Howzat!. Brenda Munitich

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      Martin and Jaco grumbled a bit about the wet field and he called them closer in. At least there they weren’t actually standing in water.

      The first over was a disaster for Oaklands. Lucky was first in and was clean bowled by the second ball Fizz bowled. The next batsman was completely bamboozled by a bouncer, ducked under it but made the mistake of sticking his bat up like a periscope. The ball flew off the edge straight to the gully. Peter grabbed an easy catch and threw the ball high in the air, celebrating.

      Oaklands were nought for two wickets. It’s too easy! Brian thought; strange things can happen in a cricket match!

      The Saints were still slapping each other on the back when Rob Evans came in at number three. Fizz bowled him another bouncer for good measure, but he swayed out of its way. He blocked the next few and then ran a quick single.

      Unbidden, the thought crept into Brian’s mind: I’m glad I’m not facing Fizz’s bouncers. And then, Stop it! Don’t think about it.

      Brendan bowled a good over and Rob played and missed, played and missed. The ball skidded past his stumps a few times but never hit them. Even Rob seemed surprised that his wickets were still in one piece. He got an edge to a good ball and ran a couple. No matter what Fizz or Brendan did he stuck there. The runs mounted up.

      “He’s not really a good bat either,” Fizz said to Brian. “The ball just doesn’t seem to get to his wicket.”

      “Too many runs on the board,” said Brian, with a glance at the scoreboard. “I think you and Brendan should bowl all your overs on the trot.”

      Fizz looked at Brian in surprise. “We usually bowl three, sometimes four, overs each. Then we can bowl at the end.”

      “Look,” Brian said. “They had nought for two wickets. Now they’re 30 for two. And neither of them bats all that well. We should get their wickets. So let’s use our best bowlers.”

      But they didn’t get any more wickets, and after 10 overs Oaklands were 45 for two.

      Have I made the right decision? Brian wondered, and his uncertainty grew when Martin yelled, “It’s stupid not to change the bowlers!”

      Brian put Pauline on to bowl. She was nervous and the first two balls skidded well past the leg stump. Brian was astonished that the Oaklands umpire didn’t call wides. The rest of the over was just as bad. Oaklands didn’t score but the Saints didn’t get any wickets either.

      “Sorry,” Pauline muttered, “I can’t get a proper grip on the ball.”

      Brian and Pauline examined the ball. It was wet and heavy.

      Brian thought, Oaklands will have the same problem when we bat, and tossed the ball to Martin without much hope.

      Martin didn’t bowl too badly and the score stuck on 45 for two. He began to scowl darkly. “I should get a wicket,” he said. “You should have let me bowl earlier.”

      Brian ignored him and, turning to Pauline, said, “Bowl straight, and forget about trying to spin the ball. And go round the wicket just for a change in angle.”

      Things didn’t get any better for the Saints and the match limped along. Martin didn’t seem to care much about how he was bowling. He was chucking the ball at the batsman without much thought. He’s not a good team man, Brian realised.

      After a few more overs he took Pauline and the muttering Martin off, and Jaco and he took over in the double change. Pauline was obviously relieved.

      “Sorry,” she said. “I can bowl better than this.”

      Jaco nearly had Rob Evans caught off an inside edge, but the ball went hard to Wimpy’s glove and didn’t stick.

      “Idiot!” shouted Martin. “Got butter on your gloves?”

      At the over change Brian walked over to him. “I hope for your sake you don’t drop a catch!”

      “What are you going to do about it?” Martin bristled.

      “Nothing. Nothing at all. Just remember everyone drops catches some time.”

      The runs were slow in coming and after twenty overs the score had crept up to only 50. Then Jaco took a brilliant, low catch off his own bowling and out went Rob Evans.

      Brian gave a sigh of relief. He wasn’t bowling that well himself. The ball was bouncing all over the place.

      Everyone crowded round, slapping Jaco on the back. “Well done mate!”

      This seemed to fire Jaco up and he bowled really well for the rest of his overs.

      Oaklands hardly scored any more runs and after 25 overs and the end of their innings, they had scored 55 for three.

      “Fifty six! That’s all we’ve got to make! 2.2 runs per over! Should be easy,” David said. “I probably won’t even get to bat.”

      JP and Peter padded up.

      “Where’s your kit?” Brian asked Robyn sharply. “You must pad up as well.”

      Robyn looked around rather vaguely. “Oh – I left it in the bus.”

      Brian turned away, irritated. “You СКАЧАТЬ