Philly Day 1

First day of the Philly festival and we were all looking forward to the two challenging games ahead of us. The game started on a bad not with two of our players putting in the wrong ground's address into their GPS and so were 20 minutes late in getting to the game. Fortunately, we were able to stall enough to allow them to arrive.

We were playing the ANZACS (champs from the last two years)...which you would think would contain several players from my part of the world. They took the field with a South African and 10 Indians, their one Aussie sitting out this match. Losing the toss, we were sent in and I opened with Keith. Their opening bowling was average medium pace stuff and I hit a couple of 3's from the first over. 2nd over - smash a wide one to a fielder on the edge of the ring, while cursing myself for not placing it a little better, I hear Keith call "Come!". I start to run, he sees that I was slow in reacting, so stops, so I then stop, then realize that we are both now pretty much stuck and so I take off for the far end, hoping for a poor throw. Unfortunately I was caught short by a couple of yards...so a horrible start.

Things did not get much better for the Dogs. Our middle order, except for one nice partnership, did nothing and we were bowled out for 86. We did our best to defend this but a miracle would be needed and none came. I bowled shockingly - probably the worst I have ever bowled - but managed two wickets (one from a horror delivery and another from probably the only good ball I bowled in my spell). So, off to a losing start.

Our second game was against Toronto who had also sent a good team to the festival. Again, losing the toss but this time they batted first. Our bowlers all did a good job, especially Bert and Tony with the new ball (Bert taking a wicket with the fist ball of the match), although we let them get away a bit in the final 10 overs. We were chasing 160 to win, a tricky total but one we should reach if we bat well. Keith and I opened again with Keith taking strike. He proceeded to edge a waist high catch to the keeper from the first ball...dropped! Then 2nd ball, edged to 2nd slip...dropped! Then he settled down a bit. I hit a 3 and then a nice boundary but mistimed one to midwicket to be dismissed for 8. Our middle order dod better in this game but not well enough, falling about 15 runs short. So two losses to start things out ends any chances of making the final, but still some fun days ahead.

Met the festival celebrity after the match - former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes. He could not have been a nicer guy - friendly, funny, talkative and very down to earth. Our team must have chatted to him for about 30 minutes about all manner of subjects - cricket, baseball, travel, IPL etc...and it was a lot of fun. After this, dinner and beer at a local pub for relaxing and taking the piss - many GPS and other navigation related comments were hurled in the direction of James and Tom and then back to the hotel to nurse our sore muscles and joints for tomorrow's game.