In the second over Mincat was bowled by their top fast bowler: 12-1.
Christopher and I took the attack to their opening bowlers, until, after a sparkling innings (he has certainly cemented his place as an opener) Christopher was bowled: 35-2.
Carol and I continued to push on aggressively, until she was caught by first slip: 87-3.
ILTV hit one magnificent six, but was caught trying for another: 104-4.
Richard was bowled: 122-5. Only 14 overs had been bowled, and already we'd lost half our team - my prediction that 30-30 matches should see our whole team bowled out looked likely to be fulfilled.
Our new team member, Ad, came in next. Frankly he struggled against hostile bowling, and was soon caught by the slips: 127-6. More time in the nets will, I'm sure, bring benefits.
Ivy came in, went for a suicidal second run, and was run out: 128-7.
This brought Rob in (to the confusion of the scorers, who now had an East at each end) just in time to see his captain celebrate the first half-century of the new season.
After nearly running his Skipper out twice, Rob was caught-and-bowled: 176-8.My wicket fell shortly after that: 180-9.
This left our tail-enders to make a magnificent stand. They failed, Vicus being caught-and-bowled: 180-10.
After an interesting tea, provided by our hosts (biltong sandwiches, boerewors, gesmoorde vis and potjiekos) we trooped out to the field, confident that we had set a target that we could defend - indeed I pointed out to our bowlers that we need not bowl the opposition out, just keep them to scoring less than a run a ball, and we would win.Our openers certainly did precisely what I'd asked - after ten overs, the South Africans had only managed to score 12 runs.
I then brought Vicus back for his second spell, and he achieved a caught-and-bowled: 12-1.
In his next over he manged to clean bowl his man: 12-2.
We reached 15 overs, the halfway point, with just 15 runs on the board - but with 8 wickets in hand, it was clear that the opposition could afford to take extravagant shots - which indeed they did, sixes starting to be struck.
After 18 overs, I brought on our final bowling pair, to the annoyance of the scorers, as once again they had an East at each end.
I deliberately gave the ball plenty of air, encouraging them to hit the ball over the ropes - I went for a few sixes, but eventually the ball flew to Rob, who held on to it: 45-3.
Sadly five more catches were dropped by the female members of our team (naming no names). Catching practice next week, ladies!
Eventually Mincat held onto a catch off Rob's bowling: 81-4.
Richard also took one: 82-5.
In the final over Rob took another catch off my bowling: 93-6.
I bowled two more batsmen, and the match ended with them on 93-8.
We won.
