There was a serious lack of enthusiasm to write the match report, the job being turned down by all and sundry...... I reckon it was as close as I have seen the normally docile Jet to doing a "dummy spit" so I said I'll have a go.
The day started in unfamiliar territory with CCC winning the toss (perhaps this is where the Rabbi had his influence?) and, moreover, Stead elected to bat. There was murmuring and some uncertainty. More murmuring and uncertainly followed a few minutes later as Stead almost feathered the second ball of the day to the keeper as it swung significantly past his right hip and the next delivery, moving in similar fashion, almost found the outside of the Berger's willow. The second Sandeep over saw the unusual sight of two slips and a gully for Berger!! ... it was not to be ... Berger would deny their thirst and instead, he cracked one straight back to the bowler to be out for 6 after a relatively lean start with the total at about 20 after 6 overs.
Martin Lever strode to the crease with an air of conviction and a real "new dad" look... yes, no time to shave in the Lever household these days and the redness in his eyes tells of a few lost hours of sleep. Stead hammered a couple of 4s to ensure that Jet kept warm at the scorer��s table. Meanwhile Leves was getting well into the groove and started to clear the eyes and the fieldsmen. Over the next 20 overs or so there was little for umpires (also thanks to George's brother John, as one of those umpires... guest appearance) to do but wave arms horizontally and deny the occasional ill-considered lbw appeal from the Tartars.
Jet, in the scorer's chair, rubbed his hands at the thought of a 100- run partnership going on the CCC board. Stead and Leve's did not let him down and when the latter left the crease (walking... after a feather to the keeper on 68) the partnership had been an admirably constructed, almost chanceless, 119. Osama got the nod next and set about giving Stead the strike and then punching a few of his own boundaries before knocking one to long on to be out for 28 of another significant partnership. The Doc had obviously been sitting in the pavilion too long as his feet forgot how to work and he tried to get himself run out by lying down while turning one into two. He nevertheless saw us through to the end while Stead was measuring sixes which were now clearing the boundary by only a few centimeter. He says he was tiring but I suspect he was taunting the Ta tas... he carried his bat back to the change room, not out 129. The total of 251 seemed like a good score... for now.
