Business vs Hot Dogs, March 31st

The Business were looking forward to kicking off the 2013 season for the Bashers in style with a first up encounter with their nemesis, the Hot Dogs.
Things didn’t start well with Filthy losing the toss and the HD captain choosing to bat first. Despite Tubby dropping a tough chance of Dazzler early, the Hot Dogs never really got away. Filthy snaffled a dolly at cover off Dazzler to pick up the first Business wicket of the season and the HDs were 21-1 in the 7th. Tiny and Leppa were quickly introduced with the new ball still swinging for them both. Tubby’s love of Tiny’s banana whilst strange was understandable as Shandy picked up a skimmer of Tiny for the 2nd wicket. HDs 40-2 in the 12th. Tubby and A’tois quickly picked up catches as well (one each of Tiny and Leppa) as the HDs fell to 57-4 in the 17th. The Business were feeling good at drinks with the HDs crawling to 70-4.
The 5th wicket partnership limped to 94 in the 29th over when Leppa was brought back and immediately picked up his first bowled of the season. Tough on Chitty who had bowled a wonderful spell unrewarded at that pavilion end. At the other end Shandy was bowling some genuinely quick stuff that the Dogs couldn’t lay bat on, but once again a great spell went unrewarded. Filthy turned to Shrek in the death overs hoping he’d transfer his impressive net bowling to the big game. An erratic first over was followed by three great overs in which Shrek picked up two wickets. The first, a catch to Filthy on the long off boundary had the HDs top scoring no. 3 gone for 45 off 95 balls. The second a top edge to Tubby who completed his second catch of the game. The HDs finishing up on 158 for 7 off their 40 overs.
The Business were confident that 159 was a very gettable target, perhaps too confident. Shandy stroked his first delivery over cover for a couple before nicking off to the keeper. 2-1 off 2 balls. A maiden in the second over was followed by Dazzlers dismissal for a duck in the third. It was the first of several incredible catches from HDs in the field. Filthy quickly followed nicking through to the keeper and we were 16-3 after 6. The wickets kept tumbling with alarmingly regularity for the Business. A’Tois scoring 3 (21-4), Tubby getting 5 (32-5), Shrek padding up and being given for 7 (40-6) and Tiny skying an easy catch on 10 (58-7). Paps come in at 9 to join Stats (11no) who had opened the innings and batted with true grit and determination despite knee troubles. They showed what could be done with application and sensible batting and took the Business to 137 in the 37th over. The 79 run partnership put the Business back in the driver’s seat with 22 needed off 21 balls. Unfortunately Paps (29 off 33) pulled a short delivery to a diving deep midwicket and the outstanding cacth broke what could have been the matchwinning partnership. Stats followed two balls later for a well compiled 50 but that left the final two batsmen with 20 needed of 18 balls. Leppa struggled to get bat on ball and Chitty was left without any strike and suddenly the Business needed 16 off the last over. It was not to be and Leppa was run out for 0 trying to get Chitty on strike. Business lose by 15 runs.

O. Austin 50 off 117
S. Jolly 29 off 33
D. Manning 6 overs 1-13
T. O’Connell 6 overs 2-26
J. L’Epagniol 6 overs 2-23
P. Turner 5 overs 2-26
P. Mildenhall 2 catches
M. Hall 2 catches