Kai Tak vs LSW INU at Mission Road 7 Jan 2012
On a cold and dark Hong Kong winter’s day the stand in skipper
was very pleased to see all the team at the ground and ready to go nice and
early. Although the coin toss was lost by Mitch, the LSW captain sent us in to
bat much to the delight of the entire Kai Tak batting lineup. Tiku ‘Mr Cricket’
Patidar opened the batting with Al Williams and the intent was shown immediately
when Tiks belted the first ball of the day back over the bowler’s head for four,
and then 2 balls later played a similar stroke for the same result. Al was a
little more subdued at the other end but after 4 overs Kai Tak were 0-38. Tiks
was the first wicket to fall caught behind for a quick fire 23. Steve Campbell
still recovering from his flu joined Al and kept the scoreboard ticking with a
couple of boundaries until a loose shot saw him depart for 9. Bob Ward was
promoted to no. 4 following his ‘unBob’ like batting performance in the last
match, and he didn’t disappoint the stand-in skipper playing another reserved
and patient innings. Al was next to go to a dubious lbw decision for 17,
requiring Mohsin and Bob to consolidate for a few overs until Mohs was bowled
for 10. On debut for the Tak Graham Tree joined Bob at the crease and looked
very solid from the first delivery, playing some devastating cover and square
drives. At drinks the Tak were 4/109 off 17 overs.
Bob and Graham continued very solidly after the drinks break producing a 47 run
partnership and laying the platform for a late innings assault. Bob was well
caught only a few feet short of clearing the long on boundary for a well worked
23. Ben White came and went for 6 off 3 balls, and Fidel played a few of his
trademark top spin forehand strokes behind square leg. All the while Graham was
accumulating runs at the other end including one huge straight hit for 6. Graham
was eventually out bowled trying to lift the run rate in the 33rd over for a
fine innings of 51. Mark Lilico went cheaply trying the big hit and Jon
Whitehead (5 n.o.) batted out the remaining overs with Fidel (20 n.o.) taking
the Tak to a very defendable 8/216.
Mitch and Jon opened the bowling and kept things nice and tight for the first
few overs and built the pressure on the LSW openers. Graham Tree’s brilliant
diving save at short mid wicket brought about the first wicket when both batsmen
ended up at the non-strikers end. Al Williams decided to give the batsmen a
second chance and rather than gloving Graham’s throw and whipping the bails off,
he ‘decided’ to kick the ball straight back to Graham requiring a second pick up
and throw. The batsman tried to get back to his crease but second time around Al
managed to glove the ball and get the bails off just before the striker made his
crease. LSW 1/16 after 4 overs. Mitch (5 overs 1/21) clean bowled the new
batsman next over and Jon (4 overs 1/18) had their no 4. caught by Bob at mid on
shortly thereafter. Graham Tree continued the pressure with the ball and quickly
picked up a wicket after Al took a diving catch down the leg side. LSW were now
4/45 off 10 overs and for some reason kept batting as though they only had 10
overs remaining.
Mark Lilico’s first over was eventful to say the least. His first 4 legitimate
deliveries went for 15 runs before he finally took heed of the multiple
suggestions by multiple teammates to ‘pitch it up a little’. He proceeded to
pitch it up and was rewarded straight away clean bowling the batsmen that had
dispatched him all over the field. His next 2 overs were very good producing
another caught behind to a fine diving catch by Al, and finished with the very
respectable figures of 3 overs 2/20. Graham Tree came up with another brilliant
piece of fielding and underarm throw for a direct hit runout, and all that was
required was for Bob Ward (2 overs 2/2) and Ben White (1 over 1/6) to take the
last few wickets. Unfortunately Mitch was forced to leave the field very late in
the game after injuring himself when a diving save at mid-off didn’t go
completely to plan. LSW INU all out for 82 and the Tak wins with a bonus point.
The team then proceeded to The Globe to enjoy a couple of celebratory ales minus
the stand-in skipper who went to Adventist Hospital for x-rays. Result - broken
collar bone and quite a few U days on his roster.
Uncle Russ Man of the Match – The debutant Graham Tree 51runs, 3 overs 1/17 and
2 run outs.
Mug of the Day – Fidel, For wearing that jacket!!