In an attempt to save the world's forests A4 now replaces B5 so, unless your name is Todd, you'll have to fold carefully before stuffing this issue in that old shoe box.
But, first of all, just stretch out on the tatami, pour yourself a Steinlager, and reminisce on   all those missed chances.
 

What a gorgeous day: blue skies, 31?C, sunny, dry, still and not so humid. A Kytes only double-wicket game was organised with each pair receiving 6 overs, 5 runs being deducted for every wicket   conceded.
The pitch, softened up by a short visit from typhoon no.5, was left alone, so another strip was found at right angles to the normal one, but the heavy growth of grass led to a very low bounce with which  all had to contend.
Todd and a beginner, Matsushita-san, did a kind of dummy run so everyone could get warmed up. Two   balls were lost in the Abe as pukeman went on the rampage. Matsushita showed some surprisingly good technique for his first at-bat and when we learned that he is a tennis coach we began to understand why.
When Antony and Kevin went in all were nicely loosened up and the pair faced a batch of decent   bowling. In particular Mark, with good pace and accuracy, was difficult to get away. However the running    between the wickets was faultless and short singles were stolen from most deliveries. Despite being bowled  by Neil from two consecutive deliveries, Antony and Kev notched up 19 runs which set the target; not an  easy one given the conditions.
Next up were Mark and Ichikawa-san who also faced some tight bowling. Whenever they seemed to get   going they would find some way of getting out, the unluckiest being a ricochet from Robert's pads that  produced a stumping. Net score -1.
R-G M and Neil were the next pair in (with Kevin ably undertaking the keeping duties) and they  also found runs hard to come by. Neil connected with a few, but wickets fell, including a stunning     direct-hit run out from Antony, and they ended on a round zero.
t was a similar story for Malcolm and Skip. Although runs were hit their hopes were dashed by no  less than 6 clean bowleds with Robert leading the way. A 7th wicket went when Takashi dived to his right to grasp a firm hook from Skip inches from the ground, a super catch, and the net score was 2.
This left the lefties, Todd and Takashi. Toddy showed us that his previous display had been no  fluke as he proceeded to spew the ball all over the place again. Takashi joined in and in no time they were well ahead of the target. In fact they didn't lose a wicket till the final over, an avoidable run out, and they ran out undisputed winners with a net score of 50.
This beautiful Sunday had seen another cracking day of Kytes' cricket, proving that we don't  always need opposition. Yoshida's of course followed, and it was great to have Kyoko with Arthur and     Belle, and Bruce and Yoko with Tetsu come along.
 
 

The pagan Captain Slog is still at it. The sun must have got to him again as the autumnal equinox   of Sept 23rd roused him into verse once more. This time it was more of a song than a chant that your     editor was forced to endure, as Slog burst into his office suite and bawled the following, completely off-pitch (with due apologies to a certain Daniel Boone; not the one with a beaver on his Uncle Ned):

*Hi! Hi! Hi! Beautiful Sunday,
This is my, my, my beautiful day,
When we play, play, play cricket on Sunday,
Oh my, my, my, what a beautiful day".
 
 

In a landmark poll the Kytes CC has voted to admit women into its club for the first time in its entire 3- year history. There was an unprecedented 10% turnout and the required two thirds majority was reached, with two members voting for, and one against.
In order to track down the dissenting voice our investigative reporter was immediately alerted. He  went straight to Todd and asked why he had voted against. It transpires that the paceman had misread the    motion and had understood it to be, *Do you believe Kytes members should admit they are women?'
Further investigation also revealed that Janne had spoilt his ballot paper by obliterating it with  some babe's telephone number, and that R-G M posted his to Lord's.
It also came to light that one of the votes in favour came from our Druid supporter who asked the   pertinent question, "Who else is supposed to collect the cow-dung?" Somehow the other vote came from  Hiroko. We're not sure which one but, since they're the only ones who appear to know what is going on     during the games, it seems fitting that one of them cast the deciding vote.
Many of the Kytes were jubilant at the outcome. "It's a great day for cricket", blubbered Skip. "It's a great day for my pecker" added Nick, though Randy was heard whining, "Why now? Why now?"
So the flaps of the Randitent are now open to women too. Sceptics may see it as a step in the wrong direction, but the reformists can point out that no-one ever gave a toss before and that women have   always been an integral part of the club. Still now it's official, and all members are now free to have as  many women in the club as they wish.
 
