With a total of 5 Pelicans available to play by Wednesday it’s fair to say that Skip was somewhat concerned at the ability of this mighty club fielding a team, but cometh the hour cometh the 6 players and by Sunday an array of Pelicans travelled to Hyde Heath seeking revenge for last year’s defeat.

With the toss duly lost Hyde Heath elected to bowl first, making their way out to the wicket the Pelicans answer to the Chuckle brothers, Asad and Hasan prepared to do battle. With the bowling tight both Asad and Hasan kept their heads down picking off the bad balls and defending the good, Skip on viewing such an approach had a slight attack of the vapours sat down and shook his head.

With the constant verbal chatter from a confident HH Asad started opening up and for about 4 overs in true Clive form took the strike at every opportunity, Hasan watched on awaiting his turn for a go.

With the score ticking along nicely and both openers looking comfortable history dictates disaster is around the corner, Skip was therefore ready when Hasan was bowled for 23 for the Pelican collapse, incredibly such negative thoughts proved unfounded as Raheel provided excellent back up to Asad and then started finding the boundary himself.

With both players finding good form an excellent 60 partnership was finally broken when Raheel was caught, Asad in the meantime had notched up another 50 as the HH chatter increased. With the Pelican on 116 Ali made his way out and 10 minutes later made his way back, bowled for 5. Was this to be the Pelicans collapse?

The answer is ‘NO’ as new player and friend of a friend of Jal’s, Azeem stepped forward and announced himself with a 4, and Skip who had recovered from said earlier vapours felt a bit more comfortable, indeed comfortable enough to opine out loud that 180 would be a good score. Such opinions should be voiced in one’s head as first Asad was bowled for an excellent 72 followed by Azeem who was caught going for the boundary once again.

With the score creaking in the 130s Jalil was joined by Rags, now it is fair to say that this pairing are not prone to the quick single and indeed Rags who had no doubt eaten 4 shredded wheat for breakfast decided the order of the day was hit fours, which he did with great alacrity, in-fact one four was so big it was actually a six and in no time at all the score had pushed into the 180s.

Eventually tea was taken with Rags on a game changing 44, Jalil who had stood and watched came in on 6 and the rest of the lower order Pelicans contributed zero.

Total score 192

With the Pelicans preparing for tea Asad was in full moody teenager strop declaring his desire to win the game shall we say quite forcibly, it seems the constant chirruping had fired up young Asad to a whole new level of determination.

With tea taken and Asad behind the stumps Toobes and Andrew opened up the Pelicans bowling, HH similarly batted well hitting the bad ones defending the good, it took a few overs for Andrew to take the first wicket, a fine LBW, Asad as is his wont took his leave immediately into the HH undergrowth to relieve himself, this gave all the payers time to congratulate Andrew, welcome the new batsman and shout to Asad wether he was indeed needing some toilet paper.

With Toobes’ 6 overs bowled it was decided to bring Asad into the attack who let me say was itching to get going and for Toobes to take over wicket keeping duties. Naturally he ran off into the dressing room for his bowling top and also to bring Toobes his box, obviously Asad’s junior box was insufficient.

With another over from Andrew he was rested having bowled an excellent 7 overs 1 for 30, even more impressive having been smacked for 11 off his first over.

Taking over from Andrew and at the opposite end to Asad we had Mr Metronome himself Rags.

With HH going for the victory HH decided to attack the bowling and fair play to them the Pelicans had a small amount of concern as twice in one over Asad was belted to 6, both fairly mighty hits. Such an approach leads to a quick victory or a fall of wickets and thankfully for the Pelicans it was the latter as Asad had his man with a fine ball that cut back in and removed his off bail. To say Asad celebrated would be a slight understatement, let’s say he was happy.

As regularly happens two follows one and the number three HH batsman was soon following his opener having been run out.
Soon wickets were falling from both ends as Rags bowled a lovely ball that had the HH bat fishing and into Asad’s hands at second slip it went. Similarly the catching machine that is Andrew was on his usual fine form taking two catches at mid off. Hasan who came in for Rags was not to be outdone taking the HH skipper middle stump out first ball, with an in-swinging wonder ball.

With the Heath battening down the hatches the last few overs were primarily blocks and the game ended in a draw as the Heath posted a reply of 141 for 8, even the watching shouty crowd were quiet this year.

A great effort and a fun game. All aboard for the Prince of Wales Marsh

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Reports are intended to convey an entertaining picture of the day’s play. No disrespect is meant, but if on occasion we misjudge matters, please take it in the friendly and humorous spirit in which it is intended.