HAC Slaughter The Moose

On a pleasant early May afternoon, the HAC welcomed ‘The Moose’ to the Artillery Gardens, for what promised to be an exhibition of gentlemen’s cricket.

In a somewhat concerning start to the game 'The Moose' turned up mostly on time, largely under 35 and with many large bags with wheels. This was quickly compounded by the realisation that the HAC’s last two men were not just late, they weren’t coming.

Used to dealing with minor cricketing setbacks, captain Haines proceeded to do what anyone would with 9 men in a declaration game, and bowl first.

Sportingly the HAC were lent a couple of Meese in the field until Achintha Mendis heroically turned up and put one of them out of their misery. Special thanks goes out both to Achinta and the Meese in question.

The HAC started well with Matt ‘The Hoople’ Harraghy, bowling with beguiling swing and acceptable length, ably backed up by Aniket Das with the new conker from the other end. Together they combined with wolf like precision to remove two Meese from the field of play.

Despite being largely solitary animals, 'The Moose' then began to herd, with some strong middle order contributions and some merciless attacking batting, largely targeting the 20m legside boundary to the law school with a series of agricultural hoy’s over ‘Moose corner’. Lojhan’s returning offspin was one of the unfortunate victims of the aggressive Moose.

The game soon changed however and 'The Moose’s' advance was halted by a combination of experience, trickery, skill and subversive psychology provided by the evergreen Baron Neil-Von-Runkle, whose constant encouragement of the batting Meese to play ‘proper cricket shots’ soon proved to be their downfall. Ending up with a sensational 4 for from his 12 overs, Runkle spun the game back in the 10 man HAC's favour, angering many a Moose.

Mendis, the heroic last minute stand in, then took the Baron’s lead, hustling in and snaring himself three more Meese, dismissing 'The Moose' for 255, which was by some reckoning around 130 under par.

Parry supported ably in the field catching 5 Meese in 5 different positions.

Confident of chasing anything in the 385 region, the HAC made a circumspect and sensible start, playing 'The Moose’s' speedy and unorthodox opening bowlers with a calm air of detachment. Seemingly unexcited about the serenity of the start, Harraghy, now umpiring, decided to spice up the game by triggering Das for a creditable 18.

Parry then proceeded to cut Moose, with Lojhan going through the gears at the other end and the HAC were quickly over half way home. Parry went for a quick fire 48, bringing Walker to the crease who also found his touch quickly.

Lojhan, now the key wicket for the Moose, batted beautifully, accelerating throughout his innings, in both his shotmaking and, surprisingly, his speed between the wickets. He looked untroubled despite nursing a badly mangled thumb and took the HAC past 200 whilst bringing up an outstanding century.

When Walker departed in the 20s, Lojham continued to steer the ship, combining with Haines, then Yankson (briefly), then Mendis to complete a thumping 5 wicket victory for the outnumbered HAC, ending up on 125 red and continuing his outstanding start to the season.

All in all a comprehensive victory against a decent outfit, with cricket mostly the winner (apart from M McGahan, who went at 15.5s for 4 overs)

Joint Men of the Match: H Lojhan, B.N.V Runkle