Sat 11th Feb, KCC.
Saracens 3 / 315
Kai Tak 8 / 256. D.Belcastro 51, N.Hawke 31, B.Haskett 31
Yes well another cricket lesson for us this week unfortunately. After winning the toss Dave decided to try something new for this game and bowl first. With the bowling attack we had, who would argue with that logic, especially after some dodgy defending of totals we have had recently. Anyway, we were also to play on the turf which looked like it might offer some good bounce early on.
They got off to a flyer with CRW wondering what he had done wrong with 18 coming from the first over!!! Morls coming from the other end tightening things up a bit. We did manage a couple of vital early wickets especially the big one of Raul Sharma. Obviously he is still uncertain what an LBW is as he wasnt prepared to leave too quickly, thank god for the official umpires!! Unfortunately it brought Naeem their professional from Pakistan to the crease. He showed his class too, smashing any ball not right in the block hole. He eventually went on to a great 156 not out. We managed a bowling point thankfully with their 3rd wicket falling towards the end. Morls finished with 2 and Fidel bowled well with no wickets. Our fielding was very average for the day with a few drop chances that really should have been taken. Brad Haskett missing a very difficult c&b chance when Naeem was on not much. So 315 was it and for sure we werent about to give in.
Brad HAskett in his return to the Tak after a short absence (we should be seeing more of him now he is not commuting!!) got off to a flyer hitting 30 odd in not much time. Our Mr Reliable Mohsin fell cheaply, dont worry Mohs i dont think your spot in the team is in any danger!!!!(Although you did drop one when i was bowling!!) It was pretty much a story of guys getting a start and not going on with it, most of us getting in the 20s or 30s but obviously not enough. Nick Hawke struggled early but found his rythym, supported by Morls who also hit in the 20s i think. But it was when our old favorite Fidel came out that the game got fun. He did exactly what the rest of us tried but failed to do, hitting 6s with relative ease in the end. He went on t a fine 51 and went in the 2nd last over as we were calling him to knock Nick off the top 5 spot in the batting, oh well we have to put up with it for another week Nick, but i swear i will topple you next week...i am bloody due!!!!!
Bob Ward requires a commendation for him to turn up after making more runs on the toilet than he would get a chance to do in the match. Thanks Bob for the effort, well done. Evo came in with an over to spare and decided his average was worth protecting and basically blocked out the over, much to the humor of his own team!!
So we went down fighting in the end and maybe knowing their lack of bowling talent, i think i know what we will be doing first if we meet them in the cup rounds!!!!!
In summary, poor fielding cost us dearly, not much we could do against a former International player but we could have slowed the others, it cost us the game and really we were never in it after that. A pretty good batting display but no one able to stick their hand up and take charge of the game, something that we have relied too much on Mohsin for this year. There seem to be some improvement in the batting areas so lets hope we are timing our form well for the cup games!!!!!
Man of the Match: Dave Fidel Belcastro.