Kai Tak Vs Witherers, HKCC
Kai Tak 202 A.Williams 57, S.Campbell 46, T.Patidar 25, C.Williams 22
Witherers 128 B.Seymour 4-3-13, B.Haskett 7-3-42, M.Boss 7-2-28
Well what was a see sawing game finished with the Tak winning quite easily in the end!!!
After such a long break and with all our games a must win now, it was vital everything went as plan. So i did my bit and won the toss and duly elected to bat first!!!
Nick Hawke rejoined Mohsin at the top of the order to get things going for us. Unfortunately Mohsin went quite uncharacteristically for a DUCK!!! Yes you hear right a Duck!!! Something Mohsin is not used to but he did get a very good delivery! In came myself to join Nick and i went about my usual business and thankfully their bowling was right how i liked it! Nick went soon after and suddenly we were 2 for 22, not the start i had envisioned! Thankfully Tiku and i hung around a bit and with Tiku in titillating form things were coming back our way. We put on a 61 run partnership and then the wheels fell off. I could not help myself, even after being dropped a few balls earlier, i then skied another to be caught for 46. We then lost 3 quick wickets with Tiku, Bob and Dwight going in quick succession. Bob had his folks in town and had regaled them with stories of his 70 odd the previous time at the club! Oh well at least he can bowl!!
We then had the fortune to witness the return of Junior Williams to club cricket in Hong Kong!! Alistair came back to form at just the right time with some very sweet shots all round the ground! After Haskett left after only 1 run (at least he can bowl!) the two Williams boys (no relation) put on a game turning partnership of 54 to get us through to a defendable total. Al finally going for a great 57!! Chris saw us to the 2nd last over holing out in the deep for a fine 22.
So only 202 on a great ground which thoroughly deserved 300 ish!!! The bowling would have to be on song!!
Indeed it was. With Mitch and Chris putting the pressure on early, we were a bit unlucky as they managed to get to 42 before the first wicket!! I should mention the catch that was taken for this. Nicky boy at stretch to his right took a great catch at first slip!!! Ben Hart was playing a fine innings for them and looking like he was our problem! All of the sudden they were 70 odd after only 14 overs! Then the Tak bit back and we bit hard!! We got a fortunate run out of Harty and then saw wickets tumble at regular intervals! The slow bowling of Haskett and Ward reeled them back in and the pressure started to mount and they were starting to make silly mistakes. The fielding was great to watch and finally the bowling was tight and accurate making it a dream for the Captain to set his field!! Bruce Seymour was then called on and Bruce got into the thick of things in his first over, all be it a bit lucky!!! Bruce bowled a great line and length and although their players were starting to look for the big hits, Bruce kept the bowling just short on the off stump and forced the errors, he finished with 4-3-13!!! Bob Ward was very frugal in the end with his 5-0-9!!
So easy cricket, we bowled well, fielded well and took the catches!! Although our batting was less than desirable we pulled together and put the pressure on when needed and came out on top!!
A valuable win for us, as i said, everything now is must win!!!
Tiku and Bob kept the entertaining up after the match with the inaugural Kai Tak plate run!! A sprint was offered as the two compared bragging rights of their sprinting abilities. Bob came out in front even after a shoulder charge by Tiku!! Somehow Tiku refused the mug, almost in tears, i was then the next most favorite for my desperation to get myself out!!!!
Man of the Match: Alistair Williams, great knock!!!
Throwing of the Toys nomination: Tiku Patidar, not taking the mug!!!
Go the TAK!!!