With the trauma of the recent uncompetitive test match result still fresh on their minds (no, not that test match), weary Badger souls needed uplifting. Even Pete “I hate cricket and never want to play again” Jinks was lured out of temporary retirement to New Malden to face the Kingstonians.
The quality of the wicket was befitting of Battersea’s premier cricket team – to say it was flatter than one of Chris Shone’s puns would not have been an exaggeration. Some Badgers were a little worse for wear following an evening of excess and were relieved when Captain Mackrell won the toss and put the Badgers into bat.
Lee, accused of hogging the innings with some miserly batting this season, proceeded to hog the innings with some miserly batting. The opening partnership with Cloke ended after 25 runs with the next batsman Morse also falling soon after.
This opened the door for Jinksy who had come to the match directly from an early morning swimming session with toddlers. Despite lacking in slumber, he ably supported Lee to his 50. Both batsmen pushed on. The stifling heat did not stop either of them from running semi-quick singles … sometimes even running 3s.
Their partnership eventually came to an end after 126 runs when Jinks was undone by flight and stumped.
Lee, with more sweat falling off his brow than water thunders down the Niagra, was out a few balls later after spooning one to long off causing Candice to shriek like a toad. He trudged off, pleased with the 70-ish runs he’d made … Or so he thought! According to the scorer, he’d made 98 runs. No wonder Candice shrieked.
Any sulking was swiftly curtailed by Ben Cornish erupting at the crease making more runs than last week’s post-test curry which had all spectators running for cover. A few reverse sweeps later, the Badgers had set a total of 260+ runs for the Kingstonians.
Unfortunately, Captain Mackrell had contracted a condition feared by mustelidae – hurty toe. This left Paul Cole as our only seam bowler with everyone else bowling spin.
32 overs of spin later, the Badgers had chalked up another victory by restricting the Kingstonians to about 180 runs with Cole, Terblanche, Cloke and Lee taking a wicket each in the process.
Much of Australia’s recent test cricket demise has been blamed on WAGs but a particular Badger experienced quite the opposite. Bring on tour!