98-99 Warm-up 

RBSC Visit  

Tony Gough Cup   

Robbie Lee   

JP Robinson   

KCC v HK Hotels 2   

KCC v HK Hotels 1

Caught with their proverbial pants down, KCC had to ask a couple of outsiders to help make up numbers for this mid-week game. And, against a team comprising a couple of teachers, it was the schoolboys who did the caning.

The scorecard did not make pretty reading as the Sri Lankan schoolboys cut loose against a wayward KCC attack, to rack up a challenging total of 333-6. Mubarak (106) and Kandami (93) treated the attack, which had been fuel-injected with the inclusion of Mohammed Zubair, with disdain, showing little respect for their elders. Lama was the most successful of the bowlers, although his 3-75 would not make him sleep happy at night. Zubair bowled quite well to finish with 2-43.

The target was always going to be a tough ask and against an attack that would give the national side the hurry up, the KCC XI was on the back foot from the start. Sean Brierly was the first to go, getting a fine edge to a rising ball. Damian Green joined Ravi Sujanani and together they put together a stand of 120, scored at about five runs an over. Green was initially the aggressor, pulling and cutting anything short to the fence. Sujanani was less commanding but as his confidence increased, so did his aggression. But just as they appeared to be getting on top of the Sri Lankan attack, both fell within the space of six balls and the impetus of the KCC chase was effectively stopped in its tracks.

With the combination of some tight bowling and spectacular fielding, the Sri Lankans wrapped up the KCC innings with little further resistance. Kandami was again the destroyer - his leg spinners accounting for five KCC batsmen. Tiku Patidar was perhaps the unluckiest batsman, having struck a powerful blow to long off, only to watch the fielder turn his back to the ball, plant his feet and reach over the boundary to catch the ball skillfully as it flew over his shoulder. Bharat may also have felt aggrieved at being given out LBW to a ball that he claimed to have edged into his pads, however in his maturity he knew it wise not to argue with the umpire - particularly when it was the Finesmaster.

In the end, the KCC outfit was outclassed by a team that would have given Hong Kong's full senior side a run for its money (some say they would beat them too). It was an ample demonstration, if one was ever needed, of the yawning gap between the abilities of young cricketers of test playing nations and the geriatric cricketers from countries with pretensions to test status.

At KCC (played 28.10.98): SLSCA 333-6 ( J Mubarak 106, T Kandami 93; S Lama 3-75, M Zubair 2-43) beat KCC Invitation XI 196 (D Green 60, R Sujanani 54, M Zubair 23; T Kandami 5-46) by 136 runs.

35 Over Warm-up Match - 5th September 1998
Bharat's XI v Yarman's XI
Result: COC's XI won too easily 

It was clear that the season had started way too early for most of the 23 souls that turned out for this match. A couple of insanely keen individuals even ventured to the nets before the start - forgetting that it was too damned hot to even consider such a thing. 

The game kicked of with Bharat's XI batting first. At 12-4 it looked like the match would be over by 3pm and only thing getting warmed up would be the stools in the bar. Ben Butt was the chief destroyer, being amply rewarded for keeping the ball on the astro wicket. With a few cultured upper-cuts from Hugh Tyrwhitt-Drake and other useful contributions by David Arthur, Mike Trayford and skip, Bharat's XI eventual reached 138 at the end of the 35 overs. 

The openers for Yarman's XI strolled confidently to the wicket to set in motion the chase towards victory. Burji Shroff was however back in the pavilion (and straight into the nets) before the end of the first over, having contrived to run himself out without facing a ball. Shiroy made a good contribution with the bat, but a top edge hit keeper Rob in the side of the head and he had to retire for the day (probably wishing he'd never got out of bed, having scored a golden duck in the first innings). Tricky Trayford donned the pads and proceeded to take a couple of excellent catches and a stumping. The failure of any of the batsmen to stick around for too long saw Burji return to the crease with 10 overs still to bat. Unfortunately he ran out of partners and, with the light fading, Yarman's XI was eventually dismissed for 90. 

Surprise of the Day: Every reachable catch was taken - hopefully a promising sign for the coming season. 

Fine of the Day: Travis for kicking the umpire (Shiroy) after he had blatantly obstructed a run out opportunity. 

Quote of the Day: Shiraz to Travis - 'I saw you kick my brother. Why did you stop?" 

RBSC Tour to KCC - June 1998 
Interport veteran, Jim Middleton, provides us with a run-down on the recent visit by RBSC.  

RBSC Cricket Tour to KCC June 1998 - Labhamel Sachdev Trophy  

RBSC arrived  (at least half of them) on the Friday prior to the game. The rest arrived at 12o'clock on Saturday of the game and had already warmed up on the plane.. Sabaidikrap Senaam Ma Falang (Welcome RBSC).. Tom Karnasuta (no, not the Indian book) arrived looking for a duck - to eat that is.  

