Greeted once again with a fine sunny day (well almost) the Bashers set out from\u00a0THE\u00a0CAMEL to beat those “Darn” Devils at the SRFC and extend the winning streak to 4 (has this happened before?)! For once all team members managed to assemble at the Camel on time (even a sober Sinbad!) barring Dipso (who set his clock 10 minutes back) and debutant Nigel “Campo” Shroff (we’ll cut you some slack this time). The only question was whether it would be another adventure getting to the ground…<\/p>\n
To our bad luck we happened to get the same driver from\u00a0last week\u00a0but he seemed to have learnt from his mistakes and spared us the EXPO tour of shanghai. We arrived at the ground in good time\u00a0only to find a div 2 game still in play – nevertheless this gave us more time for some much needed fielding practice. Not even the rain could stop this bunch from having a brilliant catching practice (which would help immensely in the game) and it looked like the BASHERS were ready to rumble…<\/p>\n
In keeping with tradition this season Stats once again managed to lose the toss and the Devils (who were watching\u00a0our brilliant fielding display from the sidelines) only thought it was fair that we were rewarded by being made to field first – GAME ON. With a new opening bowling pair of Paps and Shower the stage was set – in the 2nd over Shower picking up Sanjay of his first ball with a bouncer that was just too quick to hook\u00a0and\u00a0a catch falling safely into the bowler’s hands. Soon Sinbad dropped a sitter but was\u00a0immediately redeemed as the same batsman slashed at one straight to who else but Shower at the rare field setting of short third man??? In walked in Captain Jon Newton and he was sent packing for a golden duck after cutting a long hop from Paps straight to Oscar (safe as a BANK).<\/p>\n
Suddenly the Devils were 3 down and it was at this time when Filthy decided his feet weren’t happy enough and called for a shoe switch with 12th man Billy on the sidelines. This proved to do the trick as it prompted an inspiring bowling\u00a0spell of swing and seam from Filthy (reminiscent of Danny Morrison in his prime!) in which he picked up 3 wickets (including 2 wicket maidens!)- one bowled, one caught by the Filth himself, and one with a STUNNER of a catch from “Shower” where he seemed to float and pluck the ball out of mid air!!!<\/p>\n
At drinks the Devils were 100 odd for 5. After the break Filthy and debutant Campo bowling in tandem seemed to keep the Devils on a tight leash but wickets were needed – time for intro of the spin twins. This proved to be unfruitful as Sinbad was smashed out of the attack and Leppa wasn’t getting any purchase from a “green” track (they both still picked a wicket each – Dazzler with his first catch at slip), but Paps was soon brought in and cleaned up the tail with ease with another stunner pulled of by Shower. The target set was 177 – somehow the Devils had managed to put up a decent score. This\u00a0STRONG Bashers batting line up (all the way from 1-11) set out to compete the JOB against a fiery bowling attack.<\/p>\n
The successful opening pair of Dipso and Filthy (with the magic shoes) put\u00a0up a great partnership of 50 before Dipso was out before drinks, nicking one to\u00a0the WK. 51-1: No worries… In strolled in Campo oozing with confidence and class\u00a0as he shred the bowling attack taking 41 from 22 balls\u00a0where\u00a0he even managed to coax the Devils’ fielders into giving him 5 overthrows.\u00a0It seemed like it would\u00a0be a cakewalk from here as\u00a0the scoreboard kept ticking but in true Bashers’ style there was a mini collapse- Filthy falling for a brilliant 41 and Campo soon following suit for the same. In came in\u00a0Sir Dick and\u00a0The Dazzler\u00a0(finally getting a bat at numero 5) – they kept the scoreboard ticking along until Sir Dick managed to get caught (and kicked the\u00a0stumps over having been nowhere close\u00a0while giving the Devils a mouthful), and the Dazzler dazzling his own stumps.<\/p>\n
30 needed from 60 balls –\u00a0In the words of Stats- “too easy.” In walked in El Capitano Stats at\u00a0no.6\u00a0and the ever reliable Oscar. Together they milked the singles with Oscar scoring 99% of his runs in the square-fine leg region.\u00a0Oscar was soon out (I’m not sure how coz I had already turned around to grab my\u00a0celebration beer)\u00a0and in came in Shower who managed to face a couple of balls before Stats belted a towering six before finishing the game with a couple of singles.<\/p>\n\t\t