Bashers Cricket Club

With a 1:30pm (Saturday) start to our game we pondered why we deserved this lovely time slot. Then we realized we had done nothing and it was only because we were playing a D.P.R. ****dog team that we had such a convenient start time. We discussed team tactics over a few Crown Lagers while we waited for “Birdshit” to arrive, which never eventuated. We jumped on the bus and headed to Dulwich in “HIGH” spirits.

“Woodstock” won the toss and elected to field first as the ground was wet from rain earlier in the day and the outfield would dry up later. He then opened the bowling with himself and “Long Dong”. “Woodstock took first blood and got Damon out for his “third straight duck” (quoted from his team mate who has wished to remain anonymous). They bowled consistently with extras at a minimum. A change of pace was a great tactic by the captain when he brought on “Inquisition” & “Made In”. The doggies were unaware that the “Inquisition” onslaught to come. He mixed it up well and took our best bowling figures this year of 5/15, off 5 overs. “Pusher” and “Swahili” took over the reins as the heavens opened and rain the size of golf balls came down. Credit to the batsmen as they decided to continue and play in the treacherous conditions. They would regret that decision with “Swahili” taking two and “Pusher” taking one. The Harddogs then did something that was unexpected and called “last man standing” as they had failed to get 11 players to the match. The last batsman batted the innings out, adding at least another 30 runs to their total. Notable fielding came in the way of “Walrus” dropping a catch off his “family jewels” and “Tank” juggling one before it hit the ground.

“Woodstock” and “Made In” walked on with 115 to win off a wet ground and a pitch that was better described as a swimming pool. Everything was going well at the 5th over stage when we were 30/1. “Woodstock” hitting some big boundaries and “Made In” playing some nice shots that would have done better on a dry surface. Then there was a Bashers collapse, losing 6 wickets in the next 5 overs. It was left up to the rear guard to carry us through. “Birdshit & “Pusher” troubled the bowlers, before both getting out LBW (4 LBWs during the Bashers innings). One of the Harddogs got injured and due to their short numbers requested one of our players to field for them. In the spirit of the game we gave them our best fielder “Made In” who fielded brilliantly. “Smasher” put on 19 runs before deciding to finish his day by smashing the stumps with his bat. “Inquisition” and “Walrus” pushed towards the target, but came up just short as “Inquisition” got out on 23 runs. We looked and contemplated whether to take the 30+ runs for white uniform infringements. After about 2 seconds of deliberation we decided against it and headed to watch the President at Big Bamboo, Hongmei.

Man of the Match performance by “Inquisition”. We look forward to redeeming ourselves against the Hotdogs this weekend.