The rainy weather did its beat to prevent us playing the Ralph Capell Shield game on the Saturday (RBSC have lost the shield anyway somewhere in the depths of the Polo Club after they won it last time). A couple of coir mats alongside the artifical deck were laid and off we went. With the bowlers (who had any sense) operating off three strides and trying to swing a bar of soap, RBSC batted first in a 30 over per side game and amassed about 148 (the scorebook was kept by the world's second drunkest man) with Anil Tanwani top scoring on 74 not out. Papu Butani displayed the family jewels and took 3 for 15 in his 6 overs. KCC knocked off the runs with Bharat the Basher scoring 43 not out.  

We had a good evening function in the coffee shop and found that someone had allowed Vagabonds to have their function at the same venue sharing the same buffet. After all, what does 40 - odd consecutive years of Interport tradition mean anyway?!? Ah well. Maybe when we go to Bangkok next time RBSC will rope in the Thai Backpacker Society to share our buffet function there. Our visitors made up for it in the bar later and we poured them out at closing time with the world's drunkest man. David Currie, going off for a few tubes around the corner.  

The Sunday game almost did not take place.  

RBSC said they wanted to start at 9:30 since they were leaving on the 6:30 flight that evening. Sure we said. Anyone who has played cricket in Thailand knows that 9:30 start means that is when they start to leave the hotel bed.  And so it was. We started after ten as soon as the world's (still) drunkest man finally arrived. We batted - we had to, with five bodies there. The skipper called Rahul who was in bed. 'It's raining in Saikung" he said. 'We are not playing in Saikung - get here now!". TTTravis had been on hospital and nappy duty so did not bother to call or turn up and Tony Correa was not at home or answering. So in comes Derek Can(drink)beer, the Manaqer's beau fully kitted out. TC got there at 11 for the 9:30 start and was left to umpire the last 20 overs and Eamsy arrived about the same time saying it's too wet to bat so he went and umpired in the rain. Brewbags smashed the ball around for a fine 61 runs, Ravi Newdaddy milked 34 and Bharat the Basher made 65 before his eyes fell out and he trod on them. Then Rahul arrived, obviously p-d off at the fact that he could not open the batting. So he made up for it by pushing, snicking and prodding 122 runs in 63 balls, leaving RBSC to score 300 to win off 40 overs.  

RBSC sent in Ravi Sehgal to open with the big New Zealand whacker. Whacker went to a good head high catch to TC at point and Ravi played a 5 day test innings of  51 in 40 overs. Ravi wasn't counting but did raise his bat on his 50th single even though the scoreboard showed him on 48. Sailesh (who actually plays for Indian CC in Bangkok) whacked 49 before being given out twice caught behind and standing his ground - quite reasonable really as he only hit half the cover off the ball. RBSC eventually ran out of overs still needing 130 odd runs.  

Jimbo completed his 29th consecutive RBSC Interport closely followed by the Rabbi and we are looking forward to playing the next one in Bangkok (wow it's just so cheap there now) at Chinese New Year 99. Charles (mine's a red wine) presented the Labhamel Sachdev Trophy to KCC after the game and we presented each of our visitors with a KCC umbrella to remind them of the fixture. Rahul was adjudged Man of the Match and presented with the Jangu Vaccha Trophy by Shiroy. 
 - Middlestump 

Tony Gough Cup 
KCC Over 45's v. HKCC Over 45's at KCC - 10th May 1998 
Result: KCC regains Cup   

The tussle for this trophy is conducted every year between the over 45's (well over 45 in most cases) of KCC and HKCC. KCC won the inaugural event in which the legendary umpire Goughie himself played but the boys (?) from the Gap have won it since. Unfortunately this year the Sunday Cup final clashed and the opposition lost Messrs Sabine, Lalchandani and Walsh and we lost Jim. However playing for the first time was Steve Atkinson which gave the batting a healthy look. The game had several interesting side competitions. The President of the HKCA versus the Chairman. Both no doubt going for the max. The President of the KCC versus his counterpart Chairman Miles.   

Unfortunately Steve opened his contribution as an opening bowler and was treated somewhat disrespectfully by the HKCC skipper Bob Fotheringham. Fothers fancying himself as something of a pinch hitter rode his luck and struck some big hits. From the other end straight off the Macau ferry after the Saracens fines weekend was the Prez, Charles O'Brian who really looked better then he felt and he looked awful. He managed to escape too much of a mauling and with a bit more luck could have picked up both openers. Tow others victim of the Macau trip Huggsy Hurrell and Angry Atkinson tried to hide in the outfield but with little luck. Angry falling victim to several failed diving attempts by Lethers resulting in long chases for him.   

