The Day of Infamy… Bashers vs Hot Dogs, 9 May 2004

Report from the Anti-Basher in SCC Weekly Newsletter:
For the past few months, the Bashers – Hot Dogs clash has been a war of words fought out on the battlefields of Mao Ming Lu; when the teams finally took to the field, it was as explosive as it promised to be, with plenty of short-pitched bowling, sledging and boundaries, in what turned out to be a nail-biter.

The Bashers won the toss and batted, and although Andy Cameron struck early, it did nothing to stop Paul Turner launching a vicious attack. Batting with focus and aggression, he smashed 74 off only 45 balls before calling for a dodgy single and being run out by a direct hit. After that Pete Cain knocked an entertaining 31 which was followed by a cameo 42 from 20 balls from Ed Maloney to take the Bashers to a formidable 233-7 from their 35 overs. For the Hot Dogs, only Andre Casson with 7-0-1-11 managed to stem the flow of runs, whilst Andy Cameron picked up three wickets.

In response, the Hot Dogs lost both openers cheaply, despite an uncharacteristic burst of three fours in four balls from Joe Hepworth. Mike Tsesmelis got the run-chase going though with 78 from 66 balls, before Tim Knowles with a Bevan-like 76 from 66 and Bruce Cameron with an invaluable 34* from 27 saw the Hot Dogs home with just one ball to spare.

Email from Paul “Shrek” Turner to the Anti-Basher:
Has the issue of the game been decided upon? If not it would seem rather political of you to send out a match report prior to a decison being made.

Email from the Anti-Basher:
No not decided until Jason’s back, and I don’t think it’s political at all. The game was concluded on Sunday, with everyone thinking the Hot Dogs had won, and the captains signed off. Game over, result.

Email from Paul “Shrek” Turner to the Anti-Basher:
Since then, because someone has been through the scorebook to compile averages and records (my point being that results are not subject to post-match scorebook checks a few days later), inconsistencies – and that’s all – have been found, and based on this the Bashers are appealing against the result.

Email from the Anti-Basher:
If the appeal leads to the result being overturned, or any another outcome other than the one that the captains signed off against, then of course, I will report that in next week’s newsletter. I don’t think it would have helped anyone if I’d put that the result was subject to an appeal over scorebook inconsistencies.

Result:
The inconsistencies in the scorebook were never examined in detail, the season moved on, and as a result the Bashers missed out on a place in the play-offs and a chance at inaugural SCC League Championship glory. This is the beginning of the “win-at-all-costs” attitude of the Hot Dogs, and our fierce rivalry with them across all divisions.