Sometimes the skipper’s lot is not a happy one, nothing is more painful that having to take a bowler off who is bowling well or disappoint someone by dropping then down the batting order. Fortunately or unfortunately in this team, such victims do not sit quietly and accept the skipper’s decision they voice their discontent and abandon all verbal etiquette. Anyway back to this later.

Two away games in two days meant that we were hardly away from the FEBO, infact someone dropped a coin into Bob Wolfe’s coffee which is an indication of his apparel this Monday morning. Lots of original members of the old ACC4 were present for this one Bert Hartskeerl aka Ernesto, Robert Wolfe aka Cuddles, Big Dick Broggel, Patrick Phillips aka C’ntly, Big Lad Richard Matchett, Nagesh the Smurf, Richard Wolfe aka Our Kid, Mike Walsh aka Old MacDonald or Skipper and Joost Bakker aka The Gimp. The now famous ACC5 cap committee has approved all of these names although not all the caps have been presented. On this occasion we had two newer members. Alex Taylor our recruit from Ajax who has been toying with the nickname of Wisden for almost infinite knowledge of the beautiful game and a certain Jan Balk making his debut in the cauldron that is ACC5 after several years in the rather sedate world of the first team, welcome Jan or The Rookie as he was immediately christened. As we shall see Wisden has probably been superseded but I’ll get onto that later as well.

We arrived in Haarlem for an 11.00 start but our opposition were a little confused (or even intimidated) by the impending encounter and did not turn up until 12.30 for a 1.00 start. Before the game, the cap committee assembled and Nagesh was presented with his baggy red and black cap with “The Smurf” embroided on the back. The cap committee also proposed a new tradition of a “Guest” cap and Jan Balk was the proud first recipient of this honour (never had anything like that in the first team eh, Jan?) but he had to return the cap at the end of the game.

Skipper insisted on batting first due to the late arrival of the “home” side and the courtesy was ceded. Batting was tough going on a sandy outfield and a newly laid track and Cuddles continued his sabotage by failing, for the second time in three games, to trouble the scorers. That brought Dicky to the crease and he hit a six over mid-wicket before Rood & Wit came up with the perfect plan to get Dicky out. They brought a girl onto bowl. Now Dicky has a growing reputation with the ladies and sure enough was out from her first ball. Gentleman Dick!! Patrick Phillips was then out cheaply and 48 for four off 12 overs was not looking too healthy. A middle order of Big Lad (32), The Smurf (40) and The Rookie (29) restored some respectability and the tail added around 20 runs, to give a final score of 173 all out off 39.4 overs. The Gimp, however, voiced his discontent at being so far down the batting order and who is to say where he will be batting next time!

Following lunch which was taken about supper time due to the late start, Rood & Wit started their run chase. Thanks to some very tight bowling from Jan Balk (10-1-26-2), Nagesh (4-1-7-0) and Patrick Phillips (6-0-27-1) after 20 overs Rood & Wit were 70 for 3. This was a little behind the required rate but by no means out of the game. Bob Wolfe (4-1-9-0) and Big Lad Matchett (5-0-24-0) further restricted the scoring but R&W had wickets in hand. Once again the skipper displayed his Midas Touch by indicating a bowling change. There followed howls of complaint from Wolfe & Matchett when they were replaced by Richard Wolfe and Alex Taylor. Then Patrick Phillips lent his weight (not what it was!) and voice to make it an unholy trinity of protesters and the skipper was beginning to feel like Captain Bligh. Since nobody took up the Fletcher Christian role the mutiny was averted and the skipper’s decision was vindicated with some help from Big Dicky Broggel who brilliantly ran out their last dangerous batsman. Richard Wolfe and Alex Taylor then took regular wickets Alex to the admonishing cries of, “off stump, Alex!”

Alex then the mistake of requesting that the Skipper put a stop to these cries but you should never betray weakness in the cauldron of ACC5 and the Skipper joined in the cries. Alex responded, as the skipper knew he would, by completely vindicating the bowling change to return figures of 6-0-20-4. Alex will now and forever be known as “Off-Stump Alex”. Richard Wolfe also bowled well (6-0-24-1) and Rood & Wit closed their innings on 144 for eight off 40 overs.

ACC5 made it three wins out of three and won by 29 runs.

A good drink followed along with Broodjes Crockette, courtesy of the unholy trinity.

Thanks lads.

ACC5 173 all out of 39.4 overs.

R&W4 144 for 8 of 40 overs.

ACC5 won by 29 runs.

Skipper