Regulation win

South Africa A 136 all out
v England 414-6 declared
South Africa A 187 all out
England win by an Innings and 91 runs

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Pietermaritzburg Oval

44 South African Beer Ticks

Twitter @ball_sup

Well, in a way, you can't do better than that. Strong South Africa A Team (on paper). Mullered ‘em. Regulation Plan A win. It helped that the pitch looked green to me. Initially barely indistinguishable from the rest of the square. Some of the weather was overcast & leaden. Win the toss. Stick them in. Skittle them. Bat deep, quick, long. Seamers break through. The off spinner hoovers up.

I was square on. There were some rash shots. Don't know if he was turning it. But, fair play. Moeen has got the numbers. 6 for 77.

I thoroughly enjoyed that. Lovely ground. If a little frayed at the edges. Free to get in. Plenty of space. Bit of a ball ache that they searched my cool box for Beer every morning. Lots of nice Saffers busy Saffering. Every class & ethnic group.

The cricket ebbed a bit. But, I leave with renewed optimism for England's chances. I wish Hales all the luck. I've said time & time again I'd have Compton opening & Ballance at three. But, I'll cheer Hales to the rafters. Although I gave him some right gyp when he dropped that catch on the boundary today.

I hope they go with Finn. I'd be happy enough with Woakes. But, I'd be unsure if it was Footitt. Concentrate. Do the simple things well. Most of all don't play rash shots & bowl patiently when you have to. When you get a chance to take it away from them, DO SO. Root, Bairstow & particularly Stokes are programmed to do that.

Nice relaxing drink after that neat win.

Harfield, Buchanan Road, English IPA from a bottle at 5.5%. That has grown on me as I've got down it. At first it seemed too sweet. But, later on there's a nice deep bitter orange coming through.

Harfield, Tredgold, Golden Ale from a bottle at 5.5%. Nice Beer. Good sweet vs bitter balance. Flavours are gentle.

252/518

Leave it, we've had a drink

South Africa A 136 all out
v England 414-6 declared
South Africa A 35-2
close on Day 2

Monday 21 December 2015

Pietermaritzburg Oval

42 South African Beer Ticks

Twitter @ball_sup

Leave it, we've all had a drink. Details of my drink at the bottom. But I need to start with Hales leave. Second time on the tour. Left one. Bowled. After he'd done the hard yards and looked fluent at times.

But, you know, he got past 50. Good good day again for England. Albeit made easier by the Saffers only rattling up a low ‘un. Centuries for Cook & Root. Root’s at nearly a run a ball.

I was a bit disappointed Stokes got out. One of a very select band of England players who can take the game away from you. A long way. And quickly. But still 66 off 47.

And then 2 wickets in the gathering gloom. Who knows. But this looks an experienced A Team on paper. No mugs.

Root is now the clear leader in the England Look After The Ball squad. Have a look if you see him in the Test Series on the tele. He wears a long sleeve shirt. Pulls one sleeve right down over his wrist & hands. Using his other hand, he very vigorously & deliberately rubs the ball on his shirt over his wrist.

And, it's a peculiar rub. Sort of cleaning motion. I Spy A Theory. Is he shining the shiny side? Is he drying the dry side? Is he roughing the rough side. All totally legal I'm sure.

Four bottle jobs from Copperlake Brewing Co.

Light Lager at 4%. Pale & refreshing. Sweet finish.

India Pale Ale at a whopping 6%. A bit of a Hop Bomb. But a little too sweet.

English Ale at 4.5%. Spicy aroma. Thin mouthfeel. Toffee sweetness in the finish.

Dark Lager at 5%. Smoke in the aroma. Initial sweetness gives way to some bitter chocolate

251/516

The Finn & Hales Show

South Africa A 136 all out
v England 64-0
close on Day 1

Sunday 20 December 2015

Pietermaritzburg Oval

38 South African Beer Ticks

Twitter @ball_sup

Bit more of a Cricket feel to it today. Hopefully it'll stay XI v XI & 1st Class. Sunday. School Hols. Free to get in. A nice little crowd built during the day. A laundry skip filled with ice doubled as the Public Bar.

