Bashers Tame Pups

Bashers v Hotdogs 27 March 2005

Sitting at my desk with the biggest smile on my face in years, pondering what the anti-basher and his team mates have to say for themselves today after getting whipped by a depleted Bashers team still trying to find some form this season.

Arriving at the grounds as early as 08:00 and finding a few devoted cricket players waiting to gear up for the match was the first sign of victory for the bashers. For the first time in 10 months 99% of the team was dead on time wanting to take on the dangerous Hotdogs.

Having won the toss and selecting to put them in to bat, I had to come up with a master plan to topple the mighty Hotdogs, with the help of Mike Lucas and John L the day before it was all set up and I hoped for the best.

Opening the bowling was James G and JJ Lim bowling a very tight opening spell and keeping the Hotdogs to low first 8 over total. Hotdog openers Johan and Tim had to use all the tricks in the book not to succumb to clever bowling and fielding. Having Johan Run out after a big mess up on the pitch all came to a halt and the wickets came tumbling down when Ed M took over from James and had the first major bowling break through in bowling Tim N with a beautiful in swinger leaving him pondering about that shot for a second. Out strides André C and the pressure was on, hitting a few well timed shots he also succumbed to a perfect length ball from youngster Ed M and the castle was demolished behind him…

Having little effect on the batsmen from my bowling, Tony F had his turn with the ball, with clever field placing Tavis also made his way back to the showers after trying to hook Tony F, only to be caught at fine leg by Richard. Richard took over from Ed M and also with clever line and length bowling had the hotdogs thinking twice before trying to hit him into the street. Having bowled out all the Hotdogs for 101 it was up to us to score the runs. Mike L had his day with a perfect turning ball that brushed the bat for his one wicket of the day.

Sending Tony F and Ed M in to open the batting it all looked set for a win when we lost our first wicket for 53 runs after 10 overs.  Ed M playing a brilliant few shots, I have never even seen him try those in the nets in practice..  Playing one to many lofted cuts he get caught at point for a brilliant 22 runs. New recruit Furgy M walks to the pitch and from shot one aggression was his way of batting.

Tony F bowled by a late in swinger and the score stand on 73/2. Chook Aikman walks out and in the space of 4 min at the crease lofts one to Andre C on the midwicket boundary. The batsman following fall like flies and with 5 runs to get and I must say very good and tight bowling from Andre C and Stephen Richard slices out at a wide delivery and it flies to the boundary to give the Bashers a one wicket win. Thank you guys for a brilliant and well deserved win.

Man of the match went to our Ed M with 4/15/5.3 overs and a valiant batting performance as opener for the first time..

Thank you to all you BASHERS coming out there yesterday and hope to see all next week at the practice. Mal C thanks for coming all the way to do the scoring much appreciated.

To all have a good week

Stephen Chook Aikman.