Kai Tak CC vs Craigengower CC @ PKVR 15 Oct 11
With a number of regulars out it was a new look Tak facing CCC on Saturday with a number of guys playing their first match of the season and Nick Wood playing his first match for the Tak.
Even though they were a man short CCC won the toss and elected to field. The skipper dropped himself to number 3 and Darren and Steve went out to open our account. Darren clipped the first delivery down to fine leg for four, no duck today for Fryer. Steve and Darren put on a 30 run partnership in fours over going at well over a run a ball until Darren edged a sharp rising delivery to the keeper to be out for 10. Dwight joined Steve at the creased and got off the mark immediately. The two shared a 61 run second wicket partnership which also included 12 ball 16 run over from CCC bowler Rob James. Steve didn’t know whether to duck the bouncers or get out of the way of the full tosses. In James second over he finally got this man with Steve holing out for 49 off 32 deliveries. Nick Wood came in to debut at #4 and showed confidence from the get go. After a slow start Nick started to find the gaps and was ably supporting the skipper who was continuing to punish the bowlers. The Tak went to drinks at 2/138 and Dwight had already passed the 50 mark we were looking to set up for a final onslaught. After a couple of boundaries from Nick he continued rotating the strike until he fell trying to loft a straight ball that cleaned up his stumps. Nice debut effort for 31. Fidel came in eager to build on his recent form but had a brain fart when on his fourth delivery charge the leg spinner Will Jones and was stump for 1. At least he now has an average! Next to come in was Justin who soaked up 9 balls for 1run stranding the skipper at the non strikers, the frustration got to Dwight as he couldn’t clear the cow corner boundary and was very well caught in the deep for 113. Kai Tak’s first ton for the season. Changi then found his timing and blasted a quick 20 off the next 8 deliveries until he holed out for 21. Kingy went for a quick 1 and Jon Whitehead and Bossy finished off the last few over with 15 and 10 respectively, taking the Tak to a very defendable 262/7 on the massive PKVR park.
Nick Wood opened the bowling and was quickly rewarded in his second over with a good catch taken at mid off by Jon giving Nick his first wicket for the Tak. Mitch continued to toil at the other end piling on the pressure with some very good bowling unfortunately he couldn’t get a wicket but ended his 8 overs with 2 maidens for only 23 runs including 6 extras. Nick continued to impress and claimed his next wicket with Changi taking a great catch in the covers to have CCC reeling at 2/16. Jon Whitehead replaced Mitch and was soon rewarded with Steve (Im a Shark) Campbell taking a spectacular diving catch in front of the skipper at first slip. (There was some immediate call for a catch of the season nomination but it was later denied at the Globe. Sorry Steve) CCC 3/34. Only four runs later and Jon collected his 2nd with Fidel diving forward at 2nd slip just getting his fingers under a dipping ball. Jon then clean bowled the #5 batsmen before asking the skipper to take him off because he was a bit tired. Dwight had replaced Nick at the other end and was bowling tightly frustrating the batsmen and finally broke through in his 4th over clean bowling the #6. #7 soon flowed pushing the skipper to Nick at mid on. Druvi replaced Jon and almost had a wicket in his second over with Kingy dropping CCC captain at mid off. After a brief spell from Druvi and Kingy the skipper rolled the dice and brought back the two openers with Nick getting a edge behind to Steve for his 3rd wicket. With the open bowlers out of overs Darren threw down his offies and was unlucky not to get a couple of wickets. Jon came back on after his beauty rest and had immediate success trapping the CCC skipper in front with a great inswinger. Jon could have taken his first Fiefer but Steve had used his feet instead of his gloves to catch and simple edge behind, instead finishing with 4/30 off 5 overs. In the end we couldn’t get the last wicket and CCC ended 9/124 from their allotted overs. Unfortunately 26 of those runs came in the way of extras 23 of which were wides. It was a great win to the Tak who again performed brilliantly in the field with Changi leading the way, probably urged on after being racially vilified by Fidel. Zak (Handy number 4) and Druvi did most of the running during the fielding session and stood up well in the conditions.
Uncle Russ Man of the Match went to Nick Wood for his debut efforts of 31 runs and 8-2-16-3. A great debut and great find for the Tak. Other notables were:
Dwight 113 runs (off 72) and 8-3-13-2, Jon Whitehead 10 runs and 5-0-30-4, Steve Campbell 49 runs (off 32) and 2 catches, Justin Chang 21.
Mug of the Day again went to Jason “Socks and Sandles” King for dropping a dolly off Druvi and blaming Steve for letting through some many byes (Turns out it was only 1 bye). He did win the mug off against the Craigengower Mug winner Rob James.
Nick Wood – Uncle Russ Man of the Match