vs the rock: re-match

With the hopes and dreams of metre maids swarming us in Gold Coast disappearing faster then an egg fart in Rotorua the Fat pitches were now playing for Pride. All the talk of hitting a four off the last ball of the previous game was so far behind them that no one can even remember who it was facing the delivery.

Grudge match on, Fat Pitches Versus the Rock. This battle was much larger then the Domain, the announcement of these two teams colliding had surfed the Radio waves through out the whole of NZ. We were now playing for pride; we were playing for our country.

I put on my Blue Cap, waived good by to Ankit from Accounts and headed to meet my beloved pitches. As I arrived we looked like a team of washed up high school heroes, we were sure acting like them. Old Tollo and Rissa were rimming king of the Sacred Heart Castle, Du Pont, on the Neighbouring field instead of having TD’s. While Import Toppy Thompson was busy telling opposition Bryce Casey how great his voice is and showing him his best Morning Madhouse impersonations.

At least one horse was three lengths a head of the pack. Our newly selected Captain Deuschberg had won the toss. He elected to bat, but as we found out later, the choice was for the wrong team. For the former captain Glen Dowie tossing had become a problem, he never really got used to it without his cup of warm water handy.

So in came Anna Clypse with the Captain himself. A solid opening stanza saw the Pitches off to a confident start, but DK embarrassingly was out hit wicket, again could not convert that night. Next in was Rabfridi, Four! Six! Out! he looked in an awfully hurried to get back to his seat, as number one fan Stefni, was engaged in conversation with other fan faithful Goats.

Tolly fresh from last weeks unbeaten half century turned over strike for Man of the Match, Younge, who passed the half century mark for the second time in a hat trick of games. “Well done Tobes, you deserve that can of red” team and crowd favourite Don Jon said as he made his way into the middle. The crowd embraced some electric batting from Jono as he managed to pick the gaps superbly with an array of beautiful shots. Angelic! What a guy. Tolly on the other hand, was too busy admiring the batter at the other end and called yes! Calls of No! Yes! Yes! No! Waiting! were heard across the domain…too late. Tollo was gona, his bat could not reach the ground. Run out, 18 one run was dedicated to each girl he’d scored in the previous week.
Culled captain C Dow stepped in. Jono uncharacteristically tried to hit one out of the park, but he was clean bowled for a well played 14. Could the Fat pitches recover? Storm Hudson Dow (no relation to Tim Dow from the Northland Rugby Team) now played like he had the weight of captaincy off his shoulders. 40 off 22 including 26 off the last, steered the fat pitches to 168/4 off there allotted over’s.

Honourable mention to Scott, who supported Dow at the end and Chris who failed to see a ball, but was in the thick of the action with a dubious not out call from square leg. Sorry Bowse.
Was a very well batted innings, the pitches swaggered into the field arrogantly, as if were defending a monster. However the team, which I would normally rate as the best fielding team in the comp, were embarrassed in front of the crowd (Will). An effort only worth describing in Haiku -
WHACK! FOUR! SIX! WIDE! NO BALL!

Why doesn’t he bowl himself?
Disappointing, disheartening, LOST!

The only bright light in the dim bowling attack was Rab who managed 3 wickets, including two catches which surely deserves a pat on the back.

Player Points
Clyapse 3
Rab 2
Dow 1