Planks deploy ‘moonball’ on Rotorua

The remarkable summer continued for the Hamilton Planks masters cricket team on Sunday when hosting Rotorua at the fortress of St Paul’s Collegiate, Hamilton.

The real story however is more about implementing virtual reality and new management strategies.

Mid-week pressure had Planks core management group scrambling as players withdrew.

And compounding the issue, captain Wood was helicoptering in late from the Wellington night club scene.

Not adverse to change, Planks senior management employed a virtual coin toss and batting order via Skype during a one-hour, prematch investment and selection tutorial with Wood. Hardly the ideal preparation. Following the Skype trend, Woods virtually instructed debut player Basu (63) to open proceedings.

Basu’s e-Learning experience resulted in him hitting 5 bound- aries in his first 7 balls.

E-Learning and talent recognition had immediately paid dividends, not since Alabaster snared the dangerous Weekes in the 2nd innings at Eden Park had such a daring selection been so successful.

Other contributions included Shoston (58 no), Ott (44), McKay (27), Sandford (31) with the Planks total 314 -9 off 40.

Notable at lunch is the winning combination of sausage rolls and a ginger cake.

Singers (23 off 5) and Wood (1 -14 off 5) created chances early on.

The best being recently retired wicket Keeper McKay (2-23 off 4).

Once again Spence (1 - 28 off 4) proceeded to bamboozle both batsmen and teammates alike with his incredible mix of deliveries, probably only bettered by the current Australian cricketer A.Tye (rumoured to hold 14 variations).

Cricket academics have now settled on several distinct Spence variations.

These include the moonball, the drifting grenade, the tempter, the floating slider outside off and still going, and the rare variation, a straight one on a good length.

Genius. Rotorua struggled from then to keep up with the run rate, receiving constant reminders from the human calculator and amateur orator Mordecai.

Rotorua all out for 199 and time for a green tea.

In reflection this win will be credited to creative recruitment and sound virtual management. Finally, the ball was a bit off. Enough said there.