Match Report: Spirits: vs "Bengal CC" at CSC on Sun 26th June

Sunday’s Match started out on the right foot for the Sprits winning the toss for the first time in many a game against the Bengal CC. Batting first & walking out in warm sunshine it was soon replaced by bucketing down rain. Our almost player for the day got off to a swashbuckling start scoring with 8 in the first over, 4 in the second and consistently from then on in to retire the end of the day on 39.  Unfortunately that was Mr. wides & our real batsman, after showing lots of early promise, didn’t fare quite as well in the wild conditions. 

The first stoppage came after about 5 minutes of rain,  when the Bengal’s dragging the covers from the boundary, pulled it in opposite directions,  successfully emptying the entire contents onto the pitch.   The Spirits watching on in amusement (most of us from undercover of course) had Amar to save the day, whom called the Barman / Groundsman to bring his weed blower over and dry the pitch.     Full of gentlemanly conduct the Spirits continued into the day, not wanting to set the Bengal’s too hefty target it seems,  with an unprecedented 4 self-umpired LBW decisions and one run out.     A late 32 from Graeme, 10 from Saravana, Akash 9 and  Ravi 13 saw the Spirits put together a fast paced 118, all out off 21 over’s (maybe 30 if you count the wides & no balls). 

At the break the Spirits must have known that the opposition, not being that great at covers nor bowling on the pitch,  must be a good batting side.  Alas, it may have been the case but not with Rammy all fired up from being stranded as last man standing for Batting,  ripping through the top order in a straight 6 overs to end up with absolutely startling figures of 5-17.  He was ably supported by the usual good fielding from Paul,  Ian throwing himself at the ball close to the wicket, Bowling from Akash, Dan, Ravi in two spells and Badri coming in from Mumbai to secure his first ever wicket in Singapore compliments of a splendid catch from Richard.  The Bengal’s were 6 for 70 odd at halfway and if it wasn’t for the one batsman who was the benefiter of some loose interpretation of the “retirement at 40 rule”  “accidentally” batting all the way through for 53 n.o it may have been a well deserved “Rammy inspired” victory.   Bengal’s 8-121 of 25.1 overs with plenty of suspense & both teams showing good sportsmanship. 

Man of the Match: Rammy of course with a season best 5-17 in an awesome display of controlled attack.

Wooden Spoon: Ravi – non strikers end - for running Amar out for a duck.  Amar cracking the ball towards covers and running like a greyhound managed to get 2/3’s of the way down the pitch and back again to be just done by a good throw.  When asked to explain himself after the game Ravi could only say ”Amar just rushed at me and I didn’t know what to do!”