Bashers vs Pudong Lumberjack, 9 April 2006

Bashers vs Pudong, 9 April 2006 (as emailed out by Ed Molony)

Firstly thanks to all those who braved the adverse weather conditions to play against Pudong yesterday. The game was a stop start affair with the teams coming off 2 or 3 times due to downpours. This caused the captains to decide on reducing the game to 28 overs per innings. Anyway the end result was a well deserved victory by the Bashers.

Through sheer skill and tactics the Bashers skipper (me!!!!!) won the toss, putting PDCC into bat.

Opening the bowling was Greg ‘faster than his namesake’ Thomson and yours truly (the clouds tried to part, the birds tried to sing and the trumpets tried to call from the heavens, but it was just too bloody wet!!!). Anyway the opening spell from these two bowlers started a little shaky but soon settled into a stride which was continued by messers “Inquisition” L’Epagniol and Paul “Shrek” Turner.

For those that weren’t there it is hard to imagine the outfield conditions. Fielders were constantly slipping and sliding in what closer resembled a swamp than a cricket field. But that didn’t stop the Bashers enthusiasm and determination.

Stu Macdonald and Denzyl “Cranky” completed the bowling innings, with the latter picking up a couple of useful wickets.

152 for 5 was the end result for the PDCC – into bat went the Bashers……………

Opening up was Mal “Omega” C and Scott “Starfish” B, although to be honest neither lasted long at all. In fact a special mention, as is customary, goes to Mal “Omega” for his skillful duck!!! But the Bashers weren’t in any panic as in strode Ollie “Stats” Austin and “Shrek” Turner.

A fantastic display of batting from both of them putting on a partnership of over 100. Turner was first to go for 42, but at that stage the bulk of the workload had been completed. In stepped Denzyl “I got a golden duck last week” Allwright. But that was put clearly out of mind as, together with “Stats”, they lead the Bashers to victory.

For the second game on a row Ollie “Stats” Austin takes man of the match with a superb 76 not out in horrendous conditions. Also congratulations to Paul Turner for his 42.

So that concludes round one of the three round league competition. As far as I am aware the Basher are probably 2nd so far.