A good night's sleep was enjoyed in the lovely beds at the Doubletree by Hilton at Noida. Not at a hotel name that rolls easily off the tongue.

Breakfast was good and we were all ready to go on time . We drove back through Noida to Greater Noida to play our second game against Yogi's Victory Club. Yogi, I gathered was sub-contracted by the travel agent to provide cricket teams for us to play and boxed lunches.

Today’s ground is a proper cricket ground, located in Greater Noida Sports Complex. It appears to be part of the Uttar Pradesh state cricket system and may even be a first class ground. It is a newish place, maybe only five years old. There is a grandstand with offices and change rooms, training nets and the field is fully enclosed by a fence. It is a proper cricket ground. However like everything else in India things are less than perfect, the change rooms are filthy, the toilets blocked, seats in grand stand broken. Nice things don’t appear to be maintained in India.

The ground and pitch are excellent, level and well grassed. However there is heavy dew on the ground. The ground staff hand roll the pitch and rope the moisture off the outfield .

By agreement we bowl first. Wayne bowls well enjoying the grassy conditions. As usual the Indians hit at anything pitched up. Steensie hurts his glutes and can only manage 2 overs. After a disputed slips catch we start to take to take wickets regularly. The opposition middle order is not so strong. Sherro bowls well to claim 3 wickets. The lower middle order with Yogi and a young kid retrieve the situation for the Indians and start to score more freely. Chopper can’t bowl after hurting a calf and the Duke adds a hamstring strain to go with his earlier groin strain. I hurt my groin third ball in my spell but manage to continue on and claim the Yogi caught and bowled, deceiving him with a well flighted dipping non spinner, after lulling him into thinking he could take me apart with couple of four balls. Morrie enjoyed the green wicket and no one looks comfortable against his left arm thunderbolts including Chopper keeping to all the leg side wides . In the meantime I add a hamstring strain while fielding and hobble off to ice up my legs.

As usual catches go begging but we hold a few as well and keep the score down to 239 off 40 overs. Our best bowling and fielding performance so far and all done with a team of walking wounded.

Morrie and comeback king Frank are to open. The plan is to go slowly as Frank can’t run. First ball Morrie plays tip and run and Frank is run (walked?) out without facing a ball. Frank’s rotten luck continues.

Morrie redeems himself by scoring well and retiring as does the big hitting Chopper. The Skipper hits out well, including a six, and hobbles well enough to retire at 35. Good contributions were made by Robin Reliable and Steensie. In addition to Frank the other walking wounded, myself and Forbsey contributed ducks, but Simon had no excuse. Go Forward young man!

Six overs to go and 41 runs were needed but with only two wickets in hand it was touch and go . Morrie was back in with the Cougar. The Cougar hit a four and then did the team thing and got out, allowing Chopper the opportunity to come back. A few big hits from Chopper and it was all over. Victory over the Victory had been achieved. Chopper finished with 61 no and Morrie with 48 no. Not so wild celebrations ensured, presentations were made, beers were shared and then it was back to the Hotel.

A recovery session saw 11 players plunge into the cold hotel pool to relieve aching muscles. The Cougar had succumbed to Delhi Belly, while Wayne turned up late and showed off by swimming laps.

Celebratory drinks were held in the Roadhouse Bar and Grill, which evolved into dinner at the bar, with beefburgers being a popular choice. As the excitement wore off and alcohol, sore muscles and dodgy stomachs kicked in we slowly drifted off. The way things stand our next two games may need to be six a side.