On an overcast summer evening the Canes assembled at Llanrumney University playing fields, only to be greeted by a groundsman who told us the games was off! Why hadn’t the oposition informed us? Simply because they didn’t know either! BTS duly turned up and the canes being the canes were defiant. It was decided to move the game to Rumney Rugby Clubs ground and onto the artificial wicket.
Light drizzle began to fall and a short boundary all round made playing conditions difficult. With BTS struggling for numbers they were put in to bat first and outrageously the decision (somewhere between Danny & Griff) was made to ask both Nathans to play for the other team. Jaffa umpired and Aggressive did the book for BTS as they were placed in the line up at No.7 & 8. The Canes looked like they had made the call to keep the batsmen on strike with fear of the batting prowess down the order. A few tight overs from Will who finished with the best figures of 2 overs, 6 runs for 0 wickets got the Canes off to a decent start, however there was some wayward bowling forcing the umpire into reluctantly giving a wide! The fielding conditions were hard but still there wasn’t a murmer amongst the Canes. Captain Griff then took to the wicket for a bowling spell, perhaps he could gee up the troops with some tight bowling, but as with his batting to come later and with what has so often been the case this season Griff didn’t deliver! He was tonked all over the park, at one point (after bowling one full at the pads) he looked Umpire Jaf in the eye and then put his head down and trudged away to a response of ”Nothing down Leg”. The irony wasn’t lost, this was the line that he’d trained the youngsters with since a young age! He finished with figures of 2 overs, 20 runs, 0 wickets. Expensive to say the least, you dont win awards like that. Enter Evans and his beamer No Ball that went for 4! Jimmy wasn’t as sharp as usual but still got a wicket and gave a glimmer of hope to the team with figures of 2 overs, 19 runs 1 wicket and was more than well supported by Chris O’Brien, who depite getting smashed for 27 off 2 overs amazingly somehow responded to a shody first over with an over that included 4 wickets (W-W-1-6-W-W). Gone are the days when his head dropped and then quickly ‘went’!! What a recovery. He’s still on a hatrick for the next game! Other fielding highlights included 2 catches from Will (no thats not a typo!!) a catch behind from Greg and a D.C from Evans!! Thats DC League is seeing some crazy action this year! BTS finished on 138 and left the Canes with the uphill task of scoring 139 off a reduced 16 overs. It was looking bleak.
The Canes went out to bat and with panic setting in both Nathans were placed at the foot of the Canes order to allow the top half to swing. Jez and J-Lo went out and opened. J Lo delivering a stunning performance scoring 31 and looking hungry for more runs, taking his average to 46 for the season!! Jeremy also put on a fine knock of 74 Not Out including (AMAZINGLY!) 50 off 32 balls!! No i’m deadly serious, there wasn’t much tippy tappying going on and he put his critics to the sword. Once J-Lo had departed several came and went including captain fantastic who was sledged for a tippy tappy and duly got bowled trying to send the bowler out of the park (much to everyones delight!)
The Canes cantered home with an over to spare following some dubious bowling in the final overs. This was a close one on a dodgy astroturf wicket with a short boundary but once again The Canes came good and delivered.
— Jaffa
Captain Unfantastic — August 7, 2008 at 10:13 am
A shame about the abuse Jaffa but i do admit it was deserved and accurate.
Still a 100% record.