Bashers. It's Shanghainese for Cricket

Business Lumberjack: July 24th

The Business headed out to Dulwich College late Sunday morning facing a must-win game against the cellar-dwelling Power.

Things started ominously with Cranky’s driver going AWOL resulting in a close race for last person to the ground between himself and Leppa.

It got worse for the Business when stand in tosser Stats lost the toss whilst Capt. Filthy was finishing his umpiring gig. Bashers to field first in sauna like conditions. Strong eleven named including The Dog prowling the edge of the boundary hoping to see some action as 12th man.

Cranky, sporting a fetching pair of black leotards, opened up and quickly found the outside edge of a portly Power bat. Sir Dick taking a comfortable catch at point. One quickly became two as Cranky pinned the remaining opener back in the crease and was successful in the LBW appeal. Pudong were 6 – 2 after three overs, Cranky had 2/2 off 2. Dazzler was soon in on the act finding the edge of Power’s No. 3, the catch safely snaffled by the Korean; 17 – 3 after 6. Quickly became four as Dazzler made a one-handed reaction catch of his own bowling look very easy in the 8th over. Power in real trouble early.

Power then dug in until drinks at 45-4 after 14. Ram and Siddartha continued to put up a fight after the drinks break until Dazzler finally broke the partnership and the stumps with the last ball of his spell. Paps, Filthy, Leppa and Tiny all had a crack at the Puding lower order. Paps picked up a bowled and most importantly deceived Ram into skying a hoick towards mid-wicket; the catch safely into Filthy’s hands. Leppa took his trademark wicket with another skier to Filthy on the mid-wicket boundary. Tiny and Filthy went wicketless and were a little wayward with their lines.

Cranky came back to pick up one final wicket before Pudong were dismissed with a run out of the last ball of the 40th over for 163.
Whilst the Business would have taken that before the game there was a definite feeling that they had let the Power back into the game in the last 20 overs. 164 to win would take some getting. Credit to Cranky, Dazzler and Paps who all bowled great lines and were rewarded with 8 wickets between them.

Sir Dick circumnavigated the selection process and extorted his virtues as an opener to the Business skipper Dipso during the week. Pleading to be opened and to see Filthy dropped (whether down the order or dropped altogether was not apparent). Unfortunately Dipso was unavailable for the game so Sir Dick was tasked with opening with Filthy. He lasted four balls and was dropped on the only ball he hit. 5 – 1 in the second over. Bring back Dipso : )

Dazzler strode to the crease fresh of a century last week and was quickly into his work. A second wicket partnership of 77 putting the Business firmly in the drivers seat. Another good knock from Dazzler with 43 off just 49 balls. 82-2 and now Stats had the chance to score some runs. A quick 34 run partnership ensued as Stats raced to 22 off 24 balls before hitting a return catch to the bowler.

116-3 as Tubby trundled out to add his Shock and Awe to Filthy’s Nibble and Nurdle. Five boundaries and a two later and Tubby had almost got the Business over the line before skying a hook of Ram. 151 -4. Growler joined Filthy and together they polished of the remaining dozen with relative ease. Filthy finishing unbeaten with a painfully compiled 41*.

• Sunday 24 July 2011 SRFC Near
  Pudong Power 163/10 (2.43)
  Bashers Business 164/4 (7.64)

Comfortable victory puts the Business back at 4-4 and gives Filthy his first victory as Captain.

2011 Division One

Cranky 8 – 27 3
Dazzler 8 – 29 3 and 43 off 49
Paps 8 1 19 2
Leppa 5 – 26 1
Filthy 5 – 30 0 and 41* off 88
Tiny 6 – 28 0
Sir Dick 2 off 5
Stats 22 off 24
Tubby 22 off 16
Growler 2 off 7

Bowling Scoresheet

Batting Scoresheet