The Champs vs The Rest Lumberjack, 6 March 2005

SCC Newsletter Report from Paul “Shrek” Turner:
Maharajahs 157/9 defeated League XI 111/10
The first game of the season was greeted with magnificent weather as the mercury pushed its way into double figures and the north wind took the day off tempting us to believe that Spring had arrived.Indeed a portentious beginning if there ever was one, as if cricket Gods were smiling upon the SCC League.

As the League XI arrived in dribs and drabs following the aftermath of Steve “Chook” Aikman’s birthday celebrations the Maharajas were all there early in the nets, stretching, running and chomping at the bit eager to prove that last years League victory was no fluke.

It didn’t start well for the Maharajahs as the ever confident Sanjay Anagula strode to the crease to take middle. But Chook Aikman also took middle with his first delivery and the shocked Sanjay was on his way. With 9 specialist bowlers in the League XI the compelation team were confident they would knock over the champs in quick succession. And so it seemed as Andy “The Bushman” Cameron captured the wicket of the new and very promising Kishure and Alex Hughes took wickets in succession taking the prized scalps of Mayank and Vinay. Deepak, though slow to get going eventually found the middle of the bat demonstrated beautifully with some huge straight hitting, one of which landed on the road at the Carrefour end off a steaming Andre Casson. Deepak top scored with 45 and the Maharajas arrived at a competitive, but definitely gettable score of 157. All League XI bowlers took wickets except for Captain Terror Turner who was a little miffed at being left out. Alex Hughes 20/2 off 4 was the pick of the bowlers.

The League XI openers Kagi and Domela set about establishing a base and all looked well until Kagi fell against the Hot Dog destroyer of last year, Deepak “The Flying Lunchbox”. With the ever reliable Tim Knowles arriving and plenty of batting to come the League XI felt it was simply a matter of time before they would overhaul the Maharajahs’ total. Even when Domela was dismissed and Turner arrived all seemed well for the compelation team. When Turner was out LBW for 15 and Knowles for 24 the XI were 93/4 though stumbling still had plenty of overs and three of the biggest hitters in the league were on their way – Aikman, Hughes and Casson. Surely the game was now beyond the Maharajahs. Well, they collectively scored four runs and all of a sudden the Maharajahs were sniffing at another improbable victory.

And so it was. Resistance never came and the Maharajahs led by Sumit’s wily off spinners (5 wickets for just 8 runs in just 3.2 overs) and Deepak’s outswingers (14/3) the League XI was left in tatters and rueing the missed opportunties.

With beers and cheers after the game the talk centred around the upcoming season starting in a couple of weeks. “Have the Maharajahs peaked too early”, “Is Pudong relying too much on its pace attack”, “How many Hot Dogs will miss games through injury this year”, “Will the Bashers emulate their motto OUT OF DARKNESS COMETH LIGHT and prove to be the dark horse of the League”