Great Missenden Pelicans
Sun 2 Oct Great Missenden Pelicans Lost by 1 wkt
We 163/10 in 35 overs (Shahzeb 47, G.Thomas 46, Ghosh 41, Asad 5/33)
They 164/9 in 32 overs (Neliman 44, Tanlur 25*, S.Nayar 3/27, Shailendra 2/47)
Contributed by the opposition:
The Pelicans exorcised the ghosts of Hit or Miss by extending summer one more week and beating those fellas from Kensington.
On a day that could have been mistaken for some time in July, apart from the fact it was not raining, a typical Pelis display was served up as victory was in our grasp, only to be thrown away, before the match was pulled out of the fire right at the death.
After yet another lost toss, we were asked to chase leather in the baking sun. Toobes, clearly getting the wrong idea by the prospect of chasing leather, charged in like a man half his age to produce one of his best spells of the season. There were suggestions that he may be a winter bowler. We’re awaiting a big-money transfer to the IPL.
Supported well at the other end by Gov, the Pelis had a hold of the reins. Josh stepped up to the plate and gave an impression of someone who had never bowled before. Beamers were blocked and long hops swotted away. But he persisted and was rewarded when a long hop was spanked straight to Sushil. A big breakthrough and Josh suddenly found his rhythm, until we took him off as he was in danger of knocking the head off arguably the youngest cricketer ever to take the field at the Meadow. Kensington said he was 12 – we had our doubts with the lad having to stand on his tiptoes to see over the top of the stumps.
The Pelis turned to spin and there was an inevitability about things as Asad started taking wickets. The quicker one finally found its range and did for Rohan Ghosh, Kensington’s best bat. A Mike Gatting ball was served up to the little lad and he was left bewildered as his stumps were splattered. We took pity on him and called him back. A mistake some would say as he put on a partnership with the Kensington No. 9 that took them past 150. Asad finally got his man, completing another five-for, and Tiger wrapped things up to leave the Pelis chasing 163.
Clive and Sushil made a bright start before Clive – described as the Pelis’ “gun bat” by the Kensington skipper (personally I think he is more Goose than Maverick) – fell to a super catch by Bharat.
Kensington celebrations were cut short as Butcher went in and caused carnage. Balls flew to all parts and we were sitting pretty until Sushil was given run out. With no TV replays, he had to go. But the sight of the normally mild mannered Sushil leaving the field like a spitting cobra told a story.
The skipper and Butch were going well until both fell victim to the so-called 12-year-old who proved himself a mean customer with the ball. He’ll be quite handy when he breaks through the four-foot barrier.
Wickets started to fall. Toobes, fearing he was about to be given out lbw by Clive, fell on his sword by running himself out. Jalil put in a call and that IPL contract has been ripped up.
Tiger strode out under orders to play sensibly and support Shoelace. Sadly, it was Shoelace who had the rush of blood to the lung as after playing a textbook forward defence that went straight, and I mean STRAIGHT, back to the bowler he set off for a run and left Tiger stranded.
With tension mounting, Asad marched out and marched straight back. Clive’s finger of fate deemed him lbw. The sound of a bat flying round the changing room suggesting Asad felt different.
Our hopes rested on the skinny shoulders of Josh and Shoelace. Josh did his job by playing out the over and nicking a couple of runs.
The stage was set for the Shoelace with six required. He went for the big heave, the ball spooned in the air to cover. Thankfully he picked the one Kensington player who could not catch (what happened, Jeffers? – Ed). Somehow they scrambled two, leaving four to win. Shoelace took aim, it looked like an edge, but we’ll say it was an angled guide down to third man for the winning boundary.
A fine way to end the season, washed down with the Kensington Cobras.
