Report: Leisure vs. Hot Dogs 20th June 2010

The leisure team convened under pleasantly overcast skies at 7.30 am on Sunday morning. We were without two leisure stalwarts, our regular leader Loose and the ubiquitous Gary Glitter, as well as late withdrawal Swoop. The ladies of the morning that usually entertain us while we wait for the bus were also conspicuous by their absence, but this may be mere coincidence. Whatever the reasons, we steeled ourselves to fight on a man short.

The game began well for the Bashers as Jaguar correctly called flower. After putting the opposition in, Made In got his customary early breakthrough, but the top order for the Hotdogs battled gamely until the Korean made an entrance to the bowling crease and intimidated the other opener into treading on his stumps. Johnny Drama (nee Groove Rider) also made a brief but dramatic appearance at the bowling crease: 9 legitimate balls, 4 wides, and one rolled ankle (another victim of the SRFC cliff) saw Mr Drama writhing on the ground in a manner foreshadowing the Azzurri later that night. This allowed Ali “The Mule” Mann to make his first appearance at the bowling crease, in which he showed excellent control. It also took us from 10 fielders to nine, and left us struggling to plug the gaps in the field; however, the pressure continued as Long Dong was his parsimonious self, and new cap Andrew “Pitstop” Yee snapped up three wickets in an impressive debut.

The highlight of the innings was was the inspired decision by stand-in skipper Pusher to bring acting vice-captain Jaguar into the attack. The Jag soon struck, claiming his first lifetime wicket with a cunning double bouncer which Parrot took cleanly then whipped off the bails for a sharp stumping. Jaguar claimed a second wicket and was feeling very happy with himself and chirping confidently about the football. He was not to be so happy around 12 hours later. The fact that a woman and a child were batting didn’t deter Jaguar from being hit for a number of boundaries, and the Mule returned for a probing spell. Long Dong distinguished himself with a tactical decision to palm a simple catch to Pusher who effected a run out – obviously LD felt that being hit around by a child was less embarrassing than being shown up by a girl. This was the only easy catch to be dropped, with Parrot again performing behind the stumps with two catches and a stumping, and Korean bringing an up-and-under securely into his chest. After 25 overs it was 127 for 8 and all to play for, but the liberal strike zone being employed meant that this was a challenging total.

The Bashers’ innings started with a beautiful straight drive for four by Pothole, followed by a sharp catch to send him on his way. This left Parrot and Long Dong to consolidate, and that they did. A half century partnership got the Bashers within sight of a win, but Parrot was stuck at the wrong end for too many balls, including 2 maidens, and the flow of runs relaxed. Nevertheless, there were wickets in hand and the game was there for the taking. Alas, wickets began to fall and the required run rate never became manageable, despite a spirited effort from Pitstop and a continuation of Jaguar’s fine all round performance. It came right down to the final ball when a six would have tied the scores, but ended in a five run loss. In lieu of Gary Glitter, Made In and Parrot were both dismissed by children (would GG have fronted if he’d known that there would be three minors on the field?), but on a positive note it was a rare duckless effort from the Bashers.

• Sunday 20 June 2010 SRFC East
  Bashers Leisure 121/5 (2.81)
  DPR Hot Dogs 127/8 (6.27)

All in all, an even match played in fine spirit by both sides, and a battling effort by an undermanned fielding side. The match was followed by a meandering Jaguar-led fine session, and a reluctant initiation into the club by Mule, then the ride to the Camel was interrupted by a detour to hospital for Johnny Drama, and enlivened by Pitstop’s near bursting bladder and eventual irrigation of a hotel lawn.

Hot Dogs 127-8

Made In: 1 for 27; Korean 1 for 26; Pitstop 3 for 16; Jaguar 2 for 17

Bashers 121-5

Parrot 36; Long Dong 34; Pitstop 17 n.o.; Jaguar 4 n.o.

2010 Santa Fe Social League