SCORECARD

Winning Ways Continue
After a long snowy winter the eagerly anticipated season begins

Upon winning the toss, electing to bat was based not on the quality of the pitch but on the need to loosen hamstrings and minds.

When Raj smote (thick edged) the opening ball to the boundary it seemed an excellent decision but after some good bowling only one more boundary came off the next 10 overs. After Raj departed for 13 and Rich Bice tried to put a straight one into orbit but missed, the score was 41 for 2 off 13 overs. The next 7 overs produced 51 runs as the previously watchful Sharif woke up and a hamstrung Chaz did his old block-slog-block-slog routine before finally falling.

When a 12 year old is brought into the attack serving up gentle looping leg spin the game can go one of 2 ways. As this was a game involving the fitmen what Sharif (39) and Tucker (13) decided to do was to have a mid wicket 'let's just take singles' chat and then hit full tosses directly to fielders in the same over obviously to encourage such an emerging talent.

You never really knows where the tail begins or ends at the old Mo' and with Sunny's brother Jas outscoring him 11 - 1, Tony Lowe adding 9 off 9 balls, debutant Ash 14 , and the highly talented Jon Ashton hitting the shot of the day (straight drive!!!) on the way to 15 not out, a very respectable 193 was finally achieved.

Supermarket samosa's and bhaji's can't hold a candle to the delights of mother Sihdava and Sunny's special chicken, but after a fistful of Crisps and Cake all were suitably refreshed for 3 hours in the field.

Volcanic ash has made headline news all week, but with planes flying overhead our own debutant Ash delivered a fire and brimstone spell of bowling. Unplayable at times, the batsmen were unable to get the ball off the square. 8 overs 2 maidens 2 wickets for 8 runs is not a bad debut, and brilliantly supported by Sunny, Martin and Sharif, Selly Park crept like slow moving lava towards the 20 over mark at 38 for 4.

A fine knock by the Selly Park captain of 52 not out did move them to 139 for 6 after 40 overs, but with a wide range of bowling talent available the win by 54 runs was assured.

An excellent sociable match played in great spirit by both sides.

Report by A.Martin