Round 16 - 25th November 2000

Crusaders v. Witherers at KCC
Result: Crusaders won by 43 runs

This was it, no more loses would be tolerated if the season was to stay on track and if Jenny L was going to continue her excellent penmanship with the score book. Things weren't going to be easy as Jenny was wearing black and the vibes from her were of concern, apparently an obvious thing to identify from the nervousness of the players behinds!!!

At last the Captain doctored the coin and as required on a Saturday the knights of the red cross decided to bat, which was lucky as half the team were still on their way. Greenie and Travalator took the open salvos from the dying variegated vegetation bowlers (couldn't think of another way of calling them) with Travis showing some of his trademark over the top of mid on shots until he perished to the looping Robson's xylem bowling. The wicket all day did something and with the ball swinging and their fielding excellent we struggled throughout our innings. Muddy having driven to the ground in his new second hand Saab (the red machine is dead, but if any one wants parts it's outside his house in Sai Kung) was still in first gear when out cheaply, Greenie hit one straight at square leg, the Captain was caught and backward point, Brewbags after a good knock was caught at fly gully, Mohana (after some notable big hits) caught at long off, with Beef (batted well) and Gareth (batting style uncertain) both bowled. When Don Mohammed (welcome back) was caught at mid-on we had only amassed 157 and had still 2 overs to go. Thank god we didn't play the Pakistani's on the same wicket the Sunday before as it was thought that we would not have scored 50!

With Jenny L twitching with despair the Crusaders took to the field knowing that some notable pruning was required if the game was to be won. The first 8 overs can hopefully be forgotten and not seen again this season, in terms of the fielding. Hawk came and smotted a few but had three chances from dropped catches, the third being a school boy effort from the Captain which would have had red ink all over his homework with big letters Ôcould do much better'. The turning point of the game was Beef's ball that hit the unfortunate cockroach Cochrane on the head who was then soon out when the same bowler castled him. Beef was in full flight from the swimming pool end and with a helpful pitch Boothie and Hawk were playing circumspectly and with a large degree of luck.

At 77 for 1 even the Indian's in the crowd weren't taking bets on the knights to pull off a victory, however fickle as they are and disloyal as some of them can be, the KCC boys proved that Ôthey don't like it up them Mr Mannering'. From this position of strength the opposition withered under the intense heat and pressure of the situation and our out cricket. Mohanna (who was carrying a groin strain) was untouchable and even Brewbags let eight byes through, he bowled superbly and his figures were ruined by two Shenzhen cuts. Don Mohammed apart from the odd full bunger, bowled intelligently (it was the first day of Ramadan!), Imi came back and again proved that his second spell is better than his first, while the Green monster got his usual three bunnies with his clipper bowling. Good catches were taken by Gareth, Beef, Muddy, and the skipper, such that the pot plants were out with 4 overs to go and they'll have to rethink their soil conditions for next season.

Well done to all on a tremendous team performance from a desperate position.

At KCC: Crusaders 157 (R Brewster 37, D Green 22, A Baker 25, M Marzook 25; S Robson 3-33, P McDuell 3-39) beat Witherers 114 (K Hawthorn 45; D Green 3-11, M Marzook 2-19, D Mohammed 2-14) by 43 runs

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Tartars v. HKU at Sandy Bay
Result: Tartars won by 42 runs

Tartars continue to build momentum and really showed some of their potential on Saturday at HKU. A fine start from the wonderfully consistent and poised Anoop, and Tony Correa gave the Tarts a good foundation on which to build. Starting with only seven players HKU were always going to struggle and their bowling was consistent but lacking in fire power. Tony Correa carried his bat for a fine 109, his second ton in a row, ably supported by the huge hitting of Faroque who managed another exciting 40. With Bharat Gohel, Dan Davern and Eric Naresh sitting in the wings the team posseses a middle order that either can take over if the top end fails or can add quick runs toward the end of the match. As it turned out only three wickets fell for 263 runs.

Faizi, bowled very tidily and with zest and put the brakes on the HKU innings in tandem with Sandeep just when they were looking as though they might take some control. Well done to Eric who has stepped in to the keepers role and manged to keep against Faizi's lively and quick bowling which was at times quite unpredictable on th evariable HKU wicket. Martin Sabine carried his bat and his patient contribution of 73 suffered from lack of support and the final total of 221 was well short.

As a huge red sun sank over the picturesque waterways beyond the ground, and a bouyant, confident and close knit Tartars wound up another victory, expectation of the clashes with Crusaders, Lamma, Kai Tak and Witherers will keep the Saturday League one to watch over the next few weeks. Tartars, still unbeaten and the team to watch.

At HKU: Tartars 263-3 (A Correa 108*, A Nainani 62, F Saeed 43*) beat HKU 221-7 (M Sabine 78*; Farooq 3-40) by 42 runs

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Round 15 - 18th November 2000

Tartars v. Saracens at KCC
Result: Tartars won by 72 runs

No report received.

At KCC:ÊTartars 184-6 (M Johnson 32, TR Kalyanaraman 34, Farooq 43*) beat Saracens 112 (Y Vachha 51; Sandeep 3-31) by 72 runs

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Crusaders v. Lamma at Mission Road
Result: Crusaders lost by 9 runs

No report received.

At Mission Road: Lamma 222-5 (V Niaz 65, M Burns 37, T White 34*; D Green 3-47) beat Crusaders 213-7 (D Green 43, S Scanlon 37, R Brewster 40) by 9 runs

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Round 14 - 11th November 2000

Tartars v. Centaurs at KCC
Result: Tartars won by 8 wkts

Centaurs got off to a great start with the openers threatening to build a foundation for a total well above 230. However it was not to be. Clever bowling by Bharat Gohel, with four wickets, led to a collapse and the total of 172 was never going to be a problem for the strong Tartars batting line up. Anoop contiued his fine form carrying his bat and ably supported by TR steered Tartars to continue their unbeaten status.

