Lumberjack Pleasure v Digitals 19th Apr

Bashers Pleasure has introduced new players this season, both expat and local, and we have a very talented and competitive team. So it was a good test against a Digital side that comfortably won in last season’s final. This game was at Wellington International School which is growing on me as a cricket fixture.

The captain lost the toss, but still had it the way he wanted as the Digitals chose to bat on a humid and smoggy day. ‘J.R’ and ‘Cranky’ opened and did very well as they kept their run rate down with accurate and quick bowling. Then ‘Swoop’ came to bowl and quickly took a wicket, and soon after another, and another soon after too. At the other end ‘Rash’ proved that he could maintain the pressure. The Bashers were in control and needed to maintain performing well if they were going to inflict a rare defeat to the Digitals.

But then a lull, a few overs before drinks two Digital batsmen who had been in for a while began to score and build momentum to their partnership. With this, and a few misfields and drop catches by drinks it needed a talk by the captain to refocus and in his words ‘get hurt!’ After drinks there was a good spell by ‘Tinder’. ‘Post Op’ caused them a few problems and got a well deserved wicket; and ‘J.r.’ too. To sum up our bowlers kept plugging away whilst the Digitals were pushing to get as many runs as possible. In the end they managed 178 and every Basher hoped that our early good performance had not been spoiled by our dip later on in the innings.

3-19, 6 overs ‘Swoop’ double wicket maiden; 1-31, 4 overs ‘Post Op’, 1-24, 6 overs ‘J.R.’

So we had to make a good start with our batting to be competitive! And we did, starting strongly with ‘Swoop’ and ‘Jap’s i’. Standing up to the bowlers, playing some nice shots and creating an effective partnership with ‘Jap’s i’ scoring 20 and ‘Swoop’ scoring 44. Then the rest of Pleasure carried on the mantle. ‘Cranky ‘will be disappointed he didn’t score that many (4) but there is no doubt runs will come. ‘Post Op’ blocked his first bowl and after he got his eye in smacked a 4 for his second and a 6 for his third, making a quick and useful 27 before being caught behind by the keeper who had to run a long way and wait a long time for the ball to come to him and even then did what must be ugliest juggling act I have ever seen in cricket. ‘Korean’ and ‘Pope’ at the middle tried to build a partnership when there was a controversy that threatened to ruin the whole afternoon.

At the end of an over, scorers checked with each other to see if their scores matched; Digital fielders started to make their way to their new positions, umpires too; batsmen moved to the middle as we all do in-between overs and then a loud ‘HOWZAT!’ from the Digital keeper because ‘Pope’ had moved out of his crease. “The umpire never called over” was their point of view. “Well the umpire is very quiet, so we can’t say for sure” was our reply. So after a discussion which got quite heated it was reluctantly decided that ‘Pope’ (7) had to go. Was it technically out within the rules of the game? PROBABLY! Was it a controversial decision? YES! Was it an act that goes against the spirit of the game? DEFINITLY YES!

Post-op vents his anger on the ball…

So with the controversy mentioned above; the ridiculously excessive amount of loud appeals; and when there was a wicket celebrations that sounded like a group of 14 year old girls at a Justin Beiber concert; to win this game became all important. We needed discipline, and some sensible cricket to reach our target. To lose (the agony) or to win (the ecstasy).

‘Tinder’ came in and continued to convince his Pleasure teammates what a solid cricketer he is. Working well with ‘Korean’ and kept the runs ticking. ‘Korean’ ending on 11 ‘Tantirc’ came in, a short spell but scored a few and ran hard with ‘Tinder’ between the wickets. All the time chasing our target but overs were running out. ‘Rash’ came in and was very sensible, not giving away his wicket and letting ‘Tinder’ be on strike when possible.

Then it came to a point where we needed 3 to win off 9 (not sure but not far off). ‘Tinder’ on strike, and WHACK! A 6 and victory (33 not out). To say this was a great feeling was a vast understatement! The beer on the bus tasted so good and back at the Camel we had a great fines session mostly at the expense of ‘Fingers’ who has managed to break a finger again.

Bashers Pleasure savoring a fine victory!

To sum up. A great Bashers day!!