KCL Round 1 v Al Karam 9th April 2006, at Fuji 2

The signs were good as the Sharks took to the field for their KCL opener at Fuji 2 last Sunday. The bus had hit the road just ten minutes after the 7:30 meet time, Levi and Kazu were apparently so embroiled in a conversation that they missed the stop, otherwise we would have left bang on schedule. The journey had been smooth, the weather conditions perfect for cricket and the late arrival of our opponents, league new boys Al Karam, meant that they had already lost two of their 40 over allocation.

After losing the toss and being sent into the field, Levi and Apu hit the groove immediately and after ten overs the Sharks were very much on top, one batsman back in the pavilion, sorry, sitting on the blue ground sheet, and only 40 runs on the board.
However, your correspondent had put down a chance in the ninth over and that was to prove significant. The reprieved batsman obviously decided it was his day and tucked into the change bowlers with relish. He departed for a far from chanceless but never-the-less well-struck, century. Unfortunately, for the Sharks there was little respite as the new batter managed to up the already sky high run-rate with some help from his friends. The Sharks’own cricket wilted in all areas, and Al Karam closed on a new league record of 369-7

370 in 40 overs was never on, but Sharks debutant number 3, Ankur Desai, batted with obvious class for 60 odd and Apu, who has already emerged as an all-rounder of some promise, hit a quickfire 27 which included the play of the day; a towering six which landed in a huge puddle to send up an impressive plume of water.

On a personal note, before this match I had never been on the receiving end of a total of more than 300 in 36 seasons of club cricket and I was keen not to suffer a first ever 200 run defeat either. Luckily, the last three wickets put on 50 before the Sharks were dismissed for 177 and a 192 run loss.

Not a match to forget, but one to learn from.

By Lee P.