Kai Tak Vs LSW,
Well now that he's a captain and plays for Hong Kong Tiku's
delegation skills are at an all time high. Needless to say I've been
delegated to write this weeks match report as a lowly J F/O and a
vice captain. Only joking !!! Tiku asked me to do the match report as
he spent most of last week on his computer trying to raise a side for
the game against LSW. I'm sure Natasha will be happy that he's not
spending his Sunday on the computer writing the match report.
Anyway, down to business.
It was a very different looking team that assembled at PKVR 2 on
Saturday. There were some players from days gone by, some current
players and some new faces that made up the the XI for the match
against the top of the league team LSW.
From the on set the captain had a very clear cut idea in his mind as
to what we would do and how we would go about it. Tiks won the toss
and sent the opposition into bat. Opening the bowling was Chris
Williams from the club house end (or should I say Tin Shack end) and
Leon Coburn from the far end. The break through came in the second
over of the day when Hawke, fielding at back ward point, set the
fielding standard for the day by taking yet another amazing catch.
Diving forward to a ball centimetres off the ground he pouched what
will rival the catch of the season. (Sorry guys have to have a bit of
glory as I did absolutely nothing else the whole day). In the forth
over over the day Coburn was amongst the wickets again when Zervos
took a catch at mid-wicket. Williams then had his first wicket of the
day when Mal Brown took a good catch behind off what had been some
fine bowling.
With Williams and Coburn out of the attack it was time for Patidar
and Hawke to continue the good work with a bit of the slow stuff.
Tiku made another break through when he had their number 5 trapped in
front for an LBW. Needless to say the batsman walked very slowly
towards the Tin Shack looking at his bat, claiming he hit it. Oh well
sometimes you win sometimes you lose!!! At the half way stage we were
looking good and all was going to plan when LSW were 64 for 4. After
drinks Williams and Coburn came back into the attack but weren't as
successful as before. Tiku then brought himself back on and the other
spin guru (obviously no hockey this weekend) Fitzy. Fitzy took an
excellent wicket by clean bowling the HKG captain and in the next
over Tiku took a very good caught and bowled. I won't mention how
Tiku had to fight off a fellow 777 F/O (Moran) to take the catch but
obviously he's still at a stage where the trust is lacking. Tiku
managed another 2 wickets before the end with Brown tacking a good
catch behind and James Pichaud (new player, friend of JD from hockey)
taking a brilliant catch in the deep. The last 10 overs proved to be
very fruitful for LSW as they put on 100 runs even though they were
losing wickets at regular intervals. The picture might have been a
little different had we been able to hold onto a few tough and some
easy chances. All in all though a top effort to restrict LSW to 223
all out.
Opening the batting was yours truly and Coburn. Advice from the
skipper was to hang around for 5 or so overs then start pushing the
rate. Off to a good start with 4 off the first over. Then it all went
wrong. Backing up to far and being a little complacent getting back
Hawke was stupidly run out for the second game in a row having scored
1. On returning to the shack he was asked by the skipper, "What
happened???" to which he very cleverly replied, " I'm out is what
happened!!" and sat sulking in the shack.
Brown and Coburn recovered things slightly before both falling in
successive overs to leave us at 33 for 3. Tiku and Ellis then came
together and started what we all thought would be the road to
victory. They both looked solid in defense and when they attacked
they hit it hard and true. Ellis unfortunately held out to a catch at
mid-wicket and at drinks we were 83 for 4. There must have been
something in the water at drinks as we totally collapsed after the
restart. Williams was caught for 6, Fitzy and Wall were both out
without troubling the scorers and the skipper did it again. For the
third week in a row he's reached 40 and then given his wicket away.
Very sad for a national player not to be able to convert and go on.
Oh well, can't rely on Tiks every week I suppose!!! A slight tail wag
with James Pichaud scoring 17 not out and the game was over. We had
managed yet another batting collapse and stolen defeat from the jaws
of victory. We ended up losing by 108 runs in a game we should have
done better.
We all gathered for a drink after the game at the PKVR Tin Shack to
discuss our defeat and where we could do better. The general
consensus is that we're a team who's captain hasn't played a game yet
(some excuse about doing command training) and the stand in captain
walks around with a shirt that has, Presenting :- Tiks written on it.
I mean what is going here ?????
Oh well let's hope with Captain Campbell back at the helm next
Saturday we can get another win under our belts.
GO THE TAK !!!
Bowling figures:-
Williams 8 overs 1 for 45
Coburn 7 overs 2 for 25
Patidar 10 overs 4 for 56 (Note the only guy to bowl himself for all
10 overs)
Hawke 3 overs 0 for 22 (Was asked to toss them up by the skipper,
hence the figures. Good call Skip!!)
Ellis 4 overs 1 for 36
Fitzy 3 overs 1 for 25
Scorecard:-
Hawke Run out 1
Coburn Bowled 16
Brown LBW 11
Patidar Caught 40
Ellis Caught 15
Williams Caught 6
Fitzy Caught 0
Wall Caught 0
Zervos Caught 5
Pichaud Not Out 17
Moran Caught 0
Extras 4
Total 115