Round 11 eight is not enough

round	opponent	them	us
11	that last ball*	89	56

* 5 run handicap

BATTING

		out	partnership	total	power
jamie	keano	4	10	10
jimmy	lenno	4	16	26	bowl
dave	richo	9	-10	16	bat
g	sam	5	40	56

BOWLING

	wickets	runs	power
dave	3	-5
g	1	18
jamie	1	22
jimmy	4	-6
keano	1	15
lenno	4	0	bowl
richo	0	36	bat
sam	3	4
	17	84

(gallant) Match Slapper: Sam


Yet six of the best did the trick for That Last Ball - a simulacrum of Slap this week, albeit particularly with the bat.

Newest Slap Dave showed plenty of potential with the ball, wasting no time finding both the stumps and the edge of the bat - finishing with match figures of 3/-5. Tale of two overs from Jimmy, having gone for 11 in his first, his penultimate over of the innings took 17 back for good measure to end with figures of 4/-6. Lenno did the business again this week, 4/0.

To say the batting never got into gear would be not only a cliche but a little harsh. However we did spend a lot of the time revving our guts out in first. The way Sam batted the chase was probably still on at the end, that is, if there were two of him. Along with very tidy figures of 3/4 and a deadly night in the field he was a unanimous choice for MatchSlapper.

With indoor yet to really catch on in Toulon, all the talk is that we've come to the end of the road in Matto and our future is on greener carpet at Five Dock. Not the auspicious end we would have hoped for.

Round 10 monkey off a hate's back

round	opponent	us	them
10	CSH*	146	86

* 25 run handicap


BATTING

		out	partnership	total	power
jamie	keano	3	26	26
jimmy	lenno	2	32	58
g	sam	4	50	108	bat
ivan	richo	2	38	146	bowl

BOWLING

	wickets	runs	power
g	3	1
ivan	1	13
jamie	2	19
jimmy	2	12
keano	1	15
lenno	3	-6	bowl
richo	3	6	bat
sam	3	1
handicap		25
	18	86

(F@#$) Match Slapper: Lenno

Fair to say that the spoils were shared last night, everyone chipping in. Aside from the win and despite some dodgy on-court arithmetic, in the wash up we did take the four skins along with solid bonus points. Sam (3/1) and the Skip (3/6 - despite a power over against him) were particularly frugal with the ball.

One Slapper did stand out. Lenno was the first to notice that PitchSlap was into the top four for the first time this season, which moved him to speak of how important a strong showing against CSH would be. While being no less filthy on himself than normal at times with the bat, he produced an effective stand with Jimmy. Bowling of fire was backed up with accuracy and a blinder of an evening in the field. One brilliant grab at leg side coming to mind immediately.

Despite Mitch's constant chirping last night about us being predictable, the Skipper worked some new strategies into the pasting handed CSH. I promised Mitch we'd mix it all up when next we meet the Flogs - when we don't it should be all that's required to confuse him for 45 minutes.

Round 9 leadership

round	opponent	us	them
9	old pigs*	121	49

* 45 run handicap


BATTING

		out	partnership	total	power
keano	jamie	5	16	16
jimmy	lenno	1	29	45	bowl
ivan	richo	1	44	89
brendan	g	3	32	121	bat

BOWLING

	wickets	runs	power
brendan	2	24	bat
g	3	2
ivan	1	11
jamie	3	4
jimmy	4	-1
keano	8	-44	bowl
lenno	2	9
richo	3	-1
handicap		45
	26	49

(four time!) Match Slapper: Keano

At Stumps Squad: Richo

Apologies for the delay with this match report - I knew at once when Keano took his eighth wicket of the match that new and unabridged versions of both Webster's and Roget’s tomes were required to source sufficient superlatives. Alas my packages haven't arrived as yet.

So as this is a team game, perhaps better to say Keano had the full support of his fellow Slappers in his endeavours, seven Slaps who would ultimately give him the nod for a fourth MatchSlapper honour following devastating career-best figures of 8/-41.

Bizarrely this was not enough for a birth in the At Stumps squad, selectors instead choosing the triumphantly returned Skipper with 3/-1, albeit backed up with a few more runs.

Joining Richo back in the black, Brendan shewed no ill effects from flouncing about on stage for a few months and using words like shew. Brutal striking of the ball marking his return. Alas this favourite Slap has immediately made himself unavailable - a quick check of his calendar at a post match function indicated that he returns in finals week, for which he immediately made himself re-available. A true team man.

Little else to report aside from Lenno talking intensely to the ball at one point in the match, really no surprises there.