Innings closed

Wednesday 16th
Today we left Hikkaduwa and returned to Colombo for the final leg of our tour. This was a rest day for us and an opportunity for the team to go into town and experiencing the shopping on offer. For lunch we stopped in a Pizza Hut, which may not seem that adventurous to some but let me tell you it was a great experience. Firstly we got to eat at a Pizza Hut restaurant – you can’t do that in Brisbane anymore. Secondly, we got to taste some of the unique pizza flavours on offer, none of which are on Australian menus. Our first shopping stop was at Majestic City where I bought a pair of Diesel jeans and a Lacoste polo for 4400 rupees ($1 AUD = 93 R’s approx). Total cost about $48 AUD. We then went to an up market store called Odel, which is similar to Myer, and I bought two pairs of shorts which cost a total of 2500 R’s ($26 AUD approx). Security is very strict in all shopping centres and you are not allowed to take any bags in with you. They are to be left at a bag counter out the front of the store. At one shopping centre our coach, Terry Oliver (Queensland Bulls Head Coach) left his bag at the counter only to return with his mobile phone stolen. Bar the one unfortunate incident, shopping was a great success. The challenge will be to fit it all in my backpack, which is already bursting at the seams.

Thursday 17th
Today was our first match since playing on the hessian mat in Nuwara Eliya and it turned out to be a disaster. Held at CCC (Colombo Cricket Club), the match was scheduled as a 50 over match that was over before one could even build up a sweat in the 30̊̊ c/80% humidity conditions. We managed only 84 runs and I got a fifth ball duck, turning a ball to fine leg which got up on me and went straight to square leg. The opposition were 85/0 off 14.3 over’s and we all headed back to the hotel, with heads hung in shame.

Friday 18th
Today we were to play out last game in Sri Lanka for this 2008 tour and it was to be held at CCC, the ground which we performed so poorly the day before. After failing to put up much of a show the day prior and to date having not bowled a full 50 overs on tour, the captain Lance Roudenko decided that were we to win the toss we would bowl. Of course we didn’t win the toss and we were sent into bat. After 2 overs, our two openers were gone and the score was 4/2 – Déjà vu. Lance and Lloyd Moore then came into bat and put on a 150 run partnership to have us at approximately 160 off 35 overs when Lloyd fell for a well made 77 in very hot and trying conditions. Leigh Drennan was in and out quickly and I then went into bat with 10 overs to go and the score was about 170. Lance was suffering severe cramps and was caught for 76 and then I fell for 15 (19 balls). We then lost Matt “Willow” Williamson an over later and the score was about 208 with 4 over’s to go. At the start of the game we had brought in two Sri Lankan players to fill in for our injured and one of them came in at number 8 after I lost my wicket. He hit 39 (12 balls) including 3 sixes to leave us with 243 off 50 over’s. This was to be our first score over 200 on tour and we were very confident going into bowl. After returning from another curry lunch we went into bowl and it all started well. In the second over 16 year old giant, Michael Olsen (who partnered with me in the twenty20 and scored 46 runs), grabbed the first wicket, bowled, and the score was 5/1. Unfortunately that is where our good fortune ended. Their other opener scored 109 off 131 (I ended up catching him at mid wicket in the dying over’s), and guided them to a win with 3 over’s to spare. Despite the loss we were all proud of the effort we had put in and the tour had turned out to be a great success.