 

With many regulars missing and a player short, it was a somewhat depleted team that left Shizuoka   station at 8.50am for the 2 hour drive down the Tomei to Nagoya. Having twice been visited by Nagoya CC  this season it was our chance to reciprocate on another beautiful, sunny, dry and still day, 25??C, perfect for cricket.
The Nagoya team now have a new home ground, still in the Miyoshi area, but at a different school.   Sadly there's barely a blade of grass in the hard gravel, but at least the mat is still around and, although the bounce was a little soft, it was consistent. The rough fielding conditions were not going to   be easy for either side.
Skip won the toss and elected to bowl, plumping for an opening attack of Neil and Takashi. There were only three regular bowlers, so it was planned that Todd would be pitted against the middle order,     proven strikers of anything loose.
In the second over Neil took the first wicket with his first delivery, as Martin pouched a smart catch at short cover. It was not long before Takashi claimed the second as debutant Niall made another  very safe catch at deep mid-on. Both our openers had adapted well to the conditions and were pitching the ball well up. Overpitching was certainly preferable to anything short, which begged to be smashed. The Sri  Lankans eventually got going with a few well-cracked shots, and anything that pierced the field skimmed at  speed over the gravel to the boundary.
One of those characteristic c&b's from Neil brought the Kytes back into the game, and two excellent 7-over spells from the openers culminated in a well-deserved second wicket for Takashi, clean     bowled with a pearler. He had bowled with clever variation and rare control, undoubtedly his best bowling   for a couple of seasons.
Time for Todd. Most of the shine was lost overs ago, but Todd adapted well too, and bowled with accuracy from the start. It was Francis however, at the other end, who struck next as a carefully     delivered beamer was swotted straight to Skip. It wasn't pretty, and there was some controversy as to whether it was a no-ball or not, but it was given out, so out it was.
Martin was next to bowl but an inauspicious start saw him struggling to find any rhythm. Thebatsmen, whilst never dominating, were all wading in with decent scores and, after 17 overs, the score was  89/5, a balanced position. The fielding had been generally very good and once Martin came to grips with Francis' cruise missile returns intended for Robert, the situation got even better. Bizen made a number of  sharp stops, Ichikawa and Todd some fine throws, Niall too, but the flow of runs was never contained.
Martin gradually found some line and length, as the Nagoyans continued to throw the bat, and was rewarded with a wicket, St Francis taking a superb over-the-shoulder catch.
Todd weighed in with a wicket himself, an lbw of all things, in a fine spell. We were running out of bowlers though. Bizen had an over, bagging a wicket as Francis held on to a beauty at square leg. In     fact all the catches had been snapped up until Skip stubbed his finger on a stinging slash. The wounded  digit ballooned to the point where he would later be unable to hold a bat.
Martin, meanwhile, forced another lbw decision, before Niall turned his arm, getting some rough treatment from the Nagoyan tail-enders who were scoring faster than at any time in the innings. A     well-judged outfield catch from Todd (he moved this time) gave Martin his third wicket and Nagoya were all  out for 192 with 4 of the 35 overs remaining.
Over a rather tasty biriani the batting tactics were considered. The plan was to draw the sting  from Nagoya's pacy opening pair, leaving the way clear for the Kytes' middle order to mount an attack     later on . But Azuman and Reez had other ideas. They fairly ripped into the batting. Only Takashi looked to be in any kind of form until Martin and Todd were eventually able to stabilise things. The trouble was that we were already 17/5 ,and the Sri Lankans could afford to relax a little.
Some respectability was added as Martin and Todd mixed dogged defence with a few well-struck  shots. Niall also displayed some firm resilience as well as some hefty blows, ending not out on 16, equal   top-scorer with Martin. At 69/8, with Skip indisposed, the innings was closed and Nagoya CC secured  victory by a crushing 123 runs.
An indication of the way the game went can be summed up by a glance at the scorebook, revealing     that nearly all the Nagoyan batsmen were caught, whereas the Kytes were virtually all bowled or lbw.  MVP:Takashi.
Despite the heavy loss it had been a highly enjoyable game in great weather against very     hospitable opposition. Even though the ground was too abrasive for comfort a 4 game series, 2 home, 2     away, was discussed for next season. It is greatly hoped that the 2?5 games this season can revitalise the  13 year competitive friendship between the teams.
 