At KCC: Tartars 172-2 (A Nainani 66*, TR Kalyanaraman 56*) beat Centaurs Centaurs 171-8 (K Hemshall 38, King 64; B Gohel 4-33) by 8 wkts

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Round 13 - 4th November 2000

Crusaders v. HKU at Sandy Bay
Result: KCC won by 6 runs

After various misleading desert tracks, sand storms, dry wells and the lack of any PP's, the knights of the Red Cross resumed their campaign against those Intellectual Hoods of HKU. As experienced campaigners of many a desperate fight and changing room, we decided that donning the creams was better done Al Fresco than to chance the jamboree going's on next door where most of the Hong Kong financial local sector were doing various things with large inflatable balls! The girls at the long jump got a birds eye view of Toad's manly torso of which he was obviously parading for them to see. Other such views were not accommodated by the rest of the team as they have all real jobs and don't have time to keep up with the busy schedule of weight training, swimming, tennis and talking that is required.

No one in their playing memory could remember the last time we actually won a game at HKU, except the Veteran who is as old as a troop of camels (with still his own teeth), and it was with some trepidation that Captain O won the toss (a rare and possible bad omen) and decided to bat. The Travalator and Greenie open the proceedings with Trav (Mr P) in awesome form. Various balls were deposited into the tennis netting on the full and Greenie could only watch at the other end wondering what Ada had done to him. Trav perished going for another six when trying to hit a wide one outside off stump and only proceeded to put it down long on's throat (play straighter next time Trav). Gnasher Scanlon fresh from his Karachi experience (told at some length on various occasions during the day and centring on donkeys, gun shots, signing a form admitting he was an alcoholic to get beer (something we knew anyway), and variations on a theme of shithole etc.) strode to the wicket purposefully enough brandishing his broad sword with menace. What followed was a tame period where the Hoods bowled relatively well and the dreaded Veteran's hump reared its ugly head (two years before Brewbags broke his arm from a lifter and there is still a blood mark there!!). Greenie departed (bowled unusual!) and the Veteran entered the fray. Scanners tried to devour a good length ball and his castle's were skittled by one of those Donkey drivers from Karachi. Singalong played well and was unlucky to be run out by a speeding Veteran, which however lead to those situations that should be recorded in our club's history ie., father and son batting together. Simon Brewster, fresh from his shift with the gorgeous creatures of JJ's walked onto the ground, wearing his school boy gear, into history and the greater glory of Crusaders and his family of course. Tears were rumoured to be in Marilyn's eyes as she saw her men challenging the Hoods, but unfortunately her husband held out at long on and was quickly followed by her son who played a school boy innings!! We finished at 216 which should have been more like 286 and therefore were up against it.

The Hoods opened with of course Sabine who always score's a hundred against us and one of those Donkey drivers. Gareth and Imi opened and both bowled well without luck, and it was again down to that Green gentleman to break the opening stand who then removed the No.3. Greenie would also have had the No.4 (Niak - a camel driver from the New Territories who had obviously lost his way as he turned up only midway through our innings; it's turn right at Wadi Elfa, fool) caught behind (big edge that you could have heard in Kowloon) and stumped in the same ball (with only a few shekels to his name), but was given not out by two blind carpet salesman from the subcontinent who one can only say do not know the rules of cricket!!!??? By this time Sabina Park had reached fifty, but the score was slowing due in part to Toads 5 good balls an over (the other one being Tosh and was dealt with accordingly). Finally a divine intervention, Sabine held out at deep square leg to a good catch from the a fore mentioned Toad and we had a way in to our first win. Various batters came and went, Greenie finished his excellent spell after conning another four helpless victims, Imi returned to great effect, Toad was replaced by Schoolboy Brewster who bowled like he batted, and the Camel Driver Niak kept on pull driving shots over square leg for six. Finally the last over came and they required 18 to win with Imi bowling in fading light. Naik caught by Trav on the boundary at cow (no surprise there) first ball; second ball short, cut for four by Phil Glenwright (batting at 10 - logic from academics??); third ball dot; fourth ball a single and it's 13 to win off two. Fifth ball batsman goes down leg, misses the ball which goes between him and the wicket and is called a wide by a carpet salesman as the batsmen scamper a single - Imi is incensed and mutters something in a strange dialect. 11 to win still off two. Fifth ball (second time around) hit for four and they need a six to tie the match (incidentally last year's match was a tie - the scores? 216 - so severe feelings of deja vu at this point). Final ball, a swing and a miss - we win and what can one say!!!!!

Well done the bowlers and everyone else, lets hope they will be doing umpiring courses as a Diploma at the University next year.

At Sandy Bay: Crusaders 216-6 (Green 52, Pittman 41, R Brewster 48, Scanlon 27, Singh 21; Niak 2 for 5) beat HKU 210-8 (Sabine 54, Niak 80; I Farcy 3 for 37, Green 4 for 40) by 6 runs

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Saracens v. Lamma at Mission Road
Result: Saracens won by 39 runs

No report received.

At Mission Road: Saracens 235-3 (R Sharma 143*, B Shroff 50) beat Lamma 196-9 (C Coombes 33, T White 33, I Mir 58; R Sharma 4-34 ) by 39 runs

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Tartars v. Mainlanders at KCC
Result: Tartars won by 20 runs

No report received.

At KCC: Tartars 172-8 (S Lama 59, A Ahmed 35; T Dar 5-47) beat Mainlanders152-9 (Shakeel 45, M Khalid 44; B Gohel 3-47) by 20 runs

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