This renamed fixture of Collier 1st Eleven V British Airways was a one sided affair.
The Collier team scratched its way to 152 runs in 35 overs with Sir Collier chasing his 1000 runs for the season. The rest of us were mere spectators as he continued his fantastic form, finally falling just one, yes, just one short of another 100.
On the basis of how the World’s Biggest Airline chased our reasonable total, one had to thank our lucky stars we were not put into the field first. Who knows how many we would have had to chase. 400?
So, you will not be surprised to read, that BA completed the task in 15 overs with some fine batting and particular credit going to a 1st team played called in to strengthen the team from the national Indian side. I promise you, this guy looked and played like Tendulka.
Whilst this gifted batsmen had all the shots and played them with some pizzazz and style, he had clearly never faced a over from our only wicket taker “Mr loopy thro ‘em up in the air and give it some flight Wright”
The ball in question, that gave Rapley some 2 minutes to adjust his clothing and make the stumping, was a class act. If Dunbar had such skills the email home would have been 3 pages detailing the whole event. Not since 2004 had the immortal words “Come to me” been screamed with such delight.
Excitement started to pulsate through the team when Wright stepped up for his second over. Could this feat be repeated? Yes it could, and yes it was. Caught square leg. Another batsmen completely bamboozled by the spin and loop.
Resting on his laurels Wright took himself off, with the back broken, of top order BA batting line up.
However, there was depth in the talents of our flying friends, and with the help of some scattergun efforts from our premier all star bowlers, the game was almost up. In the last rites, seven slips took their positions behind the stumps and Dunbar, was given, what surely would be the last over….and indeed it was.
A thumping, but at least the kill was quick and efficient.