Quokkas C.C.

Quokkas go 3 and 0!

June 12, 2006 on 10:47 pm | In Post Match Report |

The Quokka pty ltd. consortium rolls on.

After hearing the news of the Mantis’ century the week before, I received word from the London Scottish camp that they wouldn’t be putting a team out. Coincidence? Perhaps not.

This did give the Quokkas some time to regroup though, refreshing themselves in the only way they know. Highlights include The Cowboy drinking all the bitter in London before trying to impress the ladies with his leg stretches.

The next game up was against Tusmore CC, whose stately ground and genteel hospitality were a throwback to more civilized times. Not being of those times, The Quokkas were all somewhat shocked when they arrived at the Tusmore Manor, wondering if:

a) They had got the directions right; and

b) Whether the windows of the manor were secure.

Being sent in to bat first, the Skip showed scant regard for his hosts and gave The Caveman and The Mantis the call to arms. Unfortunately though, Thug P showed equally scant regard for reputation and gave The Mantis out LBW for nought. You could hear the children weeping.

Sam ‘The Truth’ Dunstan came out at three for some electricity but found himself shorted out by a yorker after some initial sparks. The Caveman joined him soon thereafter in the pavilion after some characteristic dour batting, leaving the Quokkas in some trouble with three wickets down for not thirty runs.

Once again though, the Skip produced a steadying innings, combining with Nige for a fifty-three run partnership on a strip that could only be described as ‘batsman hazardous’.

The loss of Nige, unluckily bowled by an off-spinner that could have turned voters, saw the start a mini-collapse with the Skip running out the Skaff for naught and Smithers also being baffled by some great spin.

As soon as the rut started though, it was ended with the introduction of Dac ‘The Attack’ Nguyen, who flayed twenty-six runs in quick time to help bolster the score. Dac was ably assisted by Thug P who pinch-hit a quick thirteen and Iain ‘The Egg’ Edwards, holding up the other end with a steady six.

A final score of one hundred and forty looked like it could be sufficient and the Quokkas went for there tea wearing a glow that had more to do with optimism than the afternoon sun.

The defence of the innings started well, with the Thug and Dac restricting the flow of runs and Thug even snaring one of the openers with a clever in-swinger.

The Skip then unleashed is tactical genius and started rotating the bowlers, giving almost all the Quokkas a trundle with devastating effect. Seven bowlers took wickets, including notable break-throughs from The Egg (with his ’steady and straight’ ball) and The Mantis who had revenge on his mind from the duck earlier.

The Truth had been steady behind the stumps all day, notably psyching out one young batsman with the introduction of The Tweak to the wicket, so surprised everyone when he dropped a sky ball off the Mantis. Thankfully, the Mantis was still angry and managed to sneak one through for a steady caught-behind.

Despite the steady loss of wickets and low run-rate, the Quokkas found themselves defending eleven runs with eleven balls to spare. Again, the Skips wisdom prevailed as he bowled himself and Smithers (match figures 9-3-22-4) at the death, taking the crucial wickets (and in the last instance, catch) to see out the victory.

The contrast between the Quokkas even-performance and the opulent grandeur of the grounds could not have been greater, and it made victory all the sweeter.

The votes:

5 - Smithers, for a game-winning bowling performance;

4 - The Attack, changing the match with aggressive batting and steady fast-bowling;

3 - The Skip, another steadying innings, inspired bowling changes and good in the field;

2 - Nige, good in the middle; and

1 - The Egg, one wicket down, seven to go…

The Iain Edwards bravery award going to Thug P for giving The Mantis out LBW.

The cumulative total for the Votes is:

7 - The Skip

7 - The Attack

5 - The Mantis

5 - Smithers

2 - Nige

2 - The Truth

1 - The Skaff

1 - The Egg

Next up, Salix CC…