Business XI in the business

Ladies and Gents,

Yesterday, in less than ideal cricketing conditions, the Business XI started off the season with a pretty comprehensive victory over Pudong CC.

A sharp bowling performance was backed up by a very solid fielding performance resulting in us bowling Pudong out for 210. A miserly opening spell from Cranky and KC put Pudong under immediate pressure with plenty of dot balls whistling down the ‘corridor of doubt’, this was then backed up by Paps and Filthy with The Rock, Dipso and Terror also get in on the action (3 wickets for Terror, 2 to Dipso and Paps, and one a piece to Cranky, Filthy and the Rock).

Mention should go to Cassius for tidy keeping behind the stumps, combined with solid catching as well as catches for Paps, Cranky (plus 2 drops…) and the Rock proving that catches do indeed win matches

The batsmen set out to carry on from where the bowlers left off, with an opening partnership of 64 in 9 overs ensuring the Duckworth/Lewis was under control. After Sir Duck missed a straight one for a typically aggressive, quick-fire 29, Stats and Dipso consolidated the innings adding 90 odd runs in 13 overs, before the skipper got a little carried away departing for 81. A typical middle order wobble meant the result was closer than it could have been, but Sheyan ‘Dipso’ Patel was there to the end to ensure the run chase ended successfully.

Starting off the season with 10 wickets, successfully chasing 211 to win is a great result – one that sees us at the top of the table – a position that we really have the ability to hold on to till the end of the season. Follow this link for the results.

A massive thanks must go to the Pleasure Squad for staying on after their game to give us the boisterous support that only a group of men fuelled by San Miguel, a little baijiu and plenty of Shanghai’s finest Kooka Pies could – it was greatly appreciated.

Here is to a successful 2009.

Ollie ‘Stats’ Austin