|
ANZA
DT vs BQ MISFITS,
APRIL 17, TURF CITY
KRANJI DAN's DAY OUT
An important note to all ANZA
Cricketers, courtesy of "Kranji Dan"
? we play at the old race course at Bukit Timah.
There we were ready to play. Dave Robertson wondering
where his final team member was, gets a call on
the mobile. Dan L'Anson Rea is at the race track
but can't find the ground. Dave is explaining
landmarks such as the clock tower, the stadiums
to give him some bearings
Dan can see some fields but no cricketers. This
goes on for a while, before the penny drops. Dan
can see horses and jockeys but no cricket
pitch as he wanders round the stables
Dan, an ANZA committee member, has gone to Kranji
race course.
While he took a taxi to the other race course,
the game got underway with the Dream Team fielding
on a pretty damn hot Saturday afternoon.
Despite an early wicket, the Misfits got off
to a flying start helped by some Dream team-standard
fielding ? their two top scorers were dropped
three times ? as they racked up 100 in 10 overs.
Still, the Dreamers never gave up and managed
to dismiss the Misfits top scorers ? Matt Ford
and Nick Wood ? short of their 50s.
Once they were gone the runs slowed a little.
The final 20 overs yielded about as many as the
first 10, as the Misfits posted 213 for nine.
Chasing more than seven an over was always going
to be a big ask, and some tight opening bowling
helped add to the pressure.
Four Dreamers ? Glenn, Rob, John and Martin --
made it to 20 but no one was able to go on to
the half-century, which was really needed when
chasing such a big total.
Having made the dash from Kranji, Dan went out
to bat, faced one ball and got out, capping off
an eventful day. (His day wasn't a total loss
? in the field he threw the stumps down for a
run out and took a couple of wickets).
The Dreamers were all out for 161 off 24 overs
-- the right scoring rate but about 50 runs short.
Thankfully, Giri of the Misfits had bought his
portable bar to help ease the pain of defeat.
---------------------------------------------------
ANZA
DT vs NON-BENDERS, APRIL
24, TURF CITY
CHAMINDA STEALS THE SHOW
At the gentlemanly hour of 10:30
a.m. on an overcast Saturday, and with no one
heading off to Kranji (hiya Dan!), the venerable
Non-benders were ready to take on the might of
the Dream Team.
To be a Non-Bender you must be of a certain age
and have played at a good level. There are exceptions
? they had a 12-year old and Gary Higgie playing
for them.
The game is a declaration game, with the NB's
batting first. They bat until they believe they
have enough runs and enough time to bowl the other
side out for a victory.
The Dreamers put up a good performance in the
field ? with the usual couple of dropped catches
off the best batsmen ? to keep the runs tight.
Only two NB's made it past 10. Unfortunately
for the dreamers, one was their opener Dinesh
? a former Singapore player ? who made 100 before
retiring.
After 46 overs the NB's had 162 runs and declared.
That meant the Dreamers had about two hours to
score the runs.
With Higgie moving the ball both ways, up and
down, the Dreamers struggled to keep the scoreboard
ticking over. A couple of quick wickets and some
tight bowling and the situation was not looking
good for the Dreamers.
But while the Non-Benders had Dinseh, the Dreamers
had their own secret weapon ? Chaminda.
Showing what a stint in the Dream Team can do
for a cricketer, Chaminda, who is new to the club,
turned the game on its head.
Coming in to bat with the Dreamers in trouble
at 46 for five, Chaminda turned the match. He
was helped no end by his team mates, who not only
thoughtfully threw their wickets away to give
him a chance at bat, but then were happy to let
him show off his skills as well.
Chaminda quickly set about piling up the runs,
but despite his best efforts time was running
out. There was less then 10 minutes ? effectively
two overs left, and we still needed 24 to win.
Chaminda was on 91, with the agreement that you
retired at the end of the over you scored 100
in.
First ball, six. Second ball, a straight drive
for six, to bring up his hundred. Another six,
and then two runs and suddenly we needed four
to win. Chaminda smashed another six and we were
home.
Twenty-six runs off the over had taken him to
117 out of a total of 165. Glenn Wright had joined
Chaminda with the score on 96 and helped see the
Dreamers through to victory. In a partnership
of 69, Glenn did not score a single run.
Eight sixes and six fours ? no mean effort on
the big ANZA ground with a wet outfield ? showed
Chaminda's clean hitting.
John Mair
|
