8-1 Off Side field

South Africa 329-5
v England
close on Day 1

Friday 22 January 2016

Centurion, Pretoria

Twitter @ball_sup

We did one more Brewery between the 3rd & 4th Test. As is traditional, there was a marvellous bit of Saffer nonsense. (earlier Blogs) Remember no photos at Wild Clover & the only people not allowed to eat at Wagon Trail?

Oakes Brew House in Modderfontein. The kit is in one building. Fronted by a lovely small bar with a bottle fridge & 4 taps. Blonde, American Pale, Weiss & Stout. The guy doing the brewing comes out to serve us. He told me only the Blonde & American Pale were on. No Drama. I'm a big fan of American Pales.

He said if we wanted to eat lunch as well (we did), we needed to sit outside the bar at a restaurant table. We chose one 10 yards from the bar.

The waitress trots over. Asks us if we'd like a beer. And explains the Weiss & Stout are the only ones on.

Whaaaaat? He (pointing 10 yards) has just said they're off.

But, the drinks for the restaurant came from a DIFFERENT 4 taps at a DIFFERENT bar front. Still Blonde, American Pale, Weiss & Stout taps.  But, only Weiss & Stout actually on there.

Essentially if we didn't want to eat we could only have Blonde & American Pale. If we did want to eat, we could only have Weiss & Stout. No Really.

You can't argue. So, I'll eat & have a BOTTLE of American Pale. But. Bottles are for takeaway only.

All this shit means something to the Saffers. They've got me beat hands down.

I was allowed to drink;

Oakes Brew House, Wise Beer on keg at 5%. Full of flavour. Citrus, maybe just a touch too sour. Some custard at the death.

Oakes Brew House, Butt Stout on keg at 5.5%. Great beer. Complex. Sweetness at first, some smoke & toast. Nice bitter end.

Cricket

Despite some late wickets, that was South Africa's day. A neat (unbroken) 56 run partnership between Bavuma & de Kock only adding to it. Here is a made up Stat. Having taken the New Ball, England never take a wicket between the 80th over & close on day 1.

To stem the runs, England resorted to an 8-1 off side field, bowling as wide as they dare. No. Tight line & length, patience, make them earn every one. They did create nicks. No absolute howlers. But, they went down.

I was made up for Stephen Cook though. Over 11,000 First Class runs. And only now does he get his Test chance. Which he grasps.

I got confused when de Villiers was out. I thought that was Cook. So, I missed my chance to give AB all three barrels. One of the great things about cricket is you can take an irrational & illogical dislike to someone. Don't like the bloke. Piss off to the IPL for me, if he likes.

I'm celebrating his small demise with a bottle of Sir Thomas Brewing Co., Hangklip Ale at 5%. Billed as an IPA. But doesn't really get there for me. Nice beer, though. Opaque. Terry’s Chocolate Orange bitterness. Sweetens a bit. But, the finish is OK.

267/549