VIEW FROM THE PERCH

Warmest greetings to all

Forage around in your drawers for the old Queen greatest hits LP, plonk the needle on "We are the Champions" and turn the knob up full bore - despite all those weak double entendres, we've done it again...

20/20 Champions of Thailand 2008 - Siam CC Parrots!!

Yep, Captain Justin's juggernaut keeps on jugging along...

As you will recall we put aside our apparent booze ban and still qualified for the Guinness Cup 20/20 final on Saturday the 12th of July.

We came, we saw and we conquered - although it did take a nailbiting last over, a scurrying Scully and a galloping Gurpreet to see the boys over the line with 2 balls to spare.

Justin won the toss and put them in. "Them" being BCC who we've had a healthy rivalry with this year. However the BCC team we played seemed to have a lot of new faces and some faces that looked exactly like players from other teams. Me suspects many a ring in... not a major crime, albeit in a charity tournament, compared to the usual antics over here, but certainly motivation for the avians to put in a little extra.

Strunky and DC opened as they have the whole campaign. DC bowled beautifully, causing the umpire, Wiggo, to remark after the match that it's the best he's ever seen anyone bowl - or something like that, I was a bit pissed during that bit - possibly not the only one judging by those comments

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Crackers came into the game under an injury cloud but, he's no flake is our Crackers and was keen to twirl a few down despite a rather pinky calf with a crunchie sound to it. He bowled brilliantly and skittle d a couple too. Moro ver he kept the runs down and took a spell before the Cadburys puns got too ridiculous.

Chalee snared a wicket (and what a pleasure it's been to play with Chalee again, batted like a crab though),and Gurpreet and Princy helped finish the innings in style - with 2 consecutive sixes!

The Prez took a sharp catch at mid on, Richard Mac gave his all as usual, and young Pup (fielding for Crackers) took the catch of the match after juggling a "swirling over the shoulder, running around in circles" type effort in the covers. Captain and wicketkeeper Justin gloved the ball very well and started using his feet again - particularly useful when chasing after byes.

The field placings were spot on and the bowling changes, (apart from one over from the reserve keeper, which the cricket gods obviously thought was good for a laugh and willed a full toss inside edge onto middle stump - "phew, that'll do me thanks skip"), were well thought out and excellently adopted. Well led mate

145 to win in 20 overs

The Skipper and Prez began our run chase and in the first over the Prez was adjudged caught behind on what must have been a feather of a nick and one of the more potent parrots was alas lost to the cause. Kiwi had earlier asked Justin if he could bat like Brendon McCullum. Justin resisted the obvious reply of "yeah sure...in your dreams" and repeated that wickets and the retention of them, were key in this game.

I took that as a "yes" and proceeded to play a vintage McCullum innings - hit the second ball for six over cover and then promptly went out next ball trying something similar - total bloody crap!!

Unfortunately Chalee also got out cheaply and we're 3 for bugger all in the 3rd over.

This brought Scully to the crease to join his captain, and it's here the match began to change. The boys put their heads down and played some sweet shots, kept the scoreboard ticking and rescued our runrate.

Justin was out for a captain's knock of 30 odd with some classical Justin strokes.

Strunky joined the indefatiguable Scully and the lads got us to drinks after 10 overs 70 for 4.

Upon the resumption of play Strunky hit the first 2 balls for huge sixes about as far as Tiger Woods hits a pitching wedge - a fkn long way - and the momentum turned back to the Parrots. Our progress was halted when Strunky holed out for 20 odd and DC fell to an "Autumn leaf" type delivery, bowled by a ball that even his 3 year old would have middled.

Princy strolled to the wicket with purpose and determination written all over his face - someone had got to him with a marker pen while he dozed - and proceeded to smash two huge sixes in quick succession, just what was required. He and Scully put on 40 odd to take us to the brink of victory.

The BCC bowlers actually bowled the last 5 overs very well and when Princy was bowled it was left to his brother Gurpreet and that champion Kiwi allrounder, Scully, to see the lads scramble to a 2 wicket win with 2 balls to go.

Cue: signs of delirium, wild shrieking, and excitable gibberish as we were finally allowed to open the eskies and we congratulated Scully and Gurpreet without spilling a drop.

Scully was undoubtedly Man of the Match with 46 not out to go with some very tidy bowling and Justin in his first campaign as captain wrote himself into the record books receiving the Guinness Cup, symbol of supremacy for hit and giggle cricket in the Kingdom.

We celebrated with the Southerners who'd vociferously supported us throughout our innings and even put on a streaker to entertain the flock - and they reckon the Parrots play up! - cheers fellas.

Few beers, bit of a yarn, then back to the Green Parrot where, to our pleasant surprise, the Siam CC Patron, the Colonel was on hand to officially present the Guinness Cup to the Club and lock it in our ever burgeoning trophy cabinet.

Overall a great month's cricket with about half a dozen new players experiencing cricket Parrot style and some brilliant individual efforts complimenting a strong team ethic, seamlessly conducted by Justin.

Well done everybody, Parrots rule the roost again!!

Thanks to Pete from the Sukhumvit Eye for the photos.

Of course this Saturday (26th July) we will be celebrating this landmark victory and indeed a superb season all round at our annual...

Last word:

CHAMPIONS !!!!!




Cheers and good health

Kiwi