Kai Tak vs LSW Sarjan at Mission Road 26 Nov 2011
After a good warm up we lost the toss and were asked to bowl first on a green top wicket that promised to offer the bowlers plenty. Nick and Jon Whitehead started bowling great line and length and continually troubled both openers but without any success. Nick Bowled straight through his 8 overs and finished with a tidy 8-0-27-0. Jon finally got the valuable wicket of Pandey with a fine catch taken by Darren. The Skipper then replaced Jon and was rewarded early with perfectly delivered rank waist high rubbish that clipped the pads and went on to the stumps. Both openers now gone.
After Bobs last mighty bowling effort against the KCC the Skipper brought him on to replaced Nick and began troubling the batsmen straight away with his bounce and turn and got the #3 (who top scored for the match) with Mohs taking the first of 2 good catches. Then next coming of Dwight’s bowling after finally finding his length. Bob continued to trouble and was unlucky when Jon dropped a dolly from Hong Kong Sixes player Haseeb, soon followed by Chicky dropping the same player at deep mid-off. Fortunately it didn’t prove too costly with Jon using the family jewels to hold the catch off Bob a few overs later. Al Williams got into the dropping act off Bob grassing a sharp chance behind the stumps (again of Bobs bowling!). The skipper tried to join the club but held on to a skied ball on the second grab (It was probably the keepers catch) helping Bob claim his third victim. Bob completed his 8 overs with the impressive figures of 8-0-3-34. Dwight also claimed a third scalp with an in swinger getting through the defense clean bowling Waqas for a duck. Dwight finished with 8-0-28-3. Nindy, Chicky and Mohs all bowled an over without success. Jon Whitehead came back on and got his second wicket with a brilliant catch by Bob in the covers. The catch was quickly played down by Steve as a potential catch of the season saying the big fella didn’t really have to dive but the rest of us thought it was a blinder! Jon Whitehead finished with 6-1-15-2 bowling his usual full length inswingers. Darren bowled out the match with two overs for two wickets with Steve Campbell and Fidel claiming the catches. LSW all out for 144 on the last ball of the innings. A good result for the Tak and a very achievable target. Aside from the 3 drop catches the fielding was good with Nindy throwing himself around saving runs and some great catches well held.
Then we batted………… Mohs was looking the goods and got a less than good LBW decision for 11, from there it was some great fast bowling from Haseeb to get Steve out for 2. Haseeb made a bunch of us look ordinary and made the Skipper look like a 10 year old playing back yard cricket. To put it in perspective Al Williams took 22 balls to get 5, Dwight had an 18 ball 2 before an ego encrusted brain fart saw him clean bowled. Darren looked good again early to be LBW for 8 then finally some semblance of batting came from Bob who top scored with a very patient 21. Nick went for his first Tak duck, Fidel hung around supporting Bob and fell for 11, Chicky got ran out on a direct hit from side on by Haseeb for 9, Nindy soon followed run out for 2 and Jon Whitehead stuck around to be 8 not out. The Tak were rolled for 113 of 33 overs.
Man of the Match: Bob Ward, 24 runs, 8-0-34-3 and a superb catch.
Mug of the Day: Jon Whitehead, Dropped an absolute sitter off Bob and then caught the same guy in Bob’s next over using his wooden family jewels.
Thanks to Jackie Jasy and Maddie for cheering us on and for Pete Williams joining us to commiserate at the Globe afterwards. Next match is 07 January so enjoy the break, have a great Christmas and a happy New Year to you all and your families. Hopefully Santa will bring us some runs for next year!
Uncle Russ Man of the Match: Big Bad Bob Ward