Play was still underway at the ACO. A maiden had been bowled by your undercover reporter to a characteristically stubborn R-G M, who had let precious little slip about what he puts in the lunch-time    curry. At the other end Takashi had dozed through another maiden, so there was a second chance to have a tilt at the two-legged amphibian.
The interrogation continued as your investigator strode in to deliver the first question, straight  and true.
"So what's in it then? Just spill the beans, will you?" was the plea.
"Huh, beans. Try chick peas instead". Touch!. The musketeer played what can only be described as a  classic forward defensive stroke, which ended with a challenging follow through.
"You English know nothing about cooking", he scoffed as the blade was flourished with some panache.
Nevertheless there was an embryo of hope for your reporter: chick peas; an unexpected  breakthrough. Buoyed with this soup on the next delivery was placed in precisely the same spot.
"What else is there? Stop mincing around."
"Mince, you're starting to get it, aren't you?" A neat half-volley to point, where a hungry looking Kev was planted. The oyster was starting to open up.
At this point, a voice was heard from point. To everyone's surprise Kev called for a helmet. Surely he didn't feel in too much danger.
"I'm starving and I don't want to listen to all this crap about the curry", was the elegant explanation.
Anyhow your intrepid reporter really felt that he was getting stuck in to the spicy goo at long  last. Chick peas, mince, the enthusiasm was returning. A cunning question was plucked out of nowhere for    the third delivery.
"Ever tried chicken legs?" Would he be foxed by the leg-spinner?
This shot in the dark from the bowler led to another from the batsman as the Gallic gourmet got a thick outside edge and the ball squeezed between 5th slip and gully.
"Yes!" shouted the chef d'equipe.
"No!" disagreed non-striker Takashi, suddenly snapping out of his trance (What did he know about the curry anyway?).
Your eager reporter, spotting a chance, had a quick word in Takashi's ear on the way back to his mark.
"Chicken legs?"
"No sledging, thank you!" We turned to face the solid figure of umpire Bruce preventing any foul  play, and this was from Isetan's Santa. The irony of an Aussie roasting a POM, who was grilling a Japanese  was completely lost on the Gaul, who was still simmering at the striker's end.
"I said "Yes", didn't you hear? I don't want any ducks this season." Hold on a moment, we've got something here. Sometimes the master of the gunge includes chicken legs, as well as chick peas and mince,   but no duck.

