i'll get ya a couple!!" 6 balls later 2 wickets!! What can i say other than, i had to drag him!!
Morls and Willow finished the last few overs and put a stop to their fun.
It was a great bowling and fielding effort. Mal Pratt was great in the outfield stopping everything coming his way and Dirk took some great catches on the boundary. A couple of "Teflon" awards with Al Williams dropping Rizwann when he was on bugger all and Bob Ward dropping 2. Dwight was great behind the stumps although a warning from the umpire has got him a throwing of the toys nomination!!
Ok 182 runs, not a huge target but a respectable one and not to be taken lightly!!
We opened up with Mohsin and Dwight. Dwight got off to a flyer with a couple of boundaries in the first over. Things were going as planned until Dwight was adjudged LBW, the umpire winning the battle of wits in the end! I joined Mohsin and we got to the job of winning the game. It was good cricket as we pushed for singles as well as the odd boundary. Mohsin went LBW, walking in front of his wicket again for 19. Mr Cricket came in and together we started putting the nails in the coffin. It was a great partnership, one of the best i have been involved in as we put pressure on the at all ends of the ground. When they pushed the fielders back we went for the singles, when they came in, over the top we went!! Anything that went about 5cm left or right of Rizwann we ran, sometimes looking for a second!! Not being selfish i finally fell caught behind for 76, sharing a 97 run partnership off 14 overs with Tiks. Al Williams hot off his 57 the week before and looking like the pick up of the season for the Tak wondered out, with words from the outgoing Captain, "lots of runs out the Al". Unfortunately it lasted one ball, Al caught on the square leg boundary, probably by the only guy who could have caught it!!!! If Al was hoping for some sympathy from his team mates it was in vain. Darren Fryer begged the question to him, "what's it like out there Al?" Tiku fell shortly after on 43 to a short hop crap delivery, oh well, justice was done considering his 2 crap deliveries for his wickets!!! Mal Pratt and Darren saw us through to the end to record an easy victory for the Tak!!
Finally we managed to put all aspects of the game together today, the bowling was great and i should mention, ONLY 3 WIDES!!!!!! Fantastic stuff!! The ground fielding was great and even though some catches went begging, we managed to hold onto a few at least. The batting came together, and as is always the case, partnerships are critical and we need a couple of players to get 50 or more to get the big runs!!!
A great turn out at Stauntons after the game. The debrief was lively and there was a near mug off between Tiku and Al. Tiku getting the nomination for his Hong Kong red pants, old shirt and cap and his 2 wickets in the one over (harsh but fair!). Al won out in the end and a great scull followed!!!
Man of the Match: The whole team for a great all round effort!!
Mug of the Day: Al Williams. Dropping fat boy slim and the golden duck!!!
Teflon: Bob Ward 2 drop catches (incl FBS), Al Williams
Throwing of the Toys: Dwight Johnson. Getting official warning for complaining about whether the batsmen had crossed after a catch!!
A great win boys, we are well into the top 8 now with this, we still rely on some results going our way and we have to wait and see if the game Vs Crusaders will get played.
Go the Tak!!!
Steve