Following a rare defeat against the Casuals last time out it was a chastened Hurricanes squad that assembled at Llandaff Fields to take on the Baa Baas. However, with Captain Griff at the helm, the Hurricanes bandwagon was soon back on track. Those bufoons who’ve advocated that he should be deposed and replaced by that ferret-faced young pretender – Stagg Senior – were soon made to look very foolish indeed. It takes a man to do a man’s job – and there’s no doubt that Griff is the man for the job.
His clever rotatation of his fearsome battery of pace-powlers, combined with the tactical mastery of his fielding positions, had Imran’s boys struggling from the off – look and learn young Master Stagg. Griff and Chris both took good catches on the boundary, though a number of DCs were also recorded. There was one from Greg, who lately has slipped from his previous high standards and took some stick for his troubles, plus ‘at least’ one from Jaffa – who, having already dropped one, ran forward towards a skier only to find it sailing over his head. Does it count as a DC? With Judge Jim not there to adjudicate it’s one for the appeals panel – so he may get away with it.
Nathan achieved the rare feat of being roundly booed by his own side after striking a Barbarian batsman with a beamer, while Super Sully was denied a deserved hat- trick when that party-pooper Jeremy Jones declined to enter into the spirit of the occasion by producing a firm defensive prod to the next delivery. In between, Dave again showed his lack of good judgement by shying at the stumps when there was no back-up and conceding 4 overthrows. How this man could have ever been considered officer material is a complete mystery? Jeremy continued in similar vein with a dour knock which would doubtless have attracted tasteless, and totally unjustified, comparisons with his namesake had a callow youth by the name of Stagg been composing this report. Jay was guesting for the Baa Baas but soon departed for 1 after a innings that was mainly notable for some x-rated abuse of Nathan for bowling too fast for him to hit.
Chasing a total of 72 the Canes were confident of victory. Griff sprung a surprise with his choice of openers, and it was if we’d been transported back to a distant by-gone era as Danny (cheekily described as ‘silver fox’ in the scorebook by some Baa Baa joker) and Laser Lewis strode to the crease. Another grey-haired veteran in the form of Mike D came in at number three and proceeded to show that there’s much truth in the saying that ‘there’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle’ as he battered the Barbarian attack on route to an unbeaten 31, leading the Canes to a seven wicket victory. It was therefore all the more distressing to learn that Mike is considering hanging up his daps at the end of this season. The news that he’s to become a grandad sometime this winter seems to have hit him hard – but surely it can’t be allowed to happen. There surely must be a campaign to get him to change his mind? Questions should be asked in the House. The people’s voice must be heard. After the game Griff announced that the final game of the season vs the Cavaliers has been declared the Mike Driscoll Testamonial Match, and that all gate receipts will be used to buy Mike a pipe and a pair of slippers – which will be presented to him by Griff after a witty but moving speech in which he’ll review the highlights of Mike’s cricket careeer and his contribution to the team. I won’t stoop to saying ‘it shouldn’t take long’ as my name isn’t David Stagg.
Finally, Chris gave an interview to Sky TV after the game. Asked about his blossoming Hurricanes career he said – “when I was just a kid my dad used to take me down to Blackweir to watch the Hurricanes. I was really in awe of the players, and guys like Griff, Mikey D and the Stagg boys were like gods to me then – though of course, I’m much older and wiser now – er, I mean, so it’s a huge honour to now be playing on the same team ‘.
Man of the Match – Mike.
PS The author wishes to emphasise that any apparent change in view re the merits of Griff and Dave for the captaincy are based entirely on their respective cricketing qualities – and is entirely unrelated to Griff having saved the day with some furniture removals after Dave had failed to show (owing to a hangover).
— Danny