Opportunity muffed
Thurstan College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 3/6/2016
Brumby's won by 24 runs
Brumby's International PVT (A Team): 147-5
Strongroom: 123
View the Scorecard
Here we were, back in steamy Colombo - it seemed no less hot and sticky than it did when we first arrived. Jon G had left us (and we missed him and his improving Sri Lankan batting) and we were now into the T20 zone - with back to back games in a single day. We were playing two Brumby’s teams, including several players we had encountered in our first three games on tour. Another lovely ground, nice track and good outfield. And as with most of our other tour games, non-stop training and coaching going on beyond the boundary as another gifted generation of Sri Lankan cricketers developed themselves.
First up was probably the weaker of the two teams for the day - well, it is a little difficult to be sure because we didn’t push either opponent hard enough to really find out. Guy was bubbling and belching and struggling with his digestive system, but toughed it out as we inserted the opposition. We actually made a good start with the ball, but this was wasted as we dropped an almost unbelievable 5 (possibly 6 catches), 3 within the first 3 overs. This was just too many chances to offer a team for a 20 overs bash. Looking at the scorecard now it is inconceivable how the top three all made it to 20. Again, too many wides (10 wide deliveries yielding 15 extras as well as almost 2 overs of extra deliveries), apart from which nobody bowled too badly. Being Colombo, the ground was again noisier than the previous few matches, and this made it harder to keep together as a unit in trying circumstances.
Still, we had some belief that we could chase down 147, and things started positively as Tim (in his last game before rushing off to the airport) and Ujjal ticked over above the required rate. Then we lost wickets and stopped scoring - the spinners again pegging us back. Dave G’s innings was typical - simply taking too many deliveries to fail to get going before finding a way of getting out as he watched the ball very slowly roll off his body back on to his stumps (mesmerized and seemingly unable to stretch out his bat or boot to prevent this). Mitch, Jules and especially Jimmy all chipped along in a way that made it even more obvious that this was another seriously missed opportunity for our first victory in Asia. We muffed it.
Written By: D.Gower
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