20-20 Week 2 Bashers vs Hot Dogs

Like other post, apologies for not knowing all of the details, I wrote this without scorebook or corrections from team-mates. Gist of the game was sound team win, the workload shared all involved (apart from the youngster, who did plenty of batting in the heat). Read on – there is space in the sledge area to add some more of the fine(r) details!

Stand-in captain Post-Op called correctly, and we fielded first on an extremely hot day. Papps and JR were on top from Ball 1, and JR’s diving return catch took first wicket of the match. Cranky knocked over their skipper when he came on, Tiny took the 3^rd wicket in the next over, and we did not concede a boundary until 9^th (?) over. Pope bowled a wicket maiden, and we were well on top. We continued to work through our array of bowlers – Sharapova tested Korean’s flexibility behind the stumps, Bullet snared one caught at slip, Post-Op used the full-toss to successful effect, and by the time Hot Dogs were all out in the final over, all 10 Bashers had had a bowl, and Hot Dogs had a respectable, but insufficient 112.

Scoop and Papps lead the way (Papps really rates Post-Op as a captain) for the Bashers. Papps fell early, bringing Cranky to the crease. By this stage, the heat was really starting to take effect – Cranky was not his usual dominant self, and the running between the wickets started to ease off in speed. Cranky was caught behind off a short one, bringing in The Pope, who hooked his first ball to deep square leg, departing mortified for a golden duck. Sharapova was out for a 3^rd ball duck, and 3 wickets had fallen in the same over.

Captain Post-Op righted the ship with Scoop, registering a couple of mighty 6s as Bashers asserted their control. The pair were in such control that the walking between the wickets reduced our run rate, as they conserved energy in the heat. Scoop dictated, carrying his bat for 50, and seeing Bashers over the line in company with Korean (you don’t get the Korean out if the finishing line is in sight).

Bashers managed this game well – we could have annihilated the HDs in this fixture had we chosen, but that would not have been the right thing to do. Everyone had contributed, continuing into an over-exuberant fines session for such a hot day. After low level performance against Leopards, Bashers will have some momentum for their final game against Pudong.