Grocer badgered me to field first, which I accomplished by losing the toss. Obviously the opposition saw the wisdom in Grocer's plan, but for their benefit - I saw not a scintilla of intelligence or cricket wisdom in any of Grocer's proposals. Expected to have a major effect on the days play was Ramadan, as Weatherman had made extra rounds of pork sausage sangas for everyone to look at, if they couldn't enjoy. We opened the sangas early and started drinking as much as we could in front of those who were thirstiest. It didn't help. Sabine seemed oblivious to the effects of Ramadan and Hussein Butt was only brought undone by a brilliant decision by Brian Jones, and was given out caught behind for only 52 off 34 balls - Jet Lee's bunny. Most CCC players managed to drop a catch and my own personal highlight was being felled by a ball in the goolies.
Muller bowled well, with his 5 middle overs going for only 10 runs - not bad when the opposition make 255 for 7. Fothers took 4 fa, but was restricted to only bowling 8 overs for obvious reasons.
It is not a lot of runs at HKU. We were full of hope. They only had one bowler and that was H Butt. He managed 6 wickets ALL bowled including Stead and Grocer Miles who wore a helmet for the first time in his cricketing career. Muller Wino and Stead were the only players to really bother Alices's pencil. Grocer went in at 11 hoping that But would be through his overs by then. Butt was getting tired but sparked up when I yelled out that Grocer hated Pakistanis and that he thought he was only slow medium and that he planned to make him fetch the ball after he hit him over the fence. Butt took just the middle stump. Grocer of course, putting on a positive spin to everything, insisted that his snick for 4 took us the very valuable extra batting point for the 150.
It is tough trying to win with only 3 cricketers in the team and no one with enough ability to bat at number 3 but we do our best.
For those international followers - another dismal CCC performance which will make you feel happy for the rest of the week secured by the thought that nothing has changed and life will go on whatever. It will not be the league cup this year for CCC.
A depressed and sore, Joan Zee, who really shouldn't have had any goolies to be hit at all.
Who exactly are the 3 cricketers in our team?
What appears distinctly lacking from the Captain's Match Report is his total lack of Captaincy, responsibility on the day!!
Here is a self professed batsman who instead of batting No.3 to face the quick, sent in all the bowlers to take the punishment first.
Not just content with that, once he finally reaches the crease as No.9 he spends three overs of Butt Hussain with himself positioned well behind the stumps, saying no, no run, no, in fact virtually behind Butt, before Butt had even delivered the ball.
Thanks very much skipper, and speaking as a man who took a single off the last ball to face Butt, refused a single to get away from him, smashed him for 4 and was only out on the last ball falling about laughing at how the Captain's abuse of Butt, on my behalf, was making him bowl quicker and quicker, to no effect, until laughter took over.
Tell it how it is skipper!!
