Lumberjack \u2013 Div3 – Bashers Leisure “25ers” \u2018v\u2019 Pudong Power
\nDate: 3rd August 2014<\/p>\n
Team:<\/p>\n
Dags
\nSpanner
\nTruffles
\nGear
\nMouse
\nBieber (Basher virgin)
\nSharapova
\nGrilla
\nWoodstock
\nParrot
\nScooby<\/p>\n
Comeoniwannalayya (Basher virgin)<\/p>\n
This was the key game for Bashers Leisure (\u201cBL\u201d) to succeed in. If BL wanted to have a chance at glory in Div 3, this was a must win game. Our opponents were last year\u2019s division winners \u2026 but this was totally irrelevant, because as we all know BL is the best team in the world. The lead up to the game was tough for the captain, with a general shortage of availability of players. However a fairly strong looking side formed, dominated by Aussie\u2019s, only leaving a couple of Kiwi\u2019s, one Pom, Sharapova \u2026\u2026. plus a Hawaiian 12th man!<\/p>\n
All the team successfully met in the Camel at 7.15am. The anticipation was high \u2026 as was the smell of some of the Bashers from the previous night\u2019s festivities. Rumours were circulating that our President was bringing a \u2018Grade A cricketer\u2019 (I personally didn\u2019t really know what this meant \u2026 but apparently in Aus it has a positive meaning \u2026 generally surmising that the Pres was bringing us a ringer !!). Mouse then walked in with is fellow Tasmanian mate, John MacCoy (later christened Bieber), who had been visiting for the weekend. Bieber obviously had not applied the same training\/dietary method in Tasmania as our President\u2013 he look fit, psyched and was practising off-drives by the pool table. When asked what he can do, the answer came that he was a batsman, but also bowls. He then proceeded to run round the pub, stretching and taking selfies (hence the Bashers name) \u2013 everyone felt a bit more confident. <\/p>\n
Our other new 12th man Basher also joined us, a guy with an American accent, turns out he came from Hawaii (hence Bashers name), lives in Xiamen \u2026 think he had something to do with Parrot. He boarded the bus, not knowing what crickets was \u2026 but he had a carton of cigarettes with him \u2026 so we welcomed him on board accordingly.
\nWe boarded the bus 30 mins late, due to a delay of the warming of pies. Although pie consumption was very necessary for many of the Bashers (thank you very much Woody) \u2026 this did provide a delay our pre-match warm up session and necessary preparations for the game. We drove late into SRFC (or whatever it is called) and Pudong were already looking well grouped with catching practise under way.<\/p>\n
Our skipper, Dags, won the toss (a great victory) and put us into the field (starting 30 mins late) \u2013 history this season has shown that BL have chased better. Everyone seemed confident, the chirp was vocal and looking round the pitch there was a copious amount of bowlers. Grilla was handed the ball to start the day, as he came down to bowl the first ball, he tripped on delivery and proceeded to fall on his arse. He got up, then spent the next few minutes very graphically rubbing his backside\u2026. which I presumed was trying to put the batsmen off their concentration. The next ball was edged to the feet of first slip, whereupon Mouse put it down \u2026. Grilla\u2019s plan had backfired as his fellow fielders were also trying to mentally recover from having to watch his arse rubbing. <\/p>\n
The bowling was generally good (in comparison to other recent BL teams) \u2026\u2026 the performances (good and bad) are summarised here: <\/p>\n
Grilla \u2013 generally bowled well \u2026 didn\u2019t get a wicket, but deserved one. Conceded 29 runs off 5 overs
\nDags \u2013 took the second over \u2026 conceded 14 runs \u2026 then took himself off again
\nWoody \u2013 bowled 2 overs and conceded 14 runs. He got a crucial opening wicket, caught behind by the Gear (who couldn\u2019t quite believe that it stayed in the webbing of his glove).
\nScooby \u2013 bowled well, conceded 21 runs off 5 overs. Should have got a wicket \u2026 but kept the runs under control
\nParrot \u2013 bowled 3 overs, conceding 33 runs. Successfully gaining the important wicket of their 3rd batsman \u2026 another catch from the Gear behind the stumps.
\nBieber \u2013 after drinks the skipper called up our new \u2018Grade A\u2019 cricketer \u2026 immediate impact occurred. He took 4 very athletic steps and the ball zipped through with accuracy and length \u2026 the batsmen were worried. Pudong were questioning our selection process. Bieber gained a 3fer, for 19 runs, off his 5 overs. I\u2019m sure we were all thinking to ourselves \u2026 \u2018this guy\u2019s not really a bowler, I can\u2019t wait to see what he can do with a bat !!!\u2019
\nSpanner \u2013 bowled one over \u2026 got his first Bashers wicket!!
\nMouse \u2013 first bowl of the year- 2 overs, conceded 28 runs and regrettably the first (of two) sixes of the day occurred.