After all this fracas there were still three deliveries left. Let's stick with the sly stuff; this  time a googly.
"How about pork?" Your reporter realised too late that googlies weren't his forte and the ball went careering down leg-side bouncing off a hook, peg or spigot that secured a strap, flap or flange, and   flew straight into keeper Neil's gloves.
"Wide!" shouted the batsman, as the umpire was about to step back and open his arms. !Well, it was  well wide of the mark", continued the Frenchman. So another deduction: no pork; but still it left a     million other things that could be in the spicy slop.
For some wholly inexplicable reason your frustrated columnist threw caution to the wind and decided to try a flipper, but it was another delivery that he hasn't quite perfected.
"Well, what about dolphin then?" The ball squirted out from those long digits just before the point of delivery, flew in a sweet arc towards the non-striker, gently dislodging his cap. This caused him  to topple forwards in surprise as the ball was diverted on to the top of middle stump, sending both bails   somersaulting into the umpire's pockets. Oh la la, what a trick!
All this resulted in a lot of arm-waving. The bowler was appealing for a runout with arms raised  high; Takashi was waving in protest against the appeal; Toddy was waving at two bits of crumpet, crouching  behind the boundary; Bruce, with arms pointed downwards, was signalling a dead-ball, and the musketeer was  waving his bat around as usual.
Strangely, there had been no reply to the question but it was time for your reporter to get real;   whoever has heard of dolphin curry? "I have", piped up Francis. Just ignore him thought everyone, and they  did.
After a wide and a dead-ball it was time to get a grip and bowl something with a little more pep.
"You've got to put some chillies in, haven't you?", the inswinging yorker.
"You don't know the half of it." R-G M sandwiched this one with some relish, trapping the ball between the bat and the crease. Before any of the fielders had mustered enough energy to field it, the     Dijonnaise Don booted it straight back to the bowler, who was all too aware that there were only two deliveries left.
"Any curry powder?"
"Yes". The Frenchman could contain himself no longer, as he sent the ball flying back towards the stunned bowler, and set off for a run. Takashi, in no mood to argue again, started off too. Your reporter   flung himself Neil-like, and got a hand to it. But the ball had been hit with some spice and it ricocheted  from his hand to the off stump. Needless to say the batsmen hadn't crossed and Takashi was out by a mile.
"100 yen", was the call that echoed from under the helmet. What? We'd got a wicket hadn't we? Anyway   the ball didn't touch the ground till after it had hit the wicket so, technically, it's not a dropped  catch, is it? The penniless reporter was trying every ploy from the Book of St Francis to the Excusians.
No need to worry though; the remark had been aimed at the hapless Takashi, out for a duck, and the  dropped catch disappeared into the mists of Kytes history.
One more delivery, but before your undercover man could take stock a shout came from Hiroko, the only person with the vaguest clue as to the score. Apparently only two runs were needed for victory, and    the last batsman, Randy, was making his way to the centre.
t was a tense situation. Your reporter was in a quandary. There would be no other chances to solve the mystery of the lunch-time curry, and there was also a game to win. The fielders closed in even more, the batsman adjusted his box and the bowler started his run. Time for a cool head; it all rested on   the final delivery.
"What the f.."
"No ball!" bellowed umpire Santa, and the musketeer had a free hit, thrusting the ball skywards toward Toddy at square leg.
"Run!" shouted Randy, as he tore down the pitch like a man possessed.
"No", was the firm riposte. Grandpere knew the accuracy of Todd's throws, and that there would be another ball.
"Run", continued Randy undeterred, until he stood face to face with an irate Gaul. Meanwhile the  ball was in the bowler's hands and a bail lay on the ground. Game over.
"Tie!" yelled everyone as they rushed off the pitch, putting as much distance between themselves and the roller as they could.
"No, it isn't", interjected the inconsolable not-out batsman, "It's Indian. You start with a base of onions in a little salad oil, and then mix in an assortment of 20-odd sachets of spices with a selection of vegetables like potato, aubergine, carrot and chick peas, and occasionally add some chicken  pieces or mince, and let the whole lot simmer for about 4 hours."
That's it, mission accomplished. Your investigative reporter could now sleep soundly. But the chef de keep wasn't finished yet.
"Of course, you can also...."
"La ferme!"
 
