Monday, 28 February 2011

"The 9"

Last week it was an untouchable high score. This week, it was success in chasing down the fabled and elusive achievement... "The 9". Rian managed to fall victim to every one of the 9 types of wicket that exist in indoor cricket in a tension filled and highly entertaining four overs.

Brad, trust me, it was completely coincidental, and simply a case of some atrocious batting from Rian. There is clearly no need for you to read the rest of the post.

Everyone else, feel free to read on...

Facing up to the 4Skins... again... with only 7 players - 2 of them subs, and at least 1 other carrying an injury - was always going to be a big ask. And with seven out of eight skins played, the game was essentially all over.

4Skins had 194 on the board, and Popped Collars had made only 25 runs of progress towards chasing it down. Rian chose himself to bat again, and set about the business of attempting to play some quality cricket and make the scoreline look slightly more respectable. (Seriously, Brad, if you're still reading, there's no need, it's all really dull from here on)

He cleverly began by putting Matt on strike, who didn't score from the first (Jackpot) ball, thus immediately setting up a "Third Ball" scenario. No run was taken. (Note: The umpire recorded it as a "run out", which is clearly wrong, as neither batsman left their crease. It shall be entered correctly in the stats)

Next ball, Dylan required some explanation from the sideline, taking two attempts to Mankad the still-non-striking Rian. With the first one, he failed to complete his bowling action.

As Rian took strike to start the second over, he checked his stance carefully. And as the ball was delivered, his back-swing took the middle stump for a Hit Wicket.

The very next ball was expertly chipped to the back net. Unfortunately, their star fielder was there and the ball was Caught.

Again on strike to start the third over, the required rate was climbing. Now up to 2.5 wickets per over. Rian obviously made a poor misjudgment of the first delivery which Bowled him on off stump when he played a text-book leave.

Some (very very very) lazy running saw him Run Out at the bowlers end next ball.

Next ball, he was running his way back to the strikers end, when accidentally jumped and swung his bat at the ball which was being returned to the 'keeper. The umpire decided it was not accidental enough, and gave him out Interference.

Rian charged at the fourth ball of the over, swung, and missed. But the 'keeper fumbled, and the call was "run out". Indeed the correct call - Rian had not made an "immediate attempt to return to the crease", as the rules state. The ball after that, however, he made no mistake - nor did the 'keeper. Stumped.

12 balls remaining. Leg-before the only remaining wicket. Possibly the hardest of them all. As Rian stepped across and left the deliveries alone, the fielders appealed. The Popped Collars bench appealed. The umpire turned them down. Until finally, on the second ball of the final over, he was adjudged LBW.

The crowd roared. A standing ovation. It even brought a handshake from one of the opposition players. A second remarkable feat in consecutive weeks for Mr Mackay.

As promised, the first person to achieve "The 9" will not have the batting performance recorded against them in the stats. That 4 overs of batting will instead be attributed to a separate "player".

But that's it. It's been done now. Anyone else who does it will be getting all negative 37 runs (or similar) attributed to themselves... so perhaps the next step is (as someone yelled out after the 9th wicket fell) to achieve "The 9" and still make a positive score...

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