For the third time within 8 days, I travelled down to my beloved City of Nijmegen. With the worst type of weather imaginable, we were determined to fight our way back to the top. Opening batsmen Steve and Alok held back for just 2 overs, expecting the bowling to be improving. Then Steve stopped thinking, and showed us the right stuff. First delivery off the 3rd over went straight ahead for six and many would follow. Alok fell victim to just one of those rare fielding efforts with 20 runs in the kitty. Rik didn't really enjoy himself, put on a quick 11 nonetheless before he played on. Subsequently Dolf and Steve built a terrific partnership of 105. Steve (75) alas made the one mistake, picked the wrong fielder, the one with safe hands, and was caught on the long off boundary.
Badar had made a very good impression over the past few matches. He even played one for the seconds at the start of the season. Badar took over while Dolf played second fiddle, not realizing he was nearing a century. The way score was kept can't be approved of, but who's complaining. It's pretty tough with a scoring rate like Badar's. Only in the second last over news got through to the pitch that our captain was on 99. Badar had just passed 50 but Dolf wasn't given enough deliveries to fulfill the mission. Just short of 300, time was up. Badar 58*, Dolf 100*.
We changed the scoring book around in order to bargain a lunch off Quick's but no sirrie, no lunch today. Pretty stunning, bearing in mind the wonderful reception the two matches at Quick's just before, on thursday and sunday. After we agreed upon a total of 279, knowing Quick wouldn't get close, Badar and Daoud opened the bowling. Weather was real lousy by now. Drizzle, no sunlight whatsoever. And rubbing the ball kept us most busy. Badar slided over the pitch with his second ball of the innings and some of us, er, those of the heavier build, had a hard time with these conditions. Walter Prescod (59) saved Quick from humiliation. After 30 overs, Quick surrendered after reaching one-hun-dred ... Third innings went pretty well as several players of Quick's first and third XI dropped by and we spent a very good time with them. Three weeks later I was able to go through all of the overs in the scorebook and the fourth over of Tiermanna's where the runs scored against went back from 22 to 17, with five added in the over ... Dolf's got a century there and I'm not cheating you. Not sure what will come out of this officially but let's celebrate anyhow. Cheers, Dolf!
Maarten Schiethart