We had a laugh. A Friday flight South East from Chengdu to Xiamen, and a nightcap in ‘The Londoner’. Teams had come from near and far to compete and drink in the Xiamen 6s Cricket Tournament.

There were several highlights on the Tournament day itself. A tip and run off the last ball of one game to win. Paps charged down the strip, and it was a mad dash for the cherry.

It is a pretty beautiful place. The Bashers were some of the first to arrive.

What with it being only 2 months since the Hernia operation, Leg Spin was very much the order of the day. Took a couple of wickets which has kept me smiling ever since!

The cricketers were from all parts, but it was really after sundown the true talents of keyboardists, strummers and lyricists emerged.

Coming in from Chengdu, more than half our team was made up of Ringers, but in the name of good sportsmanship we still managed to keep our name ‘The Chengdu Barbarians’, naturally spearheaded by Bamboo and Panda.

The sun shone on the cricket, and we were treated to some pretty decent blue skies.

So pleased Harry got to drink his Gin and Tonic from The Trophy at the end of the night.

GOD BLESS CRICKET.

. 

Just the one cricket match over the month in England over the summer. A kind invite from Dan Edington to join a match of Putney Dads against each other. Having been diagnosed with a mild hernia which would at some point need treating, I hid in the slips for 20 overs as our opponents creamed off 130 odd. Sadly our chase fell a good 40 runs short, and I barely contributed with the bat, but it was good to play at The Bank of England ground again which is so well maintained and a pleasure to have a game on.

The highlight of the game was seeing old acquaintance Olly Slack take to the field at no.9. Bowled through the gate first ball. It happens. “I’ll be talking that ball up for a long time yet”, he said with the inimitable Slack smile broad across his Wandsworth face. Good fun.