\nSharapova \u2013 was invited by the skipper to take the last over of the inning \u2013 sadly conceded 16 runs. She was later heard commenting: \u201cWhat is this captain thinking putting me on to bowl the last over, when I wasn\u2019t warmed up \u2013 terrible decision\u201d. There may be a point in this \u2026 but in the interest of having a lovely day and confident in the performance of the previous 19 overs; Dags obviously wanted to see Sharapova\u2019s in-swinging deliveries. <\/p>\n
So after concluding 25 overs, BL\u2019s target was set for 180. (BL conceded 44 extras (36 wides), which I believe is an improvement of prior matches \u2013 but extras is BL\u2019s usual downfall and the demise of many games. We dropped catches, 7 in total (I think), a few from Comeoniwannalayya who came on as a rolling sub. We generally felt we bowled\/fielded fairly well. <\/p>\n
Our minds now turned to the bat. We felt strong \u2026.. on paper, we batted all the way down \u2026. plus we had our ringer!<\/p>\n
Skipper placed the Tassie pair into bat \u2013 they looked confident going out to bat. Bieber opened. He left his first delivery, Truffles announcing in the \u2018pavilion\u2019 that \u201che leaves a cricket ball like proper batsman\u201d, he then proceeded to leave a few more beautifully. Then the last ball of the first over came down and he gracefully edged to slip and was taken by some solid hands. Bye Bye Bieber !!! In walked Spanner, with Mouse facing the second over. Mouse saw a couple of balls so well that he took a mighty swing at the third, must have been a hole in the bat, as the ball hit those 3 sticks behind. The score was 2 for 3 (couple of extras helped us). <\/p>\n
Truffles wandered out to join Spanner. Truffles got a couple, then led one through gully area towards 3rd man \u2026 Spanner dithered on the calling \u2026. confusion ensued and the fielder achieved a direct hit ending Spanners day. <\/p>\n
In walks Scooby. Truffles, still feeling confident, stupidly thought his bat was a nine iron, swung it at a straight ball and missed accordingly. In came Parrot, he faced a couple and then he also missed a straight ball. In trotted the Gear \u2013 his first ball went off his pad then off his bat and then made the bails tumbled to the ground. The score is 8 runs for 6 wickets. <\/p>\n
In walks Sharapova \u2013 a recent savior to a BL innings. Sadly she missed her second ball, hit her pads and a roar went up from Pudong. The umpire (Truffles) struggled to find every reason not to give it LBW, but was plumb. In walks Dags to the Hiroshima of an innings and join Scooby. The pair gallantly faced some balls together, until Scooby plays a high cut shot forward of point, and was caught by a Pudong fielder very skillfully with one hand. The score is now 18 for 8 (I think the Aussies quote this the other way round … but it is correct \u2026however you look at it)<\/p>\n
Grilla joins the fray and leaves a few balls (\u2026. in a very different way that Bieber leaves a ball). Dags, who was leading by example (in comparison to most of his colleagues), then also missed a straight ball. Woody then comes out to bat and played a few long strided block shots. Grilla scored some runs \u2026 then the last wicket of day came as Woody succumbed to the same problem as many of his BL team mates and gets bowled.<\/p>\n
All out for 25 runs, 12 overs bowled, no boundaries and 6 ducks. Top scorer was extras with 12 (nearly 50% of the runs). Not good and no excuses (to say the very least). <\/p>\n
As we are Bashers, cricketers and ambassadors of the \u2018spirit of the game\u2019 we gracefully thanked the opposition for the game and congratulated their excellent bowling and fielding. However BL will need to learn from this \u2013 a great team learns from their mistakes and comes back stronger than before (\u2026.. starting with remembering not to miss straight balls !!!)<\/p>\n
As we wandered, embarrassed, past Bashers Business and towards the bar \u2026 we had all fully resigned ourselves that this fine session was going to be heavy. The Bashers virgins were duly anointed and named. The President was appointed fines master \u2026.. a man not shy of taking and receiving heavy post game punishment. 28 jugs were purchased & consumed, two whips had to be done and two smoking\/bathroom breaks were required. Dags was drinking for Sharapova, so had an interesting time. Comeoniwannalayya received a few variations of his new Bashers name towards the end!!! Parrot lost the \u2018ducks club\u2019 boat race, so had to do another pint \u2026 Parrot lived up to his name and was vocal on most points\u2026 the newlywed Mrs. Parrot was a witness to these events and it seemed to dawn on her that the honeymoon period was over (.
\nAt this point I just wanted to say great effort and thank you to Smoky (aka, Christina \/ Mrs. Cranky) and Mrs. Parrot for their support on the day \u2026 apologies we didn\u2019t give you a better game to watch! <\/p>\n
The rest is all a bit of a blur \u2026 some points of defense was raised:
\nIf we bring in a ringer \u2026 make sure he doesn\u2019t spend the whole weekend staying with Mouse
\nIf the pies were on time, we could have been more prepared
\nWe were jinxed by Sinbad\u2019s obscene and extraordinary wechat spam (Parrot\u2019s key argument).
\nTruffles should not drink rum and coke at 6.45am in the Camel (\u2026 that was my personal afterthought)<\/p>\n
Fines continued on the bus, whereupon slight carnage ensued \u2026 especially when we ran out of beer. The fines master closed the 6 hour session after a few more in the Camel (as per pic below). The day will not be forgotten for many reasons and will be a point of discussion for a long time to come. I am sure that for each member of the \u201c25ers team\u201d, in the long term, it will make us both better people and improved cricketers!<\/p>\n
Truffles
\n5th August 2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lumberjack \u2013 Div3 – Bashers Leisure “25ers” \u2018v\u2019 Pudong Power Date: 3rd August 2014 Team: Dags Spanner Truffles Gear Mouse Bieber (Basher virgin) Sharapova Grilla Woodstock Parrot Scooby Comeoniwannalayya (Basher virgin) This was the key game for Bashers Leisure (\u201cBL\u201d) to succeed in. If BL wanted to have a chance at glory in Div 3, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1331,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[233,455],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-leisure","category-lumberjack"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12277"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12280,"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12277\/revisions\/12280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basherscc.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}