Witherers at HKCC. Sunny day. Large crowd including Doc, the Rabbi and John 'the elbow' Williams of the current squad, with some old familiar faces (Geof Lever, Mike Le Dippeur Duggan) in training a fortnight ahead of time for the Rugby 7s. A lot of interest in this game as the last time we met Witherers was full of incident and the result was a tie with 219 apiece, but of course, the Weatherman didn't play on that occasion. It was generally agreed that this game did present an opportunity for a win, IF the skipper could last the match. The other 10 CCC players expressed the view that the skipper's presence could well be a handicap - only time would tell.
Cleverly lost the toss - natch, but Oh joy, we were inserted! The Bergermeister and Steady Eddy were directed to open our account. Things progressed a little slowly at first with only 1 run being scored off 12 balls (thank you Grocer). It is in these circumstances that a true leader keeps faith in his players! With Berger on 6, Stead brought up his 50 (had to get that in) and I was not unhappy at none for 57 off 10 and ecstatic at 0 for 143 off 20. Stead played his 2nd lose shot this season and was back in the pavilion for 90 to ensure he had an average for the Cup. The Berger was now thrashing the bowling to all corners of the square until finally his body could take no more and he headed for a rest on the other side of the boundary. A very hung over Martin Lever added a swashbuckling 36, Osama chipped in with 3 big 6s and a timely 29, Fother's 15 off 5 balls also wasn't out of place. At the end of our 35 overs we were 250 for 6.
For this match we had been supplied by the HKCA with bright orange balls made in Afghanistan. At the centre of each ball is a lump of lead and you really know it when it hits your hand. This game should be the first and last time these balls are seen and the US forces can continue to fire the rest of them into the caves near the border with Pakistan. The new ball was given to Weathers as he thought there may be some swing. NO swing - ball too heavy.
Jet 'Furty seconds' Lee drew first blood when the Witherer's opener attempted to put a short ball into the tennis courts and gloved it into his eyebrow, splitting it open for about an inch. The orange balls were jumping a little off the wicket and Jet dug one into the breadbasket of the other opener. A CCC bowler had hit 2 players in 2 minutes, when no opposition player has been hit in the previous 20 years.
I persevered with Weathers and the Pie-Thrower for 20 overs - yes I know you should rotate the bowling blah, blah, blah. Grocer told me Steve Waugh brought 'his Lee' on after only 8 overs - my answer is Steve Waugh was dropped from the 1 day squad. Witherers, 84 for 3 off 20 overs, Weathers 1 for 35 and Jet-Bruce-Sarah Furty Lee 2 for 45 and 1 taken to hospital. Brilliant catch to the Mullah with the pulled calf muscle in gully - left handed, full stretch, full blooded late cut shot going towards the ground (well maybe a bit of a thick outside edge but don't let that stop a good story). Snapper aka AB aka the white Clive Lloyd took notes and paid Raymondo the ultimate accolade with "good catch Ray", but Grocer turned quite dark when his Mate started drawing comparisons with Grocer's catch at PTS (young upstart, what could he tell the greatest thinking captain alive).
Witherer's score at 20 overs would have been about 184 if it had not been for the outstanding and tireless fielding effort of Gary 'Dad' the boundary rider Wines, who saved his usual 40 4s.
Fothers took over from the pie thrower with 'smorgasbord' Lever at the other end. There was a momentary hiccup in plans when Smorgas let the batsmen help themselves to 32 off his 2 overs and 2,500 didn't look to be a safe score, let alone 250. Smorgas and his headache took a well earned rest. Osama fired up off the long run and bowled Tony Booth first ball, middle peg - Fothers : "quite a useful ball really".
Gary kept fielding, which was just as well because everyone else for CCC had stopped. Momentary disappointments for myself as catches and stumpings disallowed followed by stumping missed, but that is all -part of the rich pageant of cricket.
In the end the "boys of the blue triangle, every team we meet we mangle" limped away with a convincing 52 run win, with Witherer's on 199 for 8 off their 35. First time we have beaten them for 4 years, which just happens to coincide with my term of captaincy - not a particularly high strike rate really.
Congratulations lads, pretty satisfying win in the end, AND without Nasir!!
