Sat. morning and the CM boys pick us up at 9am. Out to Prem school. Weather lovely and cool with rain looking likely. Parrots only had 7 and borrowed 3 CM fellas. Won the toss, Vick suggested batting first and then the rain will come. Good plan. 35 overs each
Badsheila and Sledge to open. BS out first over tryingg to hit the ball to Burma. Sledge takes a pounding on the body, hits a four and is eventualy out in about the 9th over - 9 runs, highest score for the parrots - bloody well batted!. I come in and score bugger all, out off the glove down leg side again! Prez strolls in and looks like he last batted yesterday, not 6 months ago, timing straight drives, flicks off the legs and a glorious back foot cover drive. Can't remember how out but a lovely 25 odd - all class. Nick leaves the first ball and thus attains his best score at Prem. Gets hit flush on the box with a very loud slap of leather on plastic which brought fits of laughter from all. Batted well before being caught behind. Only had 10 players and all out for 145.
Looking at a comfortable defeat I reckoned - well, at least we'd have our work cut out for us anyway
CMCC paid for our lunch - wicked spread
Vick and Nick open the bowling and bowl great lines and toke 2 wickets each including Coombesy and 2 other dangerous "Irishstanis". Bowled their 7 overs straight and we're back in the game.
Who to bowl next? look around and see Badsheila (maybe), Prez (sure), Tom K (told me he doesn't really want to bowl) Ring ins (didn't seem to be too trustworthy, best to go with Parrots), Me (shlt, might have to. Wait there must be someone else...) ...Sledge -
" Prez, you're bowling next and Pete you're taking the gloves!!!"
Prez gets a wicket in the first over and we're running around like a very excited Parrot team does. I buy a couple of wickets and when the Prez's height guidance system packs in and they start reaching Goodchap at head height on the full, we use one of the ring ins to try to get the last 2 wickets for victory while they need 22 runs - very exciting!
History will show that we lost by 2 wickets but it was tempered by the fact that 2 home grown local Thai lads calmly and cleverly got Chiang Mai home (including a massive six off yours truly) and secured the first ever Town and Country Challenge Trophy. The Thai boys did what the others were struggling with. It was very fitting.
Throughout the game I was fantasising about how sweeter this day would have been with the likes of DC, Scully, Justin, Strunky, Slatts, Raja, Princy, Neil - hell all of the Parrots actually. For one we would have had a full 11 and secondly we could have put on a good parrot performance on a beautiful wicket and ground during a rainless day in the mid 20's temperature wise. It was a very entertaining match with a close finish in bloody pleasant conditions. We all want to get back up there in December when the weather is perfect.
Tom K brought some Vodka from Ukraine and the Prez gave the President's award to Deano. Sledge failed to deliver vodka yet again and Wally nearly throttled him when he offered a bottle of 100 pipers instead!!!
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