Kai Tak Vs LSW. M.R

Sat Cup Round 1 Twenty/20

LSW 172 - 8   D.Grobler 4-2-30ish, Patidar 4-2-30ish

Kai Tak 125          B.Haskett 64

Well it wasnt going to be a fairy tale finish to the season for the TAK. With some of the big names missing for this game it was a make shift team that took to the sacred turf of Mission road. LSW with their big names were always going to be a tough outfit but with our bowling lacking the likes of Williams, Morley, Fidel and Naqvi, it was going to be even harder.

Opening up with our big guns Geoff De Laine and Donny on the spot Miller, we had LSW under the pump early. Geoff bowling his wicked inswingers and Donny putting it just where the Captain asked, just short of a length on the off, the LSW batters didnt like it much!! The pressure started to mount and when Dirk and Brad Haskett came in, we forced some bad errors from the LSW boys. Dirk getting his usual 2 for, from short hops or full tosses and a couple of run outs had the LSW only 72 for 3 after 10 overs. Unfortunately some dropped chances let the powerful Najeeb off the hook and he punished our bowlers all over the park. That was until Patidar came on and had full effect in his 1st over and then claiming the big scalp of Najeeb cleaning the stumps up. This was a relief for Haskett as he let him off not once, not twice but three times at square leg boundary. It seemed to be the demon position as earlier Mr Cricket Patidar made a meal of a catch and even pumped it over the line for a 6!!!!!! "Oh the sun, the sun was just there!!" Hhhmmmmm. Unfortunately for one eyed Ellis the skipper sent him in to the lions just when Najeeb was in full flight and Dave saw alot of cricket in his one over spell!!!

So we managed to keep them to a respectful 172 which in all honesty i was happy with. 200 was always on the card considering their batting strength. Apart from a couple of dropped chances the fielding was at its usual high standard!!!

I figured Haskett was in a mood to redeem himself so i sent him in with the mercurial Fitzy. They got us off to a great start putting on 30 odd in only a couple of overs. Then the wheels fell off, Fitzy seeing his stumps go and the very next ball, yours truly got and inside edge to one that should have been left alone right on to the stumps, a golden quack!!! No probs, with the likes of Brown, Patidar and Ellis coming in next the TAK could overcome. Unfortunately we didnt, the guys having to keep the pace going against a very good LSW bowling attack, didnt get the luck we needed. Haskett was in great touch hitting some oh so sweet 6s, but he was tiring to the end after carrying the whole team through, he finally went for 64 (ish) in a great innings!!!! Bob Ward came in blazing hitting a beautifully timed 6 off the 1st ball, all the while his wife was timing her contractions on the side line. Lauren not accepting Dirks offer to check how dilated she was, hhmmmmmmmm. Good luck guys!!!

So in the end we were scuttled for 120 odd runs, we were keeping up for the first 10 overs but with their bowling and no luck on our behalf it was just a bit beyond us! The bowling we did have did a great job, Geoff again proving he is going to be a great find for the TAK and great to see a long time Kai Takker Donny Miller back on the job!!!

2 by Teflon nominations: T.Patidar, for knocking it over for 6

Brad Haskett 3 in the same spot!!

On a very sad note, Mal Brown announced his retirement at the post match press conference. Mal is heading back to England in August so wont be able to play next season. This will bring to an end 15 years of Kai Tak service and those of us who have been around for a while remember oh so well how punishing a batsmen Mal can be. Mal has been a core member of the team as all previous Captains would know, it was reassuring every week when we knew we could put his name on the team list. Mal on behalf of all of Kai Tak players we say thanks and it was great to play with you!!!!!

So that brings and end to our season, not a great season as far as how the fixtures went and especially availability. I will be doing some major recruiting in the off season and i encourage you all to help. Kai Tak relies on guys giving up their Saturdays to play, there were a couple of times this season when i thought we were in trouble, so we need to get some more members and keen ones!!!!

The end of season dinner will be on May 31st, can we all try to get to this, it will again be held at Siroccos, upstairs at Stauntons, details to follow soon.

Thanks to everyone who have made the effort this season!!! Go the TAK!!

Steve