After spending a week away in Lagos, Nigeria, it was a relief to return to the sedate world of fourth class cricket in the Netherlands. I can only describe a week in Lagos as like the wild west while the sheriff's on holiday.
Suffering from what has variously been described as the Mexican two step, the New Dehli bellly or in my case the Nigerian toilet seat blues, I packed my cricket bag remembering that an extra pair of underpants or two was very likely to be required today. I was glad we were fielding a strong team although some members fell at the first hurdle and succumbed to post-football hangover with just one Wolfe making the starting line-up the other finding the weight of the bedsheets just too much to hurdle.

I set out to Broodje Jaap knowing that today was not going to be a day of running between the wickets but rather just running. After asking Haney to drive to Haarlem because I was not capable we all arrived intact and ready to do battle. The elements were going to have a big influence today I noted a very strong wind, not only from me, which was going to make it a difficult game. I managed to win the toss again and we batted. We are indebted to Nagesh and Haney for some patient batting putting on over 50 runs for the second wicket everybody else managed to make a contribution except my good self. Upon receiving a straight ball which only called for a big stride I found myself unable to risk that particular opening and Brian put me out of my misery with my first lbw decision of the year - thanks Brain!!

At lunch we had made 177 all out of 40 overs. Brian dug into his medical kit and supplied me with Imodium and electrolytes but there was no way I could think about the bowlers so I ceded the captaincy to Brian and concentrated on keeping my whites white. On this day it was just a case of giving Rood & Wit enough rope and I suspected they would hang themselves. Credit to all the bolwers, Nagesh, Patrick, Noor, Brian, Richard, Tim and Dicky and especially Haney with 4 wickets. Rood & Wit were eventually all out for 84.

Old MacDonald.