Bashers Business vs Hot Dogs, April 30th Lumberjack

The Business rustled together an eleven for their Tuesday afternoon re-match with Doggies, hoping to banish their abysmal batting performance from the first game of the season against the Doggies.

No pies or beers was a bad way to start the day and Filthy losing the toss also wasn’t ideal! Business sent in to bat. Shandy and Stats opened up as per Game 1 v Doggies and as in Game 1 Shandy was quickly dismissed caught behind the wicket (although doubts remain over whether it was in fact a bump ball or not). Dazzler joined Stats and they reprised their Game 2 partnership and put on 58 before Stats pulled a half tracker down the throat of deep mid-wicket (61-2 in the 16th). Genghis (Temujin) joined Dazzler to guide the Business through to drinks (84-2 off 20) but fell soon after for 3.

Dazzler quickly joined his top order colleagues leaving a straight delivery that clipped his off stump (91-4 after 23). A Tois and Cassius wasted little time in getting the scoreboard ticking over, A tois in particular dismantling some oridnary Doggies bowling. The pair put on 70 runs in a little under 8 overs before A Tois was clean bowled for 44 (off 32 balls) leaving the Business 161-5 after 31.

Tubby came and went for 4 (off 4) as did Filthy (13 off 14) and Paps (3 off 3) leaving the Business 197-8 in the 37th. However that 37th over then took an amusing turn as their Doggies bowler got the yips and bowled a total of 12 wide delvieries and conceeded a total of 20 from his over, only 5 of which were off the bat! Cassius then unleashed in the remaining few overs climbing to 41 (off 52). Smurfy then scored his maiden Bashers run with a glide down to third man for 4 before being bowled next delivery. Korean left 9 not out at the other end as the Business were dimissed in the 40th over for 237.

The Doggies went into the break  down after conceeding 49 runs in the last 5 overs and they never really recovered. Shandy opened up with some serious wheels in a wayward opening spell but the breaks were soon put on the Dogs innings by some tight bowling from Paps and Dazzler. Paps picking up the first wicket LBW in the 10th over (42-1).

The Dogs put together another partnership which the Business finally broke in the 20th over with a fantastic catch from Shandy and a first wicket of the day for Smurfy (84-2 at drinks). Dazzler returned shortly after drinks to dismiss J. Keel for 6 leaving them 105-3 and still requiring 133 off 13 overs.

With the rate required over 10 and Smurfy proving difficult to get away the game was the Business’ to lose. Smurfy quickly added V. Krish, P. Todorov and A. Cummings to his list of victims to complete a great spell (4-24 off 8). Filthy and Shandy quickly wrapped up the tail with the final wicket being a running catch on the boundary at long off by Smurfy to the consternation of his former Doggies teammates!

Victory by 88 runs!

Stats 28 off 54
Dazzler 38 off 71, 1-31 off 8
A Tois 44 off 32, 4 catches (as replacement keeper for the injured Cassius)
Cassius 41 off 52
Smurfy 4-24 off 8
Filthy 13 off 14, 3-26 off 6.2

Now top of the table with a match against K2 coming up this Sunday!