Mercifully Skipper Nissim took the openers off after four overs and turned the attack over to the spin twins of Lethbridge and Turner. Lethbridge with his usual assortment and Turner with unerring accuracy turned the game around and wickets fell and runs came to a trickle. After several  attempts the skipper managed to catch two hoicks to leg off  Lethbridge but only one counted. Yes this was a game that you couldn't be out on the first ball.   

Angry Atkinson was introduced into the attack and did pretty well and managed to pick up a couple of wickets. Charles took the first catch off his bowling and fellow Saracens will appreciate the dilemma he was in. He tried to drop it but in true Saracens fashion caught it. One of the few balls he put his hand to all game as he showed some nifty footwork the rest of the time. All the Saracens need is another player who thinks he's a bowler. The Skipper bowled a few tidy overs and his hoped for confrontation between Charles and Rodney Miles was well engineered with the latter managing to keep out some lethal deliveries. Hitting boundaries was one way. The innings ended with Slacky's version of shot putting and HKCC on 194.   

Brewbags and Dave opened the KCC's reply and rattled along quite nicely. Both fell with the score around 40 and Atko then played absolutely beautifully before retiring on the mandatory 50. The skipper struck some lusty blows but wickets kept falling and Slacky and Charles were left as the last men in with Atko to return if needed. Slacky departed after withstanding some vicious deliveries from Terry Smith bit not before a fine boundary off Fothers. So out strode to the crease Atko to join the President. "I'll bat you run," were his instructions. Well we could rely on half of that to happen. However throwing off the excesses of the last two days in a delirium of red wine and heat Charles managed to turn ones into twos, including a fine leg glance off his box and off the last ball of the match Atko struck the winning run.   

Fothers had left the trophy back at the Gap not anticipating its loss. It will be presented at the HKCA awards. A great game of cricket played hard but in the spirit in which the game should be played. There are a few players approaching 45 who think they might get into this side soon. Don't hold your breath.   

Charles O'Brian 

Robbie Lee Trophy  
KCC v. CCC at KCC - Saturday, 3rd May 1998 
Result: CCC borrows the silverware 

Saturday, 2nd May saw a KCC XI take on CCC for the Robbie Lee Trophy.   

With everyone saying "do we have to get changed? ? itís just about to rain" , KCC won the toss and decided to bat. Burji Shroff and Rob Wilkins opened and took the score to 49 before Rob was caught and bowled for 6. Graham Hurrell reminded the crowd of his power with a few well-timed blows before departing for 10. Shiroy followed for 11 being given out by the Umpire and his batting partner. Ben Butt and Nigel Grandfield, making a welcome re-appearance before departing HK later in the year, played brief cameo innings. Rahul Sharma was yorked by Phil Glenwright for a quick 18 and it was left to Burji to keep the runs flowing and to protect the tailenders - Nissim, OíBrian and Gill. Burji eventually ran out of puff and retired to the changing room for a well compiled 77 off 78 balls.   

The KCC total of 164 was always going to require some hot bowling if we were to retain the Trophy. At 105-5, we seemed to be reasonably well placed. Charles OíBrian 1-32 off 6 and Ben Butt 2-15 also off 6 had put us in the driving seat but the skipper then had to give the Captain of Cricket a bowl! But as I said all was well until that CCC stalwart, Eamesy appeared and denied the Club more silverware. Mark and Dougie Jones unbeaten partnership of 54 was enough to see CCC to victory with 7 balls left.   

A most enjoyable game and as always played in a friendly but competitive spirit.  And as the presentations were being made, the heavens opened, flooding the pitch. 30 minutes earlier and we could have retained the Trophy...   

- Rob Gill (I was the Captain) 

JP Robinson Trophy 
Under 40's v. Over 40's at KCC - 13th April 1998 

Robocrock   

A scientific experiment was conducted at the KCC last Easter Monday to see if one complete human could be assembled with all limbs and body parts working to take on a gang of local juvenile delinquents known throughout the Club for their viciousness.   

Despite having some superb specimens at his disposal, the veteran skipper, ex HKPD "Extremely Blue" Middleton, was hard pressed to put a complete working cricketer together. There was the "pinch more than an inch" hitter "Huggsy" Hurrell; "No ligaments" Brew Bags; "Going Going Gone" Gohel; "Jurassic" Slack; Tony "Toy Boy" Lethbridge; the Finesmaster; "Speedy" Arthur, "Diamonds" Butani and, looking good enough to be a vet, young Eames. Unfortunately putting all these athletes of yesteryear together could not produce a completely working body. It was fortunate then that guesting for the over 40's was a 14 year old wicket keeper, Ritesh who was able to make the experiment a success.   