 

They made it this time. The Yokohama Country & Athletic Club, the first ever cricket club in Japan, were warmly welcomed at the ACO, not only by the Kytes team but also by a glorious day, blue skies,  sunny, still, 23?C, and low humidity. Unfortunately the pitch was still soggy from a number of recent drenchings, and all reluctantly agreed the mat was needed. The outfield was rough in places which, together with the mat, would make run-getting a patient process.
YC&AC won the toss, elected to bat, and Bruce and Mark were called on to open the Kytes' bowling.The mat also poses difficulties for the bowlers; options are reduced, with anything short sitting up, waiting to be smitten. Mark though plugged away and should have been rewarded when a full toss provided a chance for Todd which he bizarrely dropped, curiously citing a bump-ball as an excuse.
Bruce also battled well, and another chance went Toddy's way. As he reacted like a sloth on     Benzalin we all expected a run-out. When the ball began its descent the fielding coordinator raised his     voice, "Todd?". This was the cue for Toddy to flop forwards and grasp the round, red thing between his     forearms, before rolling over belly-up, allowing the cherry to trickle onto his gut, eventually nestling    neatly in his navel.
It was a long time before another wicket as Tony and Guy dug in. Tony played the game's definitive  innings, blocking the good balls and taking calculated risks with anything hittable. This partnership     built a solid foundation on which later batsmen could let loose.
Bruce made the breakthrough with a well-deserved lbw, but this only brought Yokohama's dangerman,   Mark F, to the crease, right after the drinks break at 17 overs.
It was time to unleash Todd. The keeper forecast a first ball long hop, 1st slip Nick predicted a   second ball wide, and 2nd slip Anton foresaw the next as being a no ball. Toddo didn't disappoint, as the   slip cordon was proved completely right. From the fourth delivery onwards though he fell into a much     better rhythm and, despite straying down leg too often, kept things pretty tight for most of his spell.
Mark F, in truth, never looked comfortable on the mat and, having survived some loud lbw appeals,   finally fell to one from Todd. It must have been a close call since Mark had taken a few paces down the     track. Toddles of course claimed that it would have uprooted middle stump, but the important thing was     that the umpire sportingly called it as he saw it.
Nick at the mountain end was also experiencing leg-side problems, but his continuous variation meant that the batsmen could never really capitalize on any wayward stuff. To this stage the Yokohamen     whilst never in check, had been unable to fully dominate the Kytes bowling and were probably looking at a   total in the 170 region.
As YC&AC tried to push the score along Todd induced a leading edge which chipped over Kevin at his  customary silly position. In a flash he pirouetted like an epileptic flamingo before collapsing under the   ball, cradling the all-important catch. The same pair then produced a repeat performance to dismiss Tony    for an excellent 44, though this catch was much more straightforward, and our Kev succeeded in maintaining  his dignity.
Even though Skip unwittingly slipped Todd in for an extra (8th) over the Men in White were left a   little exposed for the last few overs. With wickets in hand Yokohama's 6th wicket pair hit out. It was     certainly the right tactics and nearly 50 runs were smashed from the last 18 deliveries, resulting in a 35  over total of 210/5, a very good score.
Apart from Kev, who has added a new dimension to his fielding, namely catching, and Niall, who     performed solidly throughout, it's probable that the rest of us weren't all that satisfied with our     efforts in the field. There was little pattern to the batting which gave the v-c a tough time with the     field placings. Nevertheless he did a great job, and it should be noted that an unsatisfactory fielding     display these days is of a higher standard than a good fielding display from only a few seasons ago.
The Kytes' reply got off to a cracking start as Anton blasted the 2nd and 3rd deliveries for     boundaries. Aided by no less than 6 wides, 17 runs were plundered from the opening over. Needless to say    this rate was not continued. An immediate bowling change saw the arrival of Mark F at the ocean end. He     merely loped in to the wicket but his extensive bowling arsenal swung, seamed and cut Anton and Martin     into defensive mode. Anton tried valiantly to mount some kind of offence but 3 wickets fell in the 20's.
Todd put up some spirited resistance but the spin from Alok and Tariq also caused major problems    for the batsmen. However when Mark finished his allotment Bruce and Anton were at last able to bring some   respectability to the Kytes' score. Bruce though was bowled playing across the line and, when Anton     departed for an admirable 47, any lingering Kytes' hopes effectively disappeared.
The innings petered out to 88ao from 32 overs and YC&AC claimed victory by 122 runs. MVP:Anton.

