Last week we had two matches, the one on Thursday was against Hilversum and Sunday's game against Ajax.

Thursday

Thursdays match was great. Not only because we won but it was good weather for a change. That really charges up the bowlers and playing again on the 1st field meant: high scoring game. We were supposed to start at 12 sharp.
No sign of at least half of the opposition with it the captain. I expect, but that's probably just me, that as a captain you at least have the courtesy to apologize for being late instead of socializing with your teammates and coffee first. So, I knew what kind of day it was going to be and who we were up against.

Too bad we lost the toss, otherwise we would have batted first and plan to pass the 300 landmark. After assuring the captain that we're indeed the 3rd team, we started off.
Ali started of with the new ball and just a few balls later he had the opener dead plumb. Ofcourse from a fielding perspective, it's always plumb so just take it from me, that was plumb.
Zee from the other end, in his 3rd over had the batsman nicked it straight to stand-in keeper Imran. In Amir's absence (injury) he's doing a fine job. Was a clean take and solid sound from the bat. At least what we could hear at slip, gully, point, square, short midwicket and short mid off. The umpire didn't. Zee had a good reply: cleanbowled him in the same over with just 6 overs gone. 12/1.
Omar, recovered from an accident starting May, couldn't really control the swing. Going around the wicket did wonders as he cleanbowled the batsman with an inswinger. 29/2.
Irfan released Ali and with his banana outswings troubled the batsman from ball one. The batsman whacked at it but either missed it or edged it to the boundary. Also, missed some chances behind the stumps which frustrates the bowler too.
The batters started reading Omar so was time to take him off and put myself in. The containment from Irfan made sure that they tried to have a go at me with little success as one of them got bowled in the 4th delivery. By then they were 50/3 in 16 overs.
Finally, the consistency paid off and Irfan got a wicket he deserved. The batter edged the ball to short third man and Mehran held on to this one. 64/4 after 20.
After Irfan finished his spell, Asif came into the attack. Was lucky in his 2nd over, caught by Zeddy. 93/5 after 25.
After the batsman, actually hockeyplayers not with a straight bat, lashed at Asif, it was time to bring back some good old quality pace. I still kept going so the real pace had to wait because I managed to get another wicket, bowled. 98/6 in 28. The sun was still shining, wickets were falling and there weren't much runs on the board, everybody looked happy. We didn't have a clue what soon was going to happen.
They lifted the score from 98 after 28 to 155 in 36. Between those overs, runs were flying everywhere but no wickets fell. Pace is usually an advantage but when batsmen 'hoick' and boundaries are hit by edges, it's not so good. Still Ali got also lucky in his 2nd spell's 2nd over. Another cleanbowled was on the charts. 155/7.
Luckily, their batter no 8 tried to hit me out of the ground but instead saw his offstump in the hands of the keeper. By the time he got out he was on 57, they were on 189 after 39.
Was almost like a flashback to our game against Kikkers where I scored 50+, batting at 8. I guess no.8 isn't a bad spot at all. For a strange reason, I don't think the players will be jumping for this spot.
A few runs were added and 195 was the score for a tie and 196 to get the 2 points.

Bowling figures
Abid 8-36-3
Irfan 10-1-36-1
Zee 6-24-1
Ali 7-40-1

Lunch, then the assault could begin. Even our one and only fan Dr. Walsh came by to support us.
If I mean assault, I actually mean a bit more aggresive than usual. Zeddy opened the batting with Asif. A steady batsman and a hardhitter. In the 10th over, we had already passed 70.
Unfortunately, Asif was caught on midwicket while on 38. 72/1.
Next man in was Saqib. Known for his quick running between the wickets, he made sure Zeddy lost a few kg's during his batting and water was carried up and down.
Nevertheless, the man in form, showed us some shots only to be found in the MCC cricketbook and yet another Fifty was the result.
Their cameo lasted until the 22nd over, because Zeddy "did a Watson". Couldn't convert his fifty in a century cause played one in the air too many and had to leave. 174/2.
Ali in at no.4 started off cautiously but soon unleashed a few boundaries. But an inside edge onto the stumps, ended his time on the pitch. 189/3.
Mehran determined to score the remaining 7 runs, managed to score a few (3) but played a scoop in the air which was held comfortably by the opposition.
After Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock (RPSLZ) between Khurram batting at 6 and Zee batting at 11, Zee won and went in.
The rules for RPSLZ:
- Scissors cut paper
- Paper covers rock
- Rock crushes lizard
- Lizard poisons Spock
- Spock smashes scissors
- Scissors decapitate lizard
- Lizard eats paper
- Paper disproves spock
- Spock vaporizes rock
- Rock crushes scissors

So, Zee got in, and the very first ball he faced this season, he smacked it over midwicket for six. What a way to finish the game. A good win.

Batting figures with strikerate:
Zeddy 81 (11x4) (142.1)
Asif 38 (4x4,1x6) (108.6)
Saqib 35* (3x4) (89.7)
Ali 12 (2x4) (92.3)
Zee 6* (1x6) (600)

Man of the Match: Zeddy

Sunday

About the Sunday's match. We lost. Reason, didn't score enough runs, 125 to be precise. They chased it down in the 28th over for the fall of just 2 wickets.
Sometimes it's just not your day and clearly, Sunday wasn't ours. I assume we were a bit 'high' after winning 4 consecutive matches. Good wake-up call, it will sure do as good.
The positives of the match from a batting perspective, was the good partnership of Ali 23 (5x4) and Mehran (4x4, 2x6). Even if it looks attacking, they played according to the conditions and took their time.
From a bowling perspective, Zee was the pick of the bowlers. Even though I got the wickets, it was Zee's pace and pressure which made sure that the batsmen were looking shaky from the start.
5 overs bowled on a skiddy, wet pitch for just 9 runs, marvelous.

Even though the match didn't turn our way we as a unit didn't perform, yet there's a Man of the Match. Only this time it's 'Men': Mehran & Zee

Abid Malik