Business vs Daredevils, April 21st Lumberjack

Sunday morning, April 21st versus reigning Division 1 champions Daredevils CC post- Bashers on a Boat was always going to be a challenge for the Business. Fortunately the captain had planned for Sinbad’s inevitable no show and named a squad of 12 but even that display of foresight almost came unstuck when Genghis failed to acknowledge any of the myraid forms of communication sent to him regarding his selection for the Business game. A 10:25am phone call was required to get him on board and join the 6 other Business boys for the bus ride to SRFC.

The day was bright(ish) but slightly chilly as the Business arrived at the ground. The previous game finished earlyu and allowed the start time to be pushed forward 30 minutes. Filthy lost the toss but got the desired result, the Business in the field to begin.

Dazzler and Tiny opened up and with the ball swinging kept the opposition run rate in check. Zhang Yufei, fresh off a century versus K2 and South African recruit J. Erasmus looked comfortbale without every getting away from the Business side. They made it to drinks 39 without loss (13 overs). Korean was introduced immediately after the drinks break for a spell of licorice all sorts that created a close LBW and a missed catching opportunity to Stats in the covers, but still the opening partnership continued. With the second drinks break approaching Filthy brought himself back on from the SRFC Pavilion end with the wind behind him and managed to entice J. Erasmus into an aerial drive straight down Dazzler’s throat at cover. 111-1 quickly become 111-2 as Tubby picked up the other opening batsmen with same mode of dismissal c D. Manning b M. Hall.

The Business returned from the 2nd drinks break refreshed and re-energized by the two quick wickets and immediately added to their tally with a lightning fast stumping for Cassius giving Smurfy his first wicket for the Bashers since the high profile switch from the Hot Dogs. Tubby quickly followed that up with the key wicket of S. Anugula clean bowled by a swinging delivery that clipped the top of off. The Business were back on top! R. Candido and J. Newton proceeded to rest back control of the match with a solid partnership broken only by the return of Tiny to dismiss his bunny Newton well caught by Cassius from a skier to cover. Three quick wickets (two to Smurfy and one to Filthy) kept the runs in check and saw the Daredevils finish their 40 overs at 203-8. More than the Business would’ve liked but a solid recovery from 111-0!

Genghis and Stats, fresh off a welcome half century in the prvious match, opened up for the Business with the pervue to get through the opening spell and set a platform for the Business to build their innings. The message was possibly lost in Mongolian translation as Genghis was soon dismissed slashing at wide delivery from S. Anugula for 2. Dazzler joined the Stats at the crease and the two quietly went about their business. They got through a period of 5 consecutive maidens and the Business found themselves 36-1 after 13 overs.

The rate required kept increasing after the first drinks break but the Business batsmen kept their heads and almost made it through to the second drinks break with Dazzler falling in the 26th over for 41 off 73 balls (97-2 after 26). With 107 needed off 84 balls, the onus was the on the the middle order to get the sccorebaord ticking over. Stats was dismissed immediately after drinks for 42 off 78 before being joing in quick succession by à Trois (3 off 8), Filthy (4 off 5) and Cassius (8 off 11). 131-6 in the 32nd over with Tubby and Growler at the crease needing 47 deliveries meant the Devils were odds on to win.

However as he has done many times to the Devils, Tubby took the game by the scruff of the neck. 45 runs in 4 overs with three 6’s and four 4’s got the Business back in the hunt. Tubby ended up on 45 off 27 balls when he was bowled by J. Newton with the score at 176 in the 36th (28 needed off 27 balls). Tiny joined Growler and really applied the pressure to the faltering Devils side and put together 23 further runs before Growler was bowled by J. Newton for a crucial 22 off 17 balls. With 5 needed off 12 deliveries, Korean joined Tiny and despite a fractured finger from a Newton bouncer, Tiny was able to slash a winning boundary to the point region and guide the Business to a memorable 2 wicket victory!

Filthy 2-28 off 8
Smurfy 3-24 off 8
Tubby 2-30 off 5 and 45 off 27 balls
Stats 42 off 78 balls
Dazzler 41 off 73 balls
Growler 22 off 17 balls
Tiny 1-49 and 14 off 10 balls