Still this was not good enough to take on the delinquents led by "Knuckles" Steward. Sent in to bat "Big Daddy" Trittman did not last too long but then "Razor" Sujanani and "Horrible Hutch" Hutchinson started laying into the pensioners. Years of granny bashing had prepared them well to loot their elders with such flagrant disregard for their feelings or indeed their averages. Taking one too many liberties with the Finesmaster, Hutch was sent packing swiftly followed by "Spaceboy" Mir and "On the Lam" Lamma all handbagged by the substantial figure of the Finesmaster. But then Knuckles joined the Razor and the poor vets were smitten to all parts of the neighbourhood. Helped by being dropped about 12 times the Razor added insult to injury by walking off after he had scored a very chancy 150. Knuckles departed and the rest of the gang, "Bully Boy" Baker, "Spearchucker" Mohammed, and the "Flyboy" relished in kicking the poor vets while they were down. Taking pity Knuckled called off the slaughter after scoring 307, in the 31st over.   

The vets dragged their creaking bodies back on and Brewbags and Eamesy started to dish it back to the Spearchucker and "Give us a Game" Lee. But then Eamesy perished to a wide of the mark missile from the Spearchucker. Brief flurries from Huggsy and a cultured knock from Brewbags brought the vets back into it but then coming off for drinks led to the inevitable stiffening up of the arthritic joints and they perished immediately after. Going Going Gohel, tried to take the fight up but his poor back after so many years of misuse, some of it through playing cricket, could not even manage a single six. It was left to a last wicket  flourish  by Jim and the Finesmaster to take the veterans to within 30 runs of the delinquents.   

Next year the vets are hoping to call on the Atkinsons -Steve and Andy, PC, Burji Shroff, Gill, Nissim, Alan Burge and  Vachha (the one with the brain). Surely one more working body part could be found amongst this lot.   

Unfortunately the delinquents did not realise that the JP Robinson Trophy is presented to the team that stays drinking the longest and they lost this contest by about three hours. 

KCC Social XI v HK Hotels - 11th April 1998   

We won the toss and elected to bat. "Huggies" Hurrell and Bharat opened the batting and started hitting the ball to all corners of the ground. Huggies was eventually caught for 20 and Bharat retired at 30. Vic, Dave, Paul and Ritesh all retired on 30 and at the end of 30 overs we had amassed 253 for 4.   

The Hotels went into bat with Shiraz and Alister. After 6 overs both the openers had retired on 30 and their score was 60 for 0. The Hotels eventually fell short by 29 runs being dismissed for 224 of 33 overs.   

So, KCC wins again, but there was a spirited fight back from the Hotels who were never behind the run rate. We hope to be playing the Hotels again either over Chinese New Year or Easter of 1999.   

(Shiroy obviously did nothing in this game, hence the brief report - Ed.) 

KCC v. Hong Kong Hotels - 1st February 1998
Result: Cricket was the winner   

On a pleasant Sunday afternoon, the KCC first XV took on the Hong Kong Hotels XV, in what is becoming a regular fixture at the club. In what must be a first for a KCC side this season, a late morning defection resulted in two additional players being drafted into the team - Laurie Taylor was replaced by his sons Craig and Joe. With Zaran Vachha also making his debut in a KCC representative side, the average age and waist measurement of the team was reduced by fifty percent.   

In a match played under modified rules, which insured every body got a bat and bowl, David Mycroft and Graham Hurrell opened KCC's account, arguably the biggest opening partnership in KCC's history (if you know what I mean). Mycroft fell early to a spectacular diving catch and was replaced by Travis Pittman, who retired within a couple of overs for a rapid 30*. KCC batsmen came and went at regular intervals, with Arjun Kirpalani the only other batsman forced to retire upon reaching 30. Pittman came back in at the end and the KCC had totalled 211 for 13 in its 35 overs. Shiraz Vachha was the most successful of the Hotel bowlers, capturing three wickets.   

The formidable KCC keeper and slip cordon of Allen, Mycroft and Hurrell was a sight to behold and one that surely would have left the Pontypool front row quivering in its boots. But the three wise men (Frankenstein, Incest and Mirth) proved once and for all that 'size really does matter', as first Allen took two stumpings and a catch; Hurrell snared a sharp catch at second slip (the ball having to be surgically removed from somewhere between the top and bottom folds in the region of the belly button); and Mycroft bowled an inspired spell to capture three wickets.   

With a brave late charge, the Hotels XV reached 197 for 14 wickets, before succumbing in the final over of the day's play. Everybody seemed to enjoy a jolly fun day's cricket - so much so that another match is mooted for Easter.