Singapore CC 150th Anniversary Super 8's - Singapore, 16-18 August 2002

A measure of the success of a tour is probably best captured on the return flight home. One hears stories of riotous behaviour, huge drinking sessions, sing-songs and the like. The number of cans of beer or gin and tonics consumed between ports often becomes legendary. Well not for this touring team of young gentlemen. Serene and calm they were in the Singapore Airlines return flight. There was some silver ware but unfortunately we only had to beat Bangkok for that, the rest of the games we were outplayed in a rather silly 8 man form of the game. But so it was, the KCC Super 8s team sailed headlong into the bowl final and finished 5th out of 6.

The mix of ‘uber vets’ Vacha and Arthur, ‘unter uber vets’ and Captain ‘Chic’ (pronounced sheek) Correa and ‘Ghengis’ Heild was designed to give the youngsters ‘Jocks’ Tyndale, Lamsam, Nizami and Chaudhuri discipline and direction. This idea fell in a heap well before the bus left KCC as the young ‘Dyuts’ and ‘Jocks’ thinking they were still on university timetables managed to be significantly late, one hour in the case of the former. See photographs of the silly wig he had to endure on the trip. Not to be outdone nor discouraged by the fear of wearing the silly wig, Roy Lamsam also thinking in university student excuses mode (ie ‘I left my assignment in the bus…my cat ate the disk sir…’) he announced on arrival at the airport that he had forgotten his passport. The uber and unter vets were nonplussed but calmly set about panicking the sister of the offender to break all sorts of laws to get the said document to the airport in time. Roy’s turn for the silly wig. ‘Zubi’ was having nothing of this and seemed rather preoccupied as we moved through Singapore customs and what a friendly greeting he received. The immigration official spent 15 minutes welcoming him to Singapore, inquiring after his health , his studies and his leisure activities, no doubt determined to keep up the image of that friendly, free island state.

Day one, through the haze of tropical heat was revealed the vista of the Padang in the foreground of the classic colonial architecture of the Singapore Cricket Club, 150 years old this year. The team led by ‘Chic’ strode confidently up from the hotel. Buoyed by the welcome party the night before where ‘Chic’ that playboy of the eastern world had teamed up with his no less oriented brother to break the hearts of several local lovelies who, after a hard evening on the netball court were determined to win an evening of the brothers’ affections. It was not to be for the girls and at the ‘Doc’s insistence we headed for an early bed. It came as quite a surprise then when Royal Selangor Club beat us before we even realised the game had begun, despite a spirited 24 by Ghengis and fine bowling by Roy (3/14). Next game and Penang got some competition from us with Ghengis (49) and Jocks (50) combining beautifully. It seemed that we needed a new tactic if we were to beat the next opponent SCC who were ominously powerful. So, after craftily losing the toss, and having to bat (we scored an impressive 140 with Chic hitting his straps (39), Jocks (26) and Ghengis (32)),‘Chic’ and his advisers came up with the Arthur experiment. Not having bowled more than half a dozen overs in the last 20 years, the Doc was struggling so the plan was for him to open the attack. Adrenalin pumping off his full loping run up, it nearly worked: three balls and 1 for 4 then the Doc faltered and the big bloke from SCC decied to blast everything from there on. The size of the sixes was academic but nevertheless a blow to the KCC teams moral as they easily got the runs.

Undaunted, Chic through the magic of the mobile phone glued to his ear most of the day managed to garner a score of local young women to accompany the lads out to dinner that night to boost their lagging spirits. It was only the Doc’s insistence of an early night that got them into their beds before 11pm ready to face another two games the following day and win or move into the bowl. First up RBSC and we fancied our chances against a team of hedonists from Thailand who it was rumored had not slept nor had an hour free of fun for some days. And so it was, Dyuts blossomed (47) and Chic, flushed with the warmth of his popularity amongst the fairer sex in Singapore (21). At some stager another plan was hatched as it emerged that the reason the Doc bowls so badly was because he is actually a wicket keepr, so Zubi was released form the task and went on to bowl well. “Uber vet’ Vacha had been bowling with remarkable consistency and showed what great talent remains in those wicked fingers. The warm up revealed that the youger member’s arms had turned to spaghetti over night and sparkling fielding by the senior members put them to shame. The two umpires were unflappable, and seemed to b eenjoying the game despite Dyuts best attempts to throw off the turban of one and Zubi’s appeal for a stumping after the batsmen was given out caught behind echoed around the Padang and startled the umpire in to a state of acute confusion.

But what a sight at the dinner that night. Resplendent in white shirts, jackets and KCC ties the lads were fine representatives of the club and after beating Bangkok again the next morning departed as noted above, armed with the bowl and dignified in their professional demanor. A well organised event offering some good ideas for KCCs 100th celebrations and as usual the chance to enjoy the companionship of the tour and meet those characters that abound in cricket around Asia.

HKCC 137 d KCC 85
PSC 122 d KCC 117
KCC 103 d RBSC 102
RSC 111 d KCC 83
SCC 141 d KCC 140

Singapore CC won the Cup
HKCC won the plate
KCC won the bowl

KCC Batting averages/outs bowling wickets/ave

Chaudhuri 36.75/4 2/35
Tyndale 67/2 2/57.5
Lamsam 27/3 7/19.14
Correa 16/5 6/12.67
Heild 29.75/4 1/87
Vaccha 5/2 7/15.43
Nazami 7/1 0/-
Arthur 0.5/2 1/66