Dundonald Rec, warm, dry, sunny. Conditions we have yet to see this season. Oppo the Wimbledon Corinthians, who Keats informed us many times was the team that the once capped John Pinkos left us for. The toss, won by PEJ who put us into bat. The oppo were fielding 9 men at this point with promise 2 more would turn up, 1 did turn up before a different one left to take his kid to a birthday party to return in about the 25th over. Their 11th man turned up in the 2nd innings, all a bit weird. Nikhil honourably helped out with fielding for the first 10 or so overs. Chinmay also stepped in to help. Legends both.
Our openers were to be Sherman and Pinkney, how long would they last? A really long time, it turns out. It was to take the 5th bowler before Pinkney was dispatched for 74, bowled by their 1XI opening bowler. His 50 was brought up to ruptuos applause from the sideline and muted bat raise from the man himself stating “It’s only half a job, doesn’t matter” which I’m sure doesn’t seem smug or condescending to all those who struggle to get to 10 every week and celebrate every dodgy slog to thirdman…. However I digress, he and Sherman did bat superbly, they saw off everything that Corinthians could throw at them which was for the most part pretty good bowling, left hand, right hand, off spin and bounce being sent down to no avail. The score was 146 off around 25 overs (there’s a pen covering the spot on the screenshot I’ve got) which is an RR of just under 6. Bravo chaps.
Next in was skip, who had spent many overs in his pads on the sideline. Probably the longest he had ever spent on the sideline in pads. As a man who coughs up his lungs after 2 overs waiting to bat I cannot imagine how his nerves were doing! Sadly as usually happens after a big partnership the other long batter fell, this time Sherman bowled for 69 (oi oi). His 50 was a paddle to deep extra cover that he’d given up on and still ran 2. Weirdo. Must be mentioned that his ability to get injured whilst batting hasn’t stopped and he was massaging deep heat into his back whenever possible.
Craigie joined PEJ and then PEJ got out caught behind as he was trying to really push the game in the last 10 overs. A long innings will be his next I’m sure. Score 165 for 3 off 30. A good total but with 5 overs to go not yet Par. Enter Chinners. There was not an area of the pitch that Chinmay didn’t hit. At one point a reverse paddle over point that got their fielder grumbling something awful. Chinmay doing Chinmay things and smiling throughout whilst completely degrading bowlers, you love to see it. Craigie however was not content to be a mere anchor to the show and smashed a MASSIVE 6 over deep mid on, eye’s of a hawk but the strength of a bull. He fell for 14 being bowled off the last ball of the 34th over with the score now a much better 193.
Dave came in to face the first ball of the last over and hit a sensible single to get the dangerman back on strike. Dave then found himself doing a lot of running as Chinmay then caused the over to go 2,4,2,2,2. The Road finished on a very good 219 for 4 with Chinmay finishing on 33 off 11!
A little mention here, one of their players Sunney was a bit quarrelsome when it came to his bowling and LBW. He seemed to work on the idea that if it pads and he yelled it must be out. However Nikhil who was umpiring had other ideas, mainly that if it hits pads and it isn’t out then no matter how many times you shout it’s still not out. Sunney was a bit miffed by his 4th attempt. Remember Sunney, he pops up again later.
Tea was yet another superb outing with Rossi’s Pastrami and pickle sarnies going head to head with Craigie’s Brownie’s for the title. The Road have a sweet tooth and the Brownie took the crown once again.
Now to bowl.
Brown and Nikhil opening up. Brown went rogue and bowled a big old no ball first ball, he then acted like it was 2017 all over again and couldn’t find the stumps. Jinxed by the fact he had messaged the group earlier in the day saying “Forecast of booming away swingers that trouble the right hander”. He also dropped a caught and bowled. Idiot. Thankfully Nikhil had no issues with this as his first over had the opening bat all tied up before moving one back into the right hander who chopped it onto his stumps. A wicket maiden first up, excellent work. Not to be seen as a one trick pony he also bowled the dangerous looking Theo in his 4th over, an excellent bit of bowling which played on the idea of you miss I hit. Textbook opening bowler stuff. At this point Wimbeldon were 2 for 19 off 8. Well done Nikhil.