All in all it had been a terrific day's cricket without a sledge in sight. The goodwill was     prolonged at Yoshida's. Skip toasted the Yokohama club, noting that, following its establishment in 1878,   it had taken 114 years before the first game against Shizuoka. Moreover it had been 14 years since the     last game between the two clubs, so it was proposed that the next one be played in 14 days' time. While     these figures and dates may not be strictly accurate (in fact 3 games were played in those 14 years), it    is firmly intended to reactivate this fixture both and away henceforward.

Courtesy of Tariq's mobile dog and bone, we learnt that Aamir & Amigos lost only 4 wickets in     overhauling LaLa's 106 runs in the Kanto Cup Final. All were relieved to hear that there had been a clear   result.
No-one was more pleased to see Randy at the soba shop than the proprietress, who was spotted     breaking out of a scowl on a number of occasions.
Yoshiko paid a fleeting visit to pick up fiance, Kevin. Despite being completely shagged out from   the game, he left to enjoy their last evening as an unmarried couple. They were given a hearty round of    applause on the eve of their nuptials, precisely one year after they first met. We send them our very best  wishes.
 
 

Since everyone seems to recycle their copies of the Sky Times at the first available opportunity,   here are both the questions and answers to last issue's test.

a) What is the maximum pitch-rolling time before an innings? - Answer: 7 minutes
b) Can a pitch be watered during a match? - Answer: No
c) Is a pitch mown during a 2-day game? - Answer: Yes
d) If more than one roller is available, who has the right of choice? - Answer: The batting team's  captain
e) Can a bowler request the groundsman to re-mark the crease? - Answer: Yes
 
 

So, the fifth and final test; the decider. The answers are to be found somewhere in this issue, so  you can recycle the paper without missing anything.

a) In a high wind may the umpires dispense with the bails?
b) The pitch length of 22 yards (20.12m) is a traditional measurement. What is it traditionally     known as?
c) Can a pitch be changed during a game?
d) What is the distance between the bowling crease and the stumps?
e) In a 2-day match what is the first innings lead required for a follow-on?
 
 

Having cunningly driven off with their kit after the previous game, the Kytes were able to entice   the Yokohama Country & Athletic Club to make another journey to the ACO only 3 weeks later. Leaving the     kit to fester in Todd's room seemed made no difference to Yokohama's performance and their 8-man team     (including Martin and Garth, who sportingly guested for them) were led from the front by a rampant Mark Ferris.
A brave prediction before the game came from Hiroko U who felt that "something will happen", but even she could not foresee the batting fireworks, rivalling anything that the Abekawa Hanabi Matsuri can offer.
Skip lost the toss, the act of flicking the coin being his major contribution to the game, which    was played in perfect cricket conditions, unbroken sunshine, still and dry, at 24?C. The pitch was in extremely good shape, dry and hard, with something for batsmen and bowlers alike. Only for the match with   Fuji in July has it been in better nick.

Tony and Martin opened the batting for Yokohama and Anton and Takashi took the new ball. Little did Skip know that neither had slept a wink the previous night, one being in an extended drinking session,  the other playing Mah Jong. No prizes for guessing who was doing what.
YC&AC got off to a steady start, with Martin playing a few cultured shots. The v-c bowled a good,   tight spell, rewarded with the one wicket from a radically short delivery that prompted an expletive from   the bowler at about the same time as Martin mistimed the ball which fell comfortably to Bruce at point.
Takashi completed an excellent stint, which was probably the best wicketless effort by a Kyte this  season, and a double bowling change saw Nick and Bruce working in tandem.
Runs were still hard to come by and, though Tony was able to block everything with ease, he had     problems in forcing the score along. Kamran was more adventurous but when Bruce changed to round the wicket he slanted one across the batsman who got a thick outside edge which fairly flew into R-G M's outstretched gloves, a fine catch.
At this point with 20 overs completed the score was merely 70-odd but the arrival of Mark F at the  centre would change everything. It wouldn't have done had Takashi taken a real chance at square leg when    Mark was on about 30, but he didn't, so it did.

