The coin toss was completed exactly at 12:45 p.m. under looming clouds and brisk cool breeze, whipping up a ferocious 5 miles from the southwest, I think!, By the grace of the all mighty, Riverside won the important toss and Kaptain Kallicharan decided to send WISC to bowl, in the cold conditions, a day where a 100% wool cricket sweater was not enough to keep the bodies warm, it was reported, through a very reliable source that the WISC scorer, Ms. Carole Grayson was seen wearing a Riverside CC team jacket, it so happens that the jacket she was wearing was that of no other that the most hansom member of Riverside, his initials are TK, This reporter is not in the habit of starting controversies, but how come Ms. Grayson wasn't wearing the WISC team jacket. Anyway the game started as scheduled under the watch of Umpires Lloyd and Josh Guthrie

Riverside CC Batting: Openers Mohamad Khan and Shannan Ragnaught went out with one mission, that was to provide Rcc with a big opening partnership, but this did not happen as hesitation between both players, running for a quick single cost Rcc to lost it first wicket by a run out, created by the WISC combination of Riley and Vassel, Mohammad Khan was gone with out scoring a single run, this was a tragedy, as he is one of the most accomplished and hard hitting player form Rcc. With the score on 2 Kaptain Kallicharn sent in Shazam Hussain, a recent addition to the Rcc family, Shazam played some shots and was starting to look impressive, but before, wham bam Shazam let the genie out of the bottle, he was caught by Riley off the reverse swing bowling of Junior Wellington, it was alleged after the game that Junior implemented some of the seam lifting techniques of Waqar Younis, Rcc at this point was 2 for 12. In came Vijay Parekh, partnered with Shannan, both batsman took a very conservative approach while batting against Riley and Junior. The bowling was not that great. 

The fans in attendance was treated to some of the most pain staking batting for the first 15 overs, by this time Vijay was gone, scoring a painful 2, can some one please pass the tranquillizer and hurry before I say something I may Not regret. ladd have mercy! At this stage Rcc was 3 for 32, but their was still hope to bring the run rate up with the willow wacking captain kallicharan, averaging a whopping 51.3 runs per game, Kallicharan stamped his intentions from the first delivery that came his way and immediately the ball was hammered to the boundary ropes for an orgasmic four. The next overs Tony was on fire running a few audacious singles, and suddenly the runs was flowing, the captain followed up with murdering a loose ball to the fence, adding another four to the Rcc cause, but as the old saying goes its not my day today, Tony playing at a Dixon delivery was caught by Vassel, scoring 14. At this stage the rcc posse was 4 for 57 in the 20th over, this run rate would come back to terrorize Riverside.

Ashok replaced Tony in the middle, with Shannan not in the express lane, both of these guys worked the ball around, but Ashok was not one to just work it around, after taking a few singles and a couple of duces, he decided to lash some West Indian bowling and was very successful, slapping a beautiful four and belting a huge shot way over the 100 year old Oak Tree, for a leaf shaking sixer. Wow what a moment, everyone even the WISC players were amazed with this shot. It was unbelievable, the Umpires had to talk to the players from both side to get on with the game. Junior Wellington was most of all shocked with that sixer, his mates had to revive him with smelling salt and some herbb. Ashok stayed a while at the crease but was caught by Parris off the bowling of Pitter for an entertaining 20, at this point Rcc was 6 for 65 and JC Ballie was gone without scoring. 

However, the ship was still sailing by the river. Riverside go to guy, always with a straight bat, guided by a laser beam, Navin Bodenarain stabilized the innings with a very mature and responsible knock. Navin shot selection was on the money baby, played with superb timing and exceptional placement, the runs was on again flowing like milk from a cow, scoring quick singles and converting one's into two's. West Indian bowling became soft, it was like taking candy from a kid, and Navin made sure he took enough for himself and his team and with some extra sweetness from WISC Navin ravage a couple of shots to the boundary, scoring a wonderful 39 for his team, he was sent back to the pavilion with a remarkable catch by Riley off the bowling of Parris, that was the catch of the day. Let�s not forget Shannan, he almost stayed to the end with a pain staking 34, including two 4's and a whole lot of running between the wickets. With Raj Rai scoring a stylish 20 and Amrit Kallicharan swinging at everything, contributing a valuable 12 runs, Riverside Innings came to an end with a very respectable and defendable score of 167.

West Indian Social Club Batting: Tommy Thomas and Aman Kapoor opened the innings, by this time it was getting really cold, who could believe this weather in July, this must have played a factor in the days play, Tommy look uncomfortable against the bowling of Chokshi, he however managed to open and close his account with 2 runs, Chokshi cleaned bowled Tommy. After the game this reporter spoke with Tommy and he reveled that the delivery that ended his day was unplayable, kudos to Tommy for being a true sportsman and saying it like it is. Parris joined Kapoor in the middle and played on with passion. Kapoor did not have any hesitations facing the Rcc bowling machines, Kapoor received his first delivery from Chokshi and belted it for six in the trees, but that was the last lose ball he was gifted. Kapoor and Parris played the opening bowlers with respect and gain valuable runs, taking the challenge to the fielders scoring speedy singles, Parris was the aggressor of the two hitting a six with an abundance of two's, going for the second run Kapoor fell half way down the pitch and was runout by Mohamad Khan. It was observed that the shoe Kapoor was wearing was not up to standard, for playing on the mat, For a great pair of cricket shoes, Kapoor should check out Singh Sport @ http://www.singhsport.com/ during this stage West Indian was 3 for 56, Parris caught by Ashok off Raj Rai bowling for 21 and Kapoor looking for new shoes was gone for 21.

West Indian new pair at the crease led by the veteran Joseph Dicka Dixon and Vassel kept the runs flowing, at very important stages of the game Riverside drop several catches, this did not help as Dixon and Vassel kept the score ticking. Vassel played aggressively smashing two sixers, providing some entertaining for the fans, but going for another boundary Vassel was bowled by Raj Rai. At this point in the game WISC was 4 for 91 in the 20th over. Joining Dixon in the middle was the West Indian Captain Junior Wellington. Junior looked like he had a few happy meals but was fast enough to maneuver up and down the track for 10 singles. Dixon was in his grove getting ready to go on the attactk, he was so eager that as he slammed a shot straight to the fielder he decided to run and was wisely sent back by Junior, but it was too late as he had no brakes and was not able to stop in his sprint. Guess what he was run out, scoring only 17. At this stage WISC was 5 for 114 in the 24th over.

Junior looked annoyed and concern after the Dixon fiascos, at this moment it started to shower lightly, but the Umpires Lloyd and Josh Guthrie kept the game alive not asking for the covers, Riley batting in the middle with Junior was basically defensive, not going for his usual big shots, the shower kept coming and the Umpires still did not stop the game, but after a few more overs Junior and Riley went into the biggest acting performance this side of the Connecticut River, these guys look like they will have a future in Hollywood after their cricketing career, the batsman inform the umpires that they can't continue as the pitch was slippery, well this reporter was in attendance and the pitch was not a skating ring.