Scorecard
Fine Session Part 1
Fine Session Part 2

Friday

Twenty-odd brave souls gathered at the Mango Tree ahead of the annual weekend of cricket and carnage in the Brac.

A couple of quick drinks were sunk thanks largely to the ‘scull head’ (whatever happened to that by the way?) and then it was off to the airport. The check-in went surprisingly smoothly despite me attempting to check in a 90 pound Esky but after a bit of bottle shuffling we were soon on the plane waiting as the baggage handlers loaded the bags, wardrobes, and human remains.

In the absence of Carey, Red and Wetherill, the flight over was pretty quiet and uneventful. Cat and Lucy made friends with a lady smelling of the 11 secret herbs and spices, Jimmy Jimrocks practiced his southern accent with a fellow Popeyes fan, and Rotsey got denied entry to the mile-high club.

Once we landed we grabbed out bags (one of which was now dripping) and headed to the Brac Reef Resort. To say it was a step up from last year’s accommodation would be a bit of an understatement – whether it would stay that way after two dozen Greenies had been through it would remain to be seen.

It was then off to the Captain’s Table for a meal and some karaoke. Once seated at our usual table the beers and blasters flowed quickly and, by the time an impromptu fine session and bottle of Sambuca was called for, everyone was feeling pretty jolly.

Dickie ran the pretty rowdy fine session and kept ORDER!!, and by the time the Sambuca was gone, everybody had had a taste, including the umpire, who also received some food to the face delivered airmail from Jimmy’s end of the table.

We then moved out near the chlorinated swamp for some karaoke. Highlights include Lucy’s rendition of Kokomo, an Aussie rendition of Down Under, an a-cappella version of American Pie and Tex’s indecipherable screaming of Toto’s Africa.

The drinks were still coming thick and fast – Lucy helped out behind the bar while the rest of us walked, danced and spilt stuff all over it.

Inevitably the pool began to become a factor and, after Stu took an involuntary swim with his Blackberry, it was on for young and old. It was probably a blessing it was dark as nobody could tell the pool hadn’t been cleaned since Paloma.

We rolled out of the Captain’s Table and headed for home, stopping only to pick up a shirtless Jimmy and to drop off Cat who felt like finishing the night with a two mile sprint.

Getting Jimmy out of the car was a lot harder than getting him in. A luggage trolley was called for but that only served to deposit him down the hill and across the road along with Tex and Dogga.

Lucy started cracking the whip and Jimmy finally learnt to walk again and went off for a lie down while the rest of us headed to the bar for some table tennis and more drinks before heading to bed. Geoff ‘Ladykiller’ Baker, who had spent all night hitting on the Brac’s most eligible ladies, passed out alone on the his floor meaning his roommate Dogga cockblocked in with Dickie and Karen.


Saturday

After breakfast we assembled at the ground – Texas leading by example having to be kicked out of bed at 11.30am for the midday start. Fortunately he redeemed himself by winning the toss and electing to bat first.

During the visualization session the night before Texas said he wanted to defend at least 380 – probably wishful thinking but you never know on a ground as small and fast as the Brac.

Dickie and Pang put on an opening stand of 22 before Dickie was runout for 9, meaning not only did he have to taste the fine bottle but also put $150 on the bar after a bet with Tex the previous night.

After Pango was bowled for 21, Rotsey and Tommy put on 82 runs before Tommy was caught in the deep for 53 off about 20 balls.

Dogga came and went for 10, then Wareo and Rotsey put on 42 before Rotsey was caught for a Clarke-ish 50. Texas, fresh from his lie down in the van put the long handled Laver to work, smashing sixes from one end while Wareo was cracking fours from the other.

Tex was eventually run out for 43 off 20-odd with the score on 254 and with Wareo batting well a score over 300 still looked likely. Unfortunately the heroics against Oneness a couple of weeks back weren’t repeated and we managed 297 off our 40 overs. Wareo batted well for his 46 before being run out, I got 7, Baker 5, Quin 9 and Jerry 3 not out.

Early wickets were the key despite the Brac needing more than 7 an over from the outset. Dogga got the breakthrough bowling their opener for 7 while Coates at the other end was swinging for the fences.

Sohan edged his way to 21 before being freakishly run out by Wareo with a stop with his feet and a direct hit aiming at one stump.

Baker and Tommy then bowled well in tandem – Rotsey backing up the bowlers well taking two freakish catches off Baker and one from Tommy to leave the Brac looking a little shaky at 5/159.

Coates and Gayle then put on a 101 run stand, most of those coming in sixes deposited on and over the buildings surrounding the ground.

Wareo then entered the attack and bowled Gayle for 28 with the score on 260, and despite the Brac only needing a further 38 to win off 10 or so overs, we were still an outside chance at scoring an unlikely victory.

After a pep talk at drinks from The Passion Stevens the Greenies applied some pressure and I managed to land a couple on the pitch and get two wickets to leave the Brac on 8/261.

Each new batsmen looked worse than the last and we were well and truly still in up until the last ball.

The fairytale ending didn’t happen though. Coates and Levy batted their side to victory with 3 overs to spare - Coates batting through the innings to remain 153 not out.

It was a disappointing end to a game that we probably should have won had we held a few crucial catches.

We headed poolside tothe Brac Reef Resort for a monumental fine session, which featured one of the worst fine bottles in living memory courtesy of Johnny Pang.

Afterwards we descended on the bar to wreak some Greenies havoc with a brief stop at Stu’s room for a Jimmy and Wiki disco party wake-up call(thanks again for leaving the door open mate).

Table tennis was played, Dogga was hit on by a Cougar (or vice-versa), bars were danced on, Jimmy found a bird’s nest, I got my fro brushed and the smell of burnt pubic hair filled the air. Dickie showed off his one dance move, promised the pierce his cat’s ear and then started serenading a 5 foot seahorse named Daisy – pretty run of the mill stuff really.


Sunday

The next morning those who didn’t get the early flight back checked out and converged on the bar and pool for a few quiet beers and mudslides.

India, Carmel and I did a quick tour of the Bluff and Redsie’s cave and also checked out a nice little place called La Esperanza. It may be a good accommodation option next year if wanted posters are hanging in the airport with my face on them.

Thanks all for a great weekend.