There are many stories in sport of individual brilliance winning sporting occasions, needless to say this team is no stranger to those performances, you need only to look at the honours board. Not today though. Today saw a true team performance, the kind of team performance this team strives for. Sure there were moments of brilliance, and we’ll come to them later, but the headline is that this was a team victory to be proud of.

On arrival, there was question over whether the Khans were truly playing for the Pelicans, with Josh and Nico barely hearing a peep of the two as they mingled with the enemy, but finally the team assembled the captains went out for the “toss”. 

Oppo: “We really feel like we should bowl”

Adam: “I guess we could allow that”

Not a coin tossed but the result we wanted. The lesser known Kankate walked out to open with Raheel on a wicket that behaved…. Gently. As one would expect runs started flowing, the wrists of Kunaal whipping, the wrists of Raheel…. Lobbing a leg side dolly straight up in the air, into the waiting hands of the fielder. Yusuf went out made the devils sign with three 6’s on the bounce, and then attempted what has to be described as the ugliest hack seen on the Nags, and we have seen many, and was promptly bowled. Kunaal carried on chugging along, gorgeous shot after whippy six, before he too fell to one that snuck through the guard. 

Hasan and Josh spent then next 15 overs running, much to the delight of Josh. They ran and they ran and they ran and they ran until Josh got out with a classic waft to mid on. Hasan kicked on and partners came and went, all chipping in, while Hasan drove his way to a sparkling 72. An excellent return from the man who has spent his year in the Asian league. A team effort that saw just one 50, zero tons, and 263 runs on the board.

An eclectic tea that will go down in history as a great, once more with the whole team pitching in, please see the Pelicans Twitter for a short clip of the COPIOUS amounts of food served. https://twitter.com/PelisCricket

Walking out to bowl, the Pelicans were assured by Yusuf that they had one man. That was all. Realistically, knowing the Pelicans that was probably more than enough.

Now, if you were told that the opening bowlers were Van Der Peet and Bailey, then asked who bowled better, who had the opening batters questioning their ability, who had the batsman all ends up, not a man here would be surprised to know the Nico himself bowled an opening spell that all would be proud of. He did not “fill in” for the Yorkshiremen, he succeeded them. He made that top end his own, and got no reward for it. Josh discovered a new tactic, throw the ball down leg for 90% of your spell and you wont go for any runs, but after 11 overs, Bovingdon were 22-4. One of these wickets was an aforementioned moment of brilliance but I will wait until later to explain.

Following the sensational start, Hasan and Kunaal followed and Kunaal rather let the side down being smashed for a very expensive 19 off his 4 overs. Hasan once again found rhythm, a week before Kensington, and for a time Pelicans returned to normal, with one or two drops sneaking in to what was a dominant performance. During this spell, however, 3 wickets and moment of brilliance #2 occurred… Again I will come to this later… With the sun setting, our imperious skipper made the genius decision to bring on Wazball. 1-0-1-1. Solid. Nuff said. Adam then stepped up to the bottom end, at this point just one wicket needed, and two balls later it was all over, moment of brilliance #3 finishing the game with a comment of “what did you have for breakfast this morning”, coming from Tony’s lips.

Now. You have waited long enough. I feel it should be noted that the run outs today were direct hits, the first saw the ball running to fine leg, with the fielder running round, collecting and throwing down the stumps. But no one will remember this. The second run out, and the moment #3 of the game again saw the ball go to fine leg and not learning from earlier the batters ran again. The fielder ran round from slip, picked up and while spinning threw down the stumps and the non strikers end. Again, no one will remember this. AS ONCE AGAIN WAZBALL HAD HIS DAY. Moment of brilliance #2 saw a ball off the young Arif launched into the sky and Waz run forward, then back, then left, then back, then forward and right, then back. Unsurprisingly no one expected much as he raised both hands to the sky… and actually everyone expected even less as he then lowered one of them. How the ball stuck in JUST HIS RIGHT HAND, WHILE BACK PEDALLING, will forever be a question on every cricketers lips. But here we are.

200 run victory, the Khans delighted and a fine way to walk onto the final game of the season, where Kensington await. 

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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.