Round 11 - untitled

game	opponent	us	them
11	ICAA*	130	83

* 30 run handicap

BATTING

		out	partnership	total
keano	lenno	6	20	20
ivan	jimmy	6	12	32
g	steve	3	39	71
john	nachos	2	59	130

BOWLING

	wickets	runs
handicap		30
g	3	0
ivan	2	7
jimmy	2	16
john	2	12
keano	2	8
lenno	0	33
nick	4	-20
steve	4	-3
	19	83

(double) Match Slapper: Nachos

(double) CENTRE SLAPPER: Nachos

At Stumps Squad: Nachos & Steve


Odd to take to the court tonight without the wounded Skipper and the career oriented Jamie. Keeping a kiwi on deck, Jimmy returned to the fold as did newly-wed Ivan, in his first outing both this season and in Slap colours. Crickey! honeymooned in sting-ray free waters, taking his lovely bride for a month in Sri Lanka. This shrewd Slapper thus maintained his connection and education in the game, especially while having the local kids bowl to him on the beach for hour after hour for just the loose change in his board shorts.

With ICAA carrying a 30 run start, we had the choice and batted. Keano and Lenno got away to a solid start against a succession of spinners to be 24 after 3 overs. Over 4, however, was traumatic. Ivan and Jimmy were chucked in together and copped the bowling power over first up which they navigated without incident. The lads showed they aren't far away with the willow despite their break from the crease and modest return first up. For once being able to choose where and with whom I batted I decided to stick with form Slapper Slem. At -5 after the first over it felt a dud call but we managed to turn things about, Slem taking to the second over in particular. John and Nick were in fine touch, though ICAA gun "H" bowled a great last over (having been hit for a couple of zacs in his first) to restrict the dashers to 3. Overall somewhat of a wicket-fest (17) but our final tally of 130 was competitive.

Into the field I felt all the answers were contained on the piece of paper in my pocket - of course extracting same in order to read it was pretty difficult with 'keeping gloves on. Thankfully another great opening over from Keano (3) and banana-like swing from Nachos (-4) kept my panic about this to a controllable level despite the handicap assisting ICAA to 48 from the first 4 overs. Overs from Jimmy (-3) and Ivan (-4) ably supported by an unplayably potent over from Lenno left ICAA reeling with the third pair only scraping together 2 runs. The third pair were then floored by two wickets in two balls at the start of Nick's 9th over power play, leaving their gun combination an unlikely target of 78 for the win, though with their own power over in hand. Keano started with a pressure building 5 run over, John's was tidy as well. Slem followed on from a great night in the field to take matters further into his own hands, executing the glamour caught and bowled / run out double play - that is, rather than admiring his own catch momentarily as many are want to do - followed by another wicket to seal the deal.

Seems like only eight weeks ago we were bidding farewell to Lenno. You get the feeling we wont see him back for a time. Yes, we've got a few blokes who run in and winkle out Matto's best more often, but this Slapper has the raw pace week in and out few will not concede is most entertaining. From behind the stumps there's been some priceless looks of fearful concern as the batsman look around as if to say 'where's the next one going to be'? To which of course I've rarely had an answer.