Won the toss - used a one dollar coin and asked the opposition captain to call - got it wrong, natch. Unaccustomed as I am to making these decisions I asked what it was the opposition had in mind that they may do, if God having favoured them, they had in fact, won the toss. They had not a clue. I looked to Grocer - "I'm not touching this one". You know when Grocer wants you to get it desperately wrong. Stead had not arrived and Jet was talking about opening the batting. That swung it - we will field.
It has finally happened - a first slip catch in the first over - not since the great Peter Fitzgerald can I recall that happening. Where was Berger you may ask - preparing for the Burns supper - Stead took up duties in Berger's absence. Catch taken, point made. Our openers bowled well and picked up a wicket each. A double switch to Raymondo and the Rabbi swung the game towards CCC but Ravi Sujanani and Rahul Sharma posed a formidable threat. Then the unimaginable happened.
Ball pushed just wide of the right hand of the white Clive Lloyd of Hong Kong cricket by Sharma. Grocer, hunched and swooping picked up the ball cleanly (1st new phase of the game for Grocer) takes 2 giant strides to bring him 5 metres from the stumps and fires in a Jonty Who underarm throw that shatters the stumps with Ravi a metre short of his ground (2nd new phase of the game for Grocer).
Nobody spoke to Grocer and we walked off the ground commiserating with Ravi, who kept saying "How can that happen". It was then I knew that God had little else to do this particular Saturday and had to decided to watch the CCC v Saracens game and take the piss.
Two fine catches by Herschelle Jet Lee, and when Osama caught a grenade from Sharma in the deep, the boys from CCC were cruising, not in the least because Wino had swept one boundary all day and turned most 4s into singles. The unsung hero of CCC and a good surrogate dad for Abe when I am doing important things like order more Carlsberg and listen to Grocer's inane commentary on the game in hand.
I must say it - Stead dropped a catch at 1st slip off Rabbi due to disinterest giving some feeble excuse that the thought the ball struck a pigeon.
Rabbi was magnificent. 10 over, 2 for 56 after not bowling for 10 months. Makes me wonder why Donald is taking so long to find form for RSA. It should have been 4 fa, except the Doc missed a 'run out' stumping as Sharma gave Rabbi the charge - sort of vital wicket at the time - Herschelle Doc ??
Saracens 172 for 8 in their 35.
