Business Boys Up and Running…

After a hit and miss start to the season (more miss than hit), it is with a sense of relief that the first Lumberjack report is posted. Following a wash-out first up against Pudong, followed by defeats to the two wannabe Basher teams in the League (Devils and Doggies), we finally managed to notch the first of many victories for the season.

Sunday morning arrived and the walking wounded congregated at the Camel for the journey to the SRFC with both the Hedgehog and Filthy still yet to recover from injuries they picked up prior to the game. Sir Dick was also walking evidence that no amount of showering and cologne can truly hide the effects from the previous evening.
Not to matter – we had XI – including our 6th debutant in 3 games, the sun was shining… we were raring to go.

Arrived at the SRFC to instigate a Basher collapse in the Pleasure game, but also to cheer on the heroic efforts of Long Dong and Swahili as they notched up their first victory of the season. Inspired by the fight the Business Boys, under the watchful eye of our resident PE teacher, limbered up and hoped that finally the skipper might be able to win the toss.

He didn’t. We had to field. Not to matter – we had XI – we had a strong bowling line up and we were loose – in the non-Basher sense of the word – and ready to secure the clubs second victory of the day.

With the Old Man Cranky and Hedgehog opening up with penetration, it was only a matter of time before we got in amongst it. Unfortunaely it was not to be. In the 4th over of the day, the Hedgehog – in attempt to lure the batsman into the ‘money shot’, followed through awkwardly and fell off the cliff that seperates the square from the field and had to leave the field with (hopefully only) a sprained ankle. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Not to matter – we had XI – Tank selflessly sacrificing his afternoon of celebration to help us out. Two overs later – disaster struck again as Bernie the Hot Dog middled a heave straight to Inquisition at silly mid-on. Was it a catch? No. It was a blood bath, concussion, a broken nose and a fracture to the cheek-down. Some of this due to the ball and some due to the Rock’s delicate first aid. Leppa left the field to nurse his wounds. Not to matter – we still had XI – The Dazzler entering stage-right to help us out.

The net result was that the cricket almost took a back seat for the first half hour. The Bashers rallied in true Bashers style – bowling was tight, fielding was sharp and the runs were very hard to come by. Wickets fell at regular intervals – which essentially meant that other than David Boyle’s chanceless 67 (oh no – Cranky dropped him…) and 33 extras, the rest of Pudong managed to score 40 runs between them.
A very sound effort, with wickets shared between everyone who bowled more than 7 balls.

We needed 150 to win. Off 40 overs. The light was good, Pudong were without Jason Bird, surely this was to be a walk in the park?

The Rock opened up and continued his fine form, adding another 2 to the number of balls he has faced this season, without adding to his run tally. It was an improvement on Sir Dicks effort the previous week though – so selection seems to be improving team performance…

Stats came in to join Dipso and the scorecard was ticking over rapidly without much needing to be played, Dipso departed after a little partnership of 68/2 in 12 or so overs, became 109/6 off about 30, as we strived to copy our Pleasure brothers.
This did matter – with Tank not allowed to bat, and Leppa probably seeing more balls than he ought, we were facing potential embarrassment. 40 runs off 10 overs is a situation made for our banker and our cricket geek. Neither Oscar nor Filthy were up to the challenge, and it was left to Sinbad and Cranky to see us home.

A victory by 3 wickets was brought up with an emphatic Cranky 6 – highlighting why he bats down the order. Well done us.

• Sunday 30 May 2010 SRFC East
  Pudong Power 149/10 (2.89)
  Bashers Business 153/7 (7.53)

Special mentions:
Leppa 3/20 off 8 overs with broken bones. The man is HARD.
Cranky 2/29
Sinbad 2/37
Shower 1/16
Dipso 1/42

Stats 40
Dipso 17
Cranky 15*
Sinbad 14*

Special mention to Tank and The Dazzler – much appreciated.
Extra special mention to new Basher – Jon ‘Shower’ Rees for his spectacular double. A wide off his first ball and a golden duck.
Extra Extra special mention to our friend the Foreskin. Bats XI, doesn’t bowl, can’t throw, can’t catch.

2010 Santa Fe Premiership

Good night!
Stats