Alexandra Park 2nd XI vs Alexandra Park 2nd XI

Back in the distant mists of time, the shining pate of Gianluca Vialli presided over the first Premiership starting XI to consist entirely of foreign players. Back on Saturday morning the hirsute Mark Anstee ran his finger down the team sheet, turned the page over and wondered if he'd been given the opposition's.

It's not quite the same as Man Utd borrowing Lionel Messi for Wembley, but having three ex-AP players in the side added a little frisson to proceedings. The fact that two of them turned up late meant Rakesh had to open with Mark and didn't hand around too long. Skip anchored the innings perfectly with a silky 60 while DJ cut every ball with Goweresque panache. Samir walked in oblivious to the accusations of treachery and came face to face with his brother the bowler. Cat and mouse (or more accurately, clatter and miss) ensued and suddenly Samir was out for 91. Shyraz bish, bash, boshed a rapid 26 at the end and somehow 244 runs had appeared on the scoreboard.

For a practice game it was a shame that the 'real' AP didn't really show up. Wickets fell quickly and after 96 no-balls Samir was hit for 6 before knocking over his first victim, a pent-up scream of vindication directed at the batsman. 'Calm down Samir, it's only a friendly.' Narrowed eyes, Clint Eastwood stare, time slows down and there's an eerie stillness. 'But he's not my friend.' 

Sri came on with predictable results. First ball turns a little and the batsman thinks - 'heh, the next is going way over there', his eyes darting over to cow corner. Next ball, massive hoik, straight down DJ's gullet. Rakesh then book-ended the match with a dirty half-tracker spooned to mid-wicket and that was that (91 AO).

Two sides that appeared so similar on paper, were actually miles apart.

MoM: Samir: 91 and 4-36