IF ONLY WE COULD BAT......

 

Saturday 2nds vs. Brighton & Hove Crescent, 10th July

 

The scene was set.... players turned up on time ( well reasonably )..... Skip looked sober ( from thirty yards away ) until you got closer.. it was only at this point you realised he still had a can of Stella in his jacket pocket and a free dance voucher clutched in his hand from the previous nights trip to Spearmint Rhino....

 

Toss – Surprisingly Skip won the toss. Think he’s getting practice in before the Cuckfield Ladies games – perhaps he should ask Dodgy Bob for a few tips.... Unsurprisingly chose to field, reason being “ We’re a better chasing team..... “  ( Read the scorebook and make your own assessment on that statement! )

 

·          Stef –  drove people to the ground under the condition he had a bowl... He bowled... the oppo skip declared when 200 was easily in sight... Was the oppo skip intimidated by his bowling or was it just that he was bribed by Stef so he could have a smoke??.. the latter probably... Didn’t fare better with the bat... Goldie... Worth turning up really wasn’t it mate...

·          Muzza – fielded on the boundary all day... his zone has either changed or he’s slightly bigger this year! Hit their left arm quickie for a six and then thought he’d try to ( and I quote ) “ Smack it back over his ( the bowlers ) head to really p*ss him off “..... He missed.... bowled for 20...

·          Nick Mercado – Fielded in the covers.... cut his little pinkie trying to save 4 runs off Windy’s erratic bowling... dedication for you that is!! Went off for treatment, came back with his hand all strapped up and the next thing you know, he was expected to hold a catch cackhanded... obviously he dropped it... Batted well, well he didn’t get a duck... 4 patient runs..... at least he held up one end for about 10 overs... 

·          Andy Thomas – 3 blinding catches, early season potential as fielder of the year.... didn’t get chance to bowl his leg spin... probably a good thing, otherwise he wouldn’t have any fantasy points left!! Tried to get a golden... couldn’t reach the same heights as Stef though... still got a duck though... was heard muttering “ he’s a bit too quick for me “ as he trudged off...

·          Cricket Girl – 1st 3’fer for Staplefield.. Especially enjoyed by Grig who celebrated in customary style by tooting his car horn and buying us guys beers after the game... Good work fella... Batting exploits weren’t quite as good but didn’t get a duck and was not out... Hurrah!

·          Windy – a catch and a wicket... apart from that bowled like little boy Barker from last year... i.e. crap... Would win the most wides in a season award hands down... Failed to live up to his new nickname of Boycs, with a quick fire 33.. Should have been out for 6 though but due to some “inspired” umpiring remained in....

·          Griff – donned the gloves and looked at home... Is the transition from boyhood to manhood taking place?.. Missed one chance but kept well... Batting was a problem though!! Move those feet boy!! Just the 1 run... Is he in your 20/20 team I wonder??

·          Winston – wicketless... a rarity when Winny plays.. fielded and batted with his customary grace! At least he didn’t get a duck – he got 1

·          Gaz – brought onto to bowl by the skipper... next thing you know, he was on a hat-trick! Unfortunately he didn’t get it.. Third top run scorer with 6... Fantastic umpiring decisions were made as well

·          Davross – spent most of the time in the field waving at his daughter who was in the Victory having a drink! No cries of “ yooo gotta be joking “ though this week.. Got 2 runs in the run chase, was slightly miffed as Cricket Girl had originally scored him as only get a single... Maths is obviously not Yvann’s strong point! Fantastic umpiring saved the day though

·          Rev – fielded with his customary gutso, rotated the bowling and fielding positions. Unfortunately couldn’t show his team how to bat as he got a 2nd ball duck... Nevermind though... think he’s lulling people into a false sense of security... watch his fantasy value go down to £1 next year .. then he’ll get loads of points!!