LODEWIJK'S DAY
Lodewijk was going to do some work, he had got behind in the various jobs and chores that a playboy living alone needs to do every once in a while like washing up the champagne glasses or taking the sportscar to the carwash. Then the phone rang, the fourth team were a man short, so Lodewijk quickly consulted his little black book and saw that his tennis date with Maria Sharapova was not until next week. As he was driving to Leiden he pondered about the ancient Greek hero of the Trojan War who could crush a man’s skull with his bare hands. Would Ajax be equally brutal in this game against ACC and more important would Helen of Troy be there to watch the game.

As Lodewijk arrived ACC were batting, the first thing he noticed was how small the field was and he thought this is my big chance to make a big score so that Mike will notice me and maybe move me up the batting order to number 3 or 4. As he glanced at the scorebook he could see that he was batting number eleven, the position that Lodewijk has made his own through sheer hard work and determination.

Staand vanaf links: Haney Zaidi, Robert Wolfe, Brian Lemmens, Hans Uijting, Richard Matchett, Tim Lewis Zittend vanaf links: Neil Wall, Umer Muhammed, Lodewijk Blom, Mike Walsh, Patrick Phillips

Haney Zaidi was opening the batting with Hans Uijting but very soon Hans was out bowled for 2, Lodewijk secretly thought he could have done better, much better, and then Haney was out lbw for 37. Lodewijk then watched Robert and Fatrick, oops that’s Patrick of course, batting and they were hitting sixes and fours and it all looked a great deal of fun. Patrick was eventually out for 40 and was replaced by the foul-mouthed but very handsome Richard Matchett who was eventually out for 24. After this Dick Oosterbaan, Tim Lewis and Umer Mohammed were all out cheaply but the score had gone past 200 and there were still 10 overs left. Eventually Robert Wolfe was out for a magnificent 72 and Lodewijk knew it would soon be his chance. Lodewijk was putting his pads as the ninth wicket fell and the score was 241 and there were 4 overs left. Lodewijk was a little irritated that Mike, the captain, kept giving him instructions and telling him how important it was to bat out the overs because four overs later Lodewijk was still there sharing in a stand of 22 for the last wicket and ACC4 posted their highest total for the season of 263 for 9 off 40 overs.

After a lunch of hot dog sausages and tea ACC prepared to take the field. Lodewijk noticed that the captain did not come to talk to him when he was picking his bowlers so it looked like he would be overlooked again. Ajax only progressed at two an over for the first 20 overs and by this time Richard had two wickets and Umer had three wickets. By the time of the last 10 overs Ajax needed 180 runs and suddenly the big call “Lodewijk, next over from that end”. Lodewijk could not believe it, Ajax needed to score 160 of the last four overs so he was going to have to bowl economically. At last he would be able to show everyone what he could do. His first over was tighter than a camel’s ass in a sand storm with only two runs being scored, surely now that Ajax needed 150 off the last two overs they would be forced to take a few risks and Lodewijk thought he would have a chance of a wicket. Then it happened Lodewijk gave the ball some air on the leg stump but the flight deceived that batsman and Tim Lewis took the catch at backward square. Lodewijk was overjoyed and his team voted him man of the match as he led them in victory from the field. He felt like he could do anything and suddenly this game of cricket was not so difficult anymore. Now he too had a positive ACC aces score.