This last Saturday saw the start of the 2007/08 cricket season. The WPCC/Nadoes CC kicked off their attempt to Win the league in only their second season. They were in action against Avendale CC away and this is how it went down.
It was a grey morning when the Nadoes side gathered at the WPCC and prepared themselves for the task ahead. The weather would not bother them, they were after all consummate professionals. The procession of Nadoes found their way to the Avendale fields in Athlone and soon they would be batting.
There was an air of excitement in the change room as Ruth and the Main Cheese gave positive words of encouragement. Sibu Ntini and the Great Dayne opened up for the NCC and got off to a solid start before some shambolic running between the wickets brought an end the the Great Dayne's fiery innings prematurely for just 7.
Taufeeq failed to trouble the scorers and the Nadoes were shaking at 18/2. It was then that Kenny 'The Muffin Man' Kirkby joined Ntini at the wicket and was in scintillating form as he smashed the attack to all corners before being caught on the boundary for a well played 44. The others came and went without much excitement until the Main Cheese played a little cameo at the end with an unbeaten 38. This left the NCC with the respectable total of 184/9 after their allotted 45 overs. The Scorecard read as follows:
D Allenbrook 7
S Toto 39
T Eli 0
K Kirkby 44
R Morris 5
C Sanderhoff 13
W Butler 4
J Meintjies 38
T Dawson-Squibb 13
D Light 8
M Patel DNB
Extras 13
Total 184
RR 4.09
After a few Burgers and chips, the NCC got into the field and felt that they had posted a formidable target. The Main Cheese started brilliantly, claiming 2 early wickets. The problem was that there was no-one backing him up from the other end, Ntini, Patel and Taufeeq took some punishment early on and it seemed as though Avendale were coasting to victory at the half way stage. It was then that the old heads in the side called the boys together and let their wisdom flow. This was exactly what was needed. The Great Dayne and Thomas Vaughan tightened the screws on the run flow and things got closer. With the runs drying up, a few rash shots were produced and this forced the breakthrough that the NCC needed.
At this point the game could have gone either way, they needed 30 from 30balls and had 5 wickets in hand. Then the Ruth turned to the Main Cheese. What happened next can only be described as amazing. The Main Cheese bowled with unrivalled ferocity and went through the Avendale middle order like a hot curry. He had broken the back of the innings, while taufeeq cleaned up from the other end. It was fitting that the Main Cheese claimed the last wicket and with it the coveted Man-of-the-Match award, bowling the home side out for 162 to win by 23 runs. The bowling figures were as follows:
J Meintjies 9-12-6
S Toto 5-39-0
T Eli 8-21-3
M Patel 2-17-0
T Dawson-Squibb 9-29-0
D Allenbrook 9-25-1
The scenes that unfolded later in the change room were spectacular as always as the beer flowed and so did the songs. It was good fun.
Next week sees the first home game of the season. It would be advisable to get down to the WPCC 1st team field on sat 13 Oct because there will be lots of beer, boerie rolls and things of that nature. The Semi final will be shown on a big screen so all pull in for a great day
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