Upon inspection, tins of Castle Lager, Castle Lite & Hansa Pilsener at 15 Rand (call it 70p) a pop. My smuggled bottle was spotted by Security as I entered the ground. I just offered to put it back in the car boot. No problem.

So, it looks like the Test team is shaping up as Cook, Hales, Compton, Root, Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow, Moeen, Broad, Anderson & A N Seamer. Finn & Footitt in the shoot out here. Woakes had a go in Potch.

Good day at the Office. The A Team had it slow going. I was wondering if it was going to be one of those wait for two teams to bat days. It was tricky. There was an over at Hales where he seemed to be beaten 6 out of 6. He's took a nasty one on the left hand. But. He grew. Fluent at times. Come on Fella.

Finn has done favours there. Couple of no balls. One fall over. But, 4 wickets. Was on a Hat Trick.

I thought all the Bowlers did well. Then Cook & Hales applied themselves. I'm liking all that.

OK, I need to do a bit of Beer Tidying Up. All the Beers in Potchefstroom were bottles. Either smuggled into the ground or drank in the hotel. That includes The Brickfields, The Long Mountain Brewery & The Two Okes Brewery. All of those were sourced from a superb Bottleshop. Step forward Tops at The Grove, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. On our way out of Kruger National Park.

I have very little experience of South African Bottleshops. The other ones I've tried have been essentially Castle Alcohol Delivery Emporium. But, the Nelspruit Tops had a shelf area designated to South African Craft.

Annoyingly, I didn't get his name. But, a guy I took to be the Manager was very helpful. He explained to me which Beers had a National Distributor. (Hence I might get them somewhere else down the track). And which he sourced by his own couriers. (Hence would be a little more difficult to come by.

On very little evidence, Tops at The Grove, Nelspruit must surely be to best offie in Mpumalanga. You know, should you ever find yourself in the neck o’ the woods.

We are now plotted up in Hilton. A suburb of Pietermaritzburg. The Guest House is just down the street from The Old Main Brewery. I'll put that as Brewpub territory. Although there is a substantial kit out there. Not closed off or owt. Just bang there where you sit & have your dinner.

It's done up to look like what they think an English Pub looks like. Words can't describe. Big model planes hanging off the ceiling. Stuffed animals. Signs for Beer & loads of other shit.

They do four of their own on keg. And you can also get ‘em as carry oots in plastic bottles.

Anyway. In summary.

Old Main Brewery, Oyster Catcher IPA on keg at 3.5%. Easy drinking. Not enough Hops for me. Malty & Bitter.

Old Main Brewery, 1806 Real Ale on keg at 3.5%. Whoa there. Sorry, nothing going on there.

Old Main Brewery, Honey Badger Imperial Stout on keg at 3.5%. Very good. Some spiced fruit. Gives way to firm bitterness. Mouthfilling.

And then bottles in the hotel.

Dockside Brewery, Red Velvet Belgian Ale from a bottle at 4.6%. Dry, woody, burnt off dark malts. Not to my taste. I'll admit to be slightly baffled as to why he/she has called it a Belgian Ale.

Dockside Brewery, Patience Session Ale from a bottle at 4.4%. Not a great deal going on. Mainly sweetness from the Malts.

Dockside Brewery, African IPA from a bottle at 4.8%. I'm guessing. But, most of the flavour of that is coming off the yeast, surely. It's big & it's bold. But, you know what, it doesn't taste like beer. Not unpleasant. But, not what I'm looking for either.

Dockside Brewery, El Diablo, Oud Bruin from a bottle at 6.5%. An unusual style, even for its native Belgium. Good effort this. Thick & chewy. There is supposed to be some sourness. But it is neatly underplayed. Meaty & malty.

Dockside Brewery, Blood Sweat & Tears, Belgian Style Ale from a bottle at 6.4%. Right. To be honest. Brutally honest. I'm glad to see the back of those Dockside bottles. Good luck fella. Maybe I haven't seen your best & full range. But, the Session Ale weren't. The IPA weren't. And you've got all the Belgian stuff going on. Not to my taste.

250/515