Bruce then produced another jaffa to clean bowl Tony, but it did little to put Mark off his stride  as he waded into the Kytes' 5th, 6th and 7th string bowlers. They were belted all round Akiyama-cho in a    ferocious display of batsmanship. Not since Aamir's 187 a few years ago has anything like this been  witnessed at the ACO. If Antony and Neil thought their bowling received some brutal treatment, it was nothing to what Skip's lone over suffered. Mark pulverised his full tosses and lashed his long hops in amassing 32 runs from this over alone. It was later computed that during his innings of 157 he had smashed  a 50 from no less than 12 deliveries, and the "5th" bowlers conceded 121 runs in their combined 7 overs.
On Bruce's return at the end of the innings he eventually managed to gain Mark's prize wicket,  literally breaking the bails as Mark went out swinging in the final over.
Garth had time to tonk a boundary of his own before falling to a superb direct-hit run out from Ume, who put in a highly consistent fielding performance throughout. This brought a padless Alok to the  non-striker's end for the final delivery which was slashed for yet another boundary but, even so, Bruce's   figures ended up on an outstanding 3/26.
The Yokohamen totalled 249/5 from their 35 overs, thumping 180 from the last 15. No-one wanted to   admit it, but once again Toddles had been sorely missed, and the Men in White faced an uphill struggle, even against only 8 fielders.

Anton, who wanted to bat before he expired completely, and Neil opened the Shizuokans reply. It was good to have Neil back to partner the v-c, who had been without any real support the previous game. Together they survived the opening spin attack of Alok and Tariq. The wicket was definitely taking spin     and it required full concentration from the batsmen. However, wayward deliveries were in evidence and many  of these were despatched for boundaries. Anton went first, bowled yet again and Neil went soon after.
This brought Takashi and Bruce to the crease and, after a hesitant start, they too tried to force   the pace as Bruce weighed in with a few hefty swings, but the Kytes were never up with the asking rate.
Ume then joined Takashi and chanced his luck a bit. They pushed the score toward the 100 mark and   Ume top-scored with a fighting 35. Takashi occupied the crease well for his 19no and Antony and Kevin also  got onto the scoresheet (did Kevin mention his score of 4?).
Nick clobbered a few too but for the duckless Kytes, with Malcolm waiting in the wings, it was too  late. The Yokohamen spread the bowling duties around, but their total had never been under threat and the   Kytes' 35 overs ended with score on 143/6; a win for YC&AC by 106 runs. MVP:Takashi.

????On yet another beautiful Sunday there were actually a few cricket fans present. This particular     cricket was, however, more like a praying-mantis, and the sight of of it shoving its mouth-parts into a     spoonful of the lunch-time curry had the spectators enthralled for much of the afternoon.
????Those who were watching the game would have seen a semi-decent Kytes batting performance with     Anton, Neil, Takashi, Ume and Nick all contributing well. The relaxed attitude of the 8-man opposition     made things somewhat easier, but in the final analysis it was that epic innings from Mark that dominated    the game, and confirmed his place among the top cricketers in Japan.

Yoshida's beckoned and most of the Yokohama team came along too. It was quite a lively and an     extremely friendly party that ensued, oiled by a \6,000 float, the fruits of massive overpayment (mostly    by Yokohamen) the previous game. Kyoko, Belle & Arthur were welcomed as always as was, of course, the     lovely Anna. It was also nice to see Yukari and Mitsuki but sadly Randy was not around. The proprietress    though seems now to have taken a shine to our Garth; she must like a bit of meat on her men. We just don't  have the heart to tell her that he lives in Tokyo.
 
 
 

It's time to switch continents once more, as our American member, Randy, comes under the spotlight. We're just in time, since he will soon be returning to States, and we sincerely hope that     hurricanes don't strike  twice.
Our abiding memories will not only include the mad, directionless charges with the mower, or that   he was the first bowler to claim a hit wicket at the ACO, or that he never quite got the hang of when to    holler "Howzat", or some of his lusty blows, or even the Randitent, but what will be remembered most is his uncanny ability to put a smile on even the sourest face.
The answers to the editor's questionnaire were returned in prose style so, in order to supply the   full flavour of Randy's replies, it is printed in full.

