Farewell 2010! 

There was a chill in the air and a somewhat soggy Mynthurst (courtesy of the odd downpour over the previous two days) greeted the two sides. The DuD's skipper won the toss and elected to bat in a 40 over contest in which "Match fixer" Moody (moral advisor to the PCB) requested the limit for bowlers be upped from 8 to 9 (for his own, nefarious reasons - no money exhanged hands...). 

Pradeep and Raghu opened the bowling in their customary tight fashion, each picking up one of the openers, the former to a regulation catch behind the stumps to Nick Goodburn who kept in exemplary fashion throughout the innings without conceding a single bye. The change bowling was provided by the two Tim's who, from next season, wish to be referred to as "Tiny Tim" (providing he gets a recording contract) and "Little Tim" ("a la" the Goon Shows "Little Jim" - this boy does spend an awful lot of his time e-mailing out jokes; how does he make a living?). 'twas the Bunnster who provide the next breakthrough, finding the edge for "Rancid" to pick up a catch at gully. 

Boundaries were hard to come by on a large, sodden Mynthurst outfield, but exceptionally sharp running between the wickets by the DuD's kept the score ticking over. The "Baz man" was introduced into the attack and that wily old campaigner rewarded his skipper with an inspired spell of bowling picking up 4 wickets in his eight over spell, including two wickets in two balls. "Webbo" added a short, miserly spell in support before raghu returned with two overs of spin followed by two overs of his regular stuff, both unrewarded. It was Jezza and Pradeep who finished the innings, castling all the remaining batsmen to close the DuD's innings five balls short of their forty for a "Mynthurst wicket" par total of 160. 

All concerned had brought their own tea and after that, in true "Match fixer" style, the Graveney boys who hadn't bowled were given their opportunity with the bat. A pure seam attack was employed by the DuD's throughout their bowling stint (where was your Warnie option?) and they provided litttle opportunity for the Graveney boys to accumulate at the required rate. The whole top six perished to catches, searching to "up the run rate" (which I, personally, have no problem with, 'cause the oppo are always going to play to win otherwise why would they bother turning up?) 

It may have seemed a contensious decision by the skipper to put Pradeep and Raghu way down the order but, in conjuction with a fine knock from the "Skids", they dragged the Graveney boys back into the game. Besides, the pair had had a good stint with the bowling and we are a club that plays friendlies only and, as far as I'm concerned, we all deserve a "a fair crack of the whip" for our match fee, which is what I feel I offered to all eleven involved today. 

In the end, we fell short Pradeep being last out caught deep on the boundary (looking for another six), but, against a very good side, we more than held our own and gave them a good game. The only issue I have with DuD's is their propensity to appeal for everything that hits the pads (no matter wher they are fielding) and their consequent displays of, occasionally, somewhat petulant disbelief that they hadn't achieved a decision (equally bearing in mind their own reluctance to award LBWs, I speak from previous seaons experience...). More is less, learn to "shut up" and be genuine, 'cause you proved in the pub afterwards that you are a really nice bunch of guys and your collective talent derides the necessity to open your gobs for the most pathetic of appeals. 

Finally, a disclaimer. "Match fixer" Moody accepts no responsiblity for his actions; he acted completely within the accepted remits of a captain. If anyone has taken umbrage to these actions, he refers them to his solicitors Messrs Soo, Grabbit & Rund who will, no doubt, refer them in turn to their "enforcer", "Crusher" Balls, who, in his own inimatable style, will bring them round to our way of thinking by adroit application of a pair of nutcrackers. 

Have a happy winter an good luck to you all in 2011.