After a lost toss, we were sent into the field. Prem and Nick opened the bowling. Nick managed to throw a wide on his second ball already, but Prem “outdid him” by doing so on the very first ball of his spell. A few missed catches later, Prem just did it himself on his own bowling. The low full toss – a yorker in Zami cricket – provided the first wicket in the 4e about. Now Nick could not be left behind and he got an LBW. This must be down to appealing, because the following Wednesday Nick also got a dodgy lbw decision in his favor. It’s coming home!
Midway through 8, captain Sander looked at Marek. “Arn, next over, bowling.” Marek was startled, envisioning a Sunday morning full of sore muscles, and began bowling the ball over to each fielder, hoping to get warm in time. A fine spell by Arnie unfortunately did not yield a wicket, batting was more successful. More on that later.
Yours truly bowled with Arnie and even picked up a wicket. A dream, revenge for those nights in Croatia when I couldn’t sleep because of a snoring Holleman. Unfortunately, this was Ajax’s Holleman, Frits lives to see another Zami day.
David got turned on, bowled some pies and went again. He himself was very pleased. Wouter tapped no balls back this fielding innings and even started bowling wides. That lazy Rutgers is always on form at the right time. It took until over 21.1, but Woutje a.k.a. Donny van de Beek a.k.a. Geitje Weghorst picked up the third wicket after a good catch by Kirk.
Frits bowled 1 over and fortunately Prem dropped his second ball. With Frits this season, taking 1 wicket will mean taking 5 wickets and I have to be honest and say that I don’t know if I – but also all of cricket Netherlands – is ready for that yet. Save them for other pots Frits!
Wout picked up a very sharp caught and bowled and through tight bowling at the end, a fantastic runout by F. van Hoogdalem ‘from long off to the wicketkeeper’, good goalkeeping by Kaushal and bowling by Nick + Dave Ajax finished on 171/7 from 35 overs.
Fielding was not always easy. This is because the sun was very unfavorable, reflecting off parked cars. Including Kirk’s car.
Over lunch, there was already talk of the World Cup final between India and South Africa later in the day. Fortunately, no one on our team was crazy enough not to play this match, so he could cheer on South Africa. You would have done just that, what a choke.
Our batting innings started very nicely. Kirk struck out 22 runs in the 2e over, 5 beautiful fours and two wides. Unfortunately, this was all that remained, but this set the tone. Marek came in, still hurting his back from bowling. Marek gave away a couple of catching chances, but that was not to be named. It had, about five of them. That car of Kirk’s was lined up so you couldn’t see anything on cow corner. That was not an odd drop. Apparently the cars were positioned so that you couldn’t see anything anywhere in the field, so tactical masterstroke.
In between, Auke came in. Wonderful shots, resulted in a strike rate of 150! They were 10 beautiful balls. Harold came in and then you basically know what time it is. We still think you are playing with a broken bat. That didn’t matter much to Haroldinho, he and Arnie tapped the pot in and finished at 63*. After over 24, drinks were taken, with 14 runs still needed and Arnie on 47. After Harold hit the first 2 balls of over 25 for 4, there was frenetic shouting from the side that Arnie had almost 50. Take it easy, it’s not a crocodile!
Harold listened, but still wanted to boost his average slightly. Instead of blocking out 4 balls, he picks up a single. Arnie also picked up a single and stood at 48*. No fooling around, just 2 ball blocks and done. Blocks, what is that? Harold, the man with a technique you could say hello to in the Zami (and 10 years ago at a slightly better level), thought the leave would be a good option. In doing so, he had not taken into account that lidded sun on the cars. The wicketkeeper misses the ball, Arnie is left on 48*, nice for you Arn!
Afterwards, we stood suspiciously by the beer when it was at Ajax. The hospitable Ajacians made sure we had a wonderful third half, watching the World Cup together. Thus ended a delightful afternoon of cricket with 2 points in the bag, good company and an exciting final.
VCC 172/3(24.5)
VCC won by 7 wickets
Zami 1D (35)
29 Jun 2024 13:30
Sportpark Overveer
https://matchcentre.kncb.nl/match/134453-6947720/scorecard/
Floris
