One Day Competition - President Cardinals vs ES Gold, Sydenham Park #3, Presidents, 10th October 2015
With Vladimir Putin scoring seven goals in a game of ice hockey through the week, Cardinals were expecting big things from El Presidente Congo for the first home game of the season against East Shirley Gold. Alas, he left halfway through our innings and came back to find us in dire straits.
It started off well enough, with Ralphy winning the toss twice in a row, and Laughts and Flem opening well enough. Fleming went with the score at 12, and Murdoch shortly after at 19, with Laughts doing the business at the other end, including a vicious cut behind square that almost killed children’s storybook hero Hairy McLairy.
Laughts went for 27 with the score at 54 in the 14th over, but Matty was again timing it from the get go, playing strongly down the ground and square of the wicket, eventually going for 21. Ralphie provided some continuity at the other end as Ski and (alas) Smith and Brown all went cheaply. Phil stuck around long enough to frustrate the opposition, even though it should have been curtains early when Ralphie skied one, only to be dropped. Cries of “yes”, “run” and “oh f@@k it” echoed across the ground as Phil finally got his arse into gear and evaded the run out at the strikers end. 22 runs later, with Ralphie on the charge at the other end, Phil went for four with the score at 93, and the end came quickly, Ralphie being the last out LBW for 45 for Cardinals to end up 109 in the 32nd.
Into the field and attack was the only option, and although the quick initial wickets didn’t come, it went deeper than it should have. Jules VD and Waza got us under way with short spells before Matty and Flem tied it down – Flem getting the breakthrough courtesy of a well taken catch by Brownie at long on, followed by a stumping via Laughts. Matty went unrewarded, but his five overs featured four maidens to keep the pressure on, and he finished none for three. Flem finished two for 28 of his eight overs, with one maiden. Ferg picked up the only other wicket to fall – another catch to Brownie – to finish one for 14 off three.
The end came in the 25th over, Ski having also bowled three, finishing none for 13, and Brownie 2.3, finishing none for 21.
Man of the Match: TBD
Check out the scorecard from the game.