WOMBATS WALK THROUGH ADORE, EDGE CLOSER TO KCL SEMIS

by Alex Koolhof

The Tokyo Wombats took another step forward towards a semi-final berth with a hard fought win over a persistant Adore in Fuji.

The usual run-of-the-mill smutty schoolboy talk dominated the in van conversations while Obaachans with fluoro green hair did their best to convince us nocturnals that we were on our way to the circus.

Clowning around however, would have to wait till nightfall, as a scorching hot day greeted both teams at the ground, however the ground itself was in not so hot condition. Pools of muddy water dotted the river end, our Japanese opponents leading a desperate attempt to mop up what water could be scooped up by the ever versatile gumboot. Where was a super-sopper when needed? More farming jocularity unfolded as a few wombats commandered the ride-on mower to perhaps rival Chucky’s infamous circle work!

Captain Chuck won the toss and elected to bat, sending in 2 of his finest warriors to open the order, in Jarrad and Rich. Rich ‘Tugga’ Conway was hungry for runs, and this Fuji belter was gagging for it.

Shortly after start of play however, a superb diving catch at point off an uppish slash had the Tasmanian Wombat back in the burrow. Chuck Jones strode to the crease and put his head down, playing some rather nice shots, while his partner at the other end found it much harder going. Had Jarrad, the ever consistent performer and highly superstitious Perthite been jinxed by pre-match total reckonings from within his team? Jarrad dismissed for 15. Ginger Meggs look alike Andy Hall entered, but only to score one.

Shacksy was looking the goods, but only managed 6, while Rich Cosway continued his good form with the bat for a well deserved 21. ‘Chunky’ waved his cleaver around like a muslim butcher, only to be unluckily run out. Zulu and Dave had a tumultuos partnership, that saw Zulu thwacking the Wombats second six of the day. At the other end, the Doctor was keen as curry for runs, calling the Z-man through with boisterous shouts of ‘Come-on!’, somewhat resembling ‘our Lleyton’. Zulu knocked up 14, Dave 5, and the Axe man chipped in with a few timely boundaries for his 14 nearing the end of the innings with myself adding 3 to the total of 155 off our alotted 40 overs.

Adore in reply offered little resistance until a fighting partnership between Brady and Yamada, scoring 32 and 29 respectively. Curly Gason and yours truly restricted Adore’s scoring to a trickle, Curly unlucky not to have a wicket from only his second ball as a catch goes down in the slips. Apparantely, slips fielders need at least a few overs to be ready for catches off opening bowlers! I picked up 2 clean bowled, and Ian was rewarded for his efforts with a juggled catch behind the stumps between keeper and slip fieldsman. Another catch in the slips of myself to Chuck, and along came the Black Nikka. Bowling with good pace, Nikka snared 3 wickets, the first involving a Boon-esque dive from Tugga from short leg in belly-flopper fashion to take a great catch. 2 more victims fell to Nikka and a sharp run-out from that man Tugga again had Adore reeling at 8 for 42, perhaps facing a lowest ever KCL score drubbing. To their credit, they dug in and showed gutsy fighting spirit to take the score over 100. Wombats grew restless, occassionally glancing up at the setting sun, or the traffic jammed highway, all the while wondering at what hour would see us home? The last 2 breakthroughs finally came however as Shacksy tweaked out a tight 6 over spell, realizing a stumping with Dino who whipped off the bails in no time. The last wicket fell to Ian with a much deserved LBW scalp. Axe and Chunky also bowled well throughout the course of the innings.

A good result of course for the Wommies, however improvement needed in that crucial slump period that we so often end up in! Chuck took honours for Man of the Match with a fine knock of 42, and 2 catches. (Captaincy, as always was superb) A rousing rendition of ‘Glorious, Victorious…’, sung by all, was a fitting end to the days play. Thanks to Anton for the jolly good umpiring all day, to Jarrad for the pearler of a tent, to Ian for driving and to Adore Cricket Club for a match played in great spirit.

In true Wombat fashion, the return journey had its classic moments. Nikka couldn’t handle his squid dreds and mayo, but he scoffed down his fair share of tim tams and twisties just for good measure! Tugga was tiring, the Doctor slipped away soon enough and Chucky joined him not too long after. Rich definitely put himself into contention for the Golden Thong award this year with a short but sweet conversation with Ruth out the window. Everyone else got to meet Ruth aswell – Barbecue flavoured hell-chunks spraying most members in the van, causing upmost confusion and mayhem. Rich’s techno-coloured yawn has no doubt re-cemented his newly acquired nickname of ‘Chunky’.