Mandy and Rossi were the 1st change given the task of continuing the good work of Nikhil who took wickets and Browny who chased 5th stump. Both started well with Mandy bowling the other opener in his 2nd over. Rossi was keeping it tight with a variation of the slower stuff and the dangerous looking arm ball. They got us to drinks with the score 66 for 3. Good work but the job is not over. Sam Wright was on drinks for us and he clearly put something strong in the tincture as it’s safe to say neither bowler had a better spell after drinks with more runs being added than before they went off.
New bowlers please. These were to be wibble and wobble in the form of PEJ and Pinkey. The score was 112 for 3 off 22 and Wimbledon had started building a dangerous partnership mainly in the form of the tracksuited Sartak who had started playing some very big shots. PEJ and Pinkney started off bowling very well. PEJ was unlucky not to pick up a caught and bowled and an LBW early in his spell. However what his bowling did bring was about the run out of the dangerous Sartak for 61, some good fielding coupled with poor running decisions. 126 for 4 off 24.
Couple of overs later with the score at 141, Pinkney had clearly decided to ask himself what his favourite singer Daniel Bedingfield would do because he came up with the answer of I Gotta Get Thru This. Which he did. Very effectively. Very very effectively. 2nd ball of the over, rank shot by the in batsmen Rohit and Pinkney smashed into leg stump. No celebration from Pinkney. Next ball, new bat to face. Pinkney bowls a leg stump yorker, it’s not what you want first up. It’s certainly not what the bat wanted as he missed it and Pinkney got his 2nd in 2 balls. Some celebration. 3rd ball, the hattrick is on. The batsmen is Nas, the opening bowler for the 1XI so probably knows what he’s doing. The Road are crowding the bat, Pinkney runs in, Nas for some unknown reason walks up the pitch to Pinkney and attempts to smash the ball which is a bold move on a hattrick, especially as Pinkney is in yorker mood and it goes under Nas’s bat and thumps into middle stump. The Road erupt and Pinkney is like a cooler more denim loving version of Imran Tahir. Rossi did manage to get in a “Welcome to the club” during the huddle. Nobody remembers your hattrick during the Blitz old man! The score now
PEJ wasn’t content with no wickets and finally managed to get an LBW decision given. Turns out if you hit the pads and it does look like it’s going on to hit the stumps it can be given out. Who knew?!?! A deserved wicket for a good bowling spell.
All this excitement had brought Sunney back in (remember him?) Pinkney was confident at the top of his run up. It was at this point it all went a bit weird. 3rd ball was a full toss way over Sunney’s head. Sunney reacted like Pinkney had just threatened his first born child. It’s a full toss mate, not intentional. Sunney grumbles but back to his mark. 5th ball, another very high no ball which goes nowhere near Sunney’s very empty noggin. Sunney starts walking around like Pinkney has just tried to kill him, stating it’s very dangerous and he hasn’t come on a Sunday to be in danger. He’s politely told to get over himself and if he’s that concerned for his wellbeing he could put a lid on but apparently that’s not the point. It was either Pinkney goes or he walks off the pitch, all very dramatic. But only 1 over after a hattrick Pinkney was removed and Sherman bowled the final ball of the over for a dot. 153 for 8 off 29. CB brought back, didn’t do much first over. Mandy and PEJ watched a ball roll between them for four instead of stopping it which is nice of them.
Enter Sam Wright. Genuinely bowled pretty well and could certainly have picked up a wicket if balls had fallen a bit more kindly. The last two wickets were dismissed by CB, first Sunney caught by PEJ at mid-on. Glad he was out. Final one a very moppy mop.
Another Road win!
Most Embarrassing – Oppo insisting Pinkey taken out of the attack
Champagne – Pinkney Hattrick (Obviously)
Teas – Craigie’s brownie
Mandy of the Match – Pinks, 74 and 3-19.