'm puzzled that anybody would want to know these rather boring things about me but to answer your questions let me start with my full name, which is Randolph Norris Schindler.
I'm 186cm (6*1 1/2") tall, I weigh 88 kilos (193lbs) and I was born on October 9th, 1959 in Oakland, California. I'm currently studying for the MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer) exams and    my current mode of transport is the *Box Bicycle'. The Box Bicycle has drawn much interest and generous     offers (Kevin offered to puke on it) but it is not currently for sale.
 
 

I read the Japan Times daily along with the PointCast Network. The PointCast Network     (http://www.pointcast.com) is a free "Push" type software program that gathers articles from 11 selectable  sources like "The New York Times", "Globe and Mail", "ZDNet", "Wired News", along with a great weather channel that features daily satellite pictures of Japan, North America, Europe and even Australia.     PointCast is great because all you have to do is click on its update button and it gathers and presents     all the articles and photos from your selected channels.
I found the questions about my favorites tough, in that I have no absolute favorite anything     except for my favourite beer in Shizuoka, which is the Dunkel beer at the Shizuoka brewery, but I'll give   it a shot just for you.
Film - Jeremiah Johnson is one of my favorite Robert Redford pictures for its rugged individualist  theme and pathos, although I think Paul Newman is probably my favorite actor. As for my favorite actress I  really like a combination of smarts and sex appeal, which is probably why at this moment I can't think of   anything except WC Field's campy love interest, Mae West.
My favorite book is the Bible, while some readers might think I'm being disingenous, my two years   in a catholic seminary forever impressed upon me the depth and breadth of the Bible.
My favorite meal is Mexican, favorite fruit is orange, favorite vegetable is asparagus, favorite    boyhood sporting hero is/was the Oakland Raider quarterback/field goal kicker George Blanda whose heroic campaigns got me hooked on American football.
Favorite sportsman is that ruthless Michael Jordan, sportswoman is currently Steffi Graf, favorite  CD is James Taylor/Greatest Hits, and favorite group is the Pat Metheny Group (jazz man!).
My greatest weakness is not being able to face my greatest weakness (whatever that may be) and my   greatest strength is self-sacrifice.
The most respected quality I find in others is the ability to speak the truth in a humourous way.   My favorite type of woman is the one I'm married to now, so it makes no sense to think of any other.
The most memorable sporting moment witnessed is when I saw that a broken baseball bat had lodged    in the throat of a catcher named Chuck Yeager during a Los Angeles baseball game. My most memorable sporting event was when my high school won the state championship.
My motto in life is that self-sacrifice leads to success.
My future dream is to see my sons (Ken and Jo) grow into bilingual student athletes.
Amazing, I answered all the questions!"
 
 

The answers are: ??
a) Yes, b) A chain, c) Yes, d) 0cm, e) 100 runs
 
 
 

At Port of Spain in 1926 Barbados, with a first innings of 175 faced an almost hopeless struggle when Trinidad amassed 559, and a huge lead of 384. Undeterred, Barbados replied with a stupendous 726/7  declared, and eventually clinched a most unlikely 125 run victory when Trinidad fell for 217 in their second innings.
????In case you are wondering where the time was found to score a combined 1,677 runs in this amazing   game, it was a timeless match (fashionable in the 20's and 30's), and this particular encounter spanned 8   days.
 
 
 

PS, should anyone wish to make any contribution(s) to this newsletter then the editor would be     only too grateful. There are 4 ways to do this:
a) By fax to 054-256-4417
b) By E-mail to pat-chi@mve.biglobe.ne.jp
c) Give it to Skip or R-G M
d) Post it to Druids CC, Stonehenge, c/o Wiltshire Landfill Corp.