Regents Park was the venue for the CRAS teams biggest challenge so far - the mighty South of Africans. It was an overcast morning and the CRAS team was put into bat first on a very green pitch - something that looked very suitable for the two quick opening Yapie bowlers, Graham and Colin.

The CRAS team were missing a few of the regular legends, Brother Bob & Pete "Godfather" Musca to name a few. They also had a few boys backing up after a weeklong intensive training camp in Corfu, which, by all reports, was very intense indeed.

So the stage was set for the biggest game of the year. Sac and Phil opened the innings for the CRAS. They started pretty well after a shaky start from Phil, skying a chance off the leading edge after only two balls, only for it to luckily fall between fielders. The pair put on 16 runs before Phil was spectacularly caught and bowled low down by Colin. He scored a quick 14 runs.

This brought Co-Vice Captain and CRAS veteran Dimi to the wicket.   He started his innings with a boundary off his new customised Ansell Cherry Flavoured Pussy Lick bat (it’s ribbed for her pleasure). Sac was the next to go bowled by Colin for 1. He stuck around for a while but wasn't looking comfortable against the pace, disappointing the huge crowd on hand including his wife who was expecting big things of the kid on his CRAS debut.

Another CRAS legend and Co-Vice Captain Alex came to the crease.   He had undergone a late fitness test by the bouncers at Fever - his venue of choice for an all-night pre match warm-up. It did him absolutely no good at all as he was out first ball LBW.  To say he wasn’t happy is an understatement and the paparazzi were at the ready in anticipation for another Greg Matthews style stump smashing incident. Fortunately for his personal sponsors Camden Palace & The Fridge he kept his composure and levitated two foot off the ground in disgust back to the dressing room.

Next in was the CRAS Captain Johnno, who, after an eventful week in Corfu with his bitches, was struggling to keep his mind on the game. He was soon out for only 4 runs bowled by Wade. Rumour has it he deliberately threw his wicket so he could take a call on his mobile from the mystery grey-haired Greek woman pictured with him in Corfu last week.

This brought CRAS pinch hitter Dortman to the wicket. He was looking well sun-tanned from the Greek adventure. However there was a slight delay as the team box had to be specially fumigated with an industrial strength cleaning agent before letting the Dortman use it (after the Corfu stories were leaked to the press mid-week). Rumour has it a couple of the Dortman’s special friends from Corfu were looking on from the warthog enclosure in the nearby zoo, at the back of the ground. This must have inspired the Italian Fabio, as he smashed the bowlers all around the ground, including one massive six.

The ring in from Liverpool Big Tone was next in. He instantly delighted the crowd with some great stroke play. Tone looked in great form and got to 30 in quick time, which brought Iain to the crease. The young man looked a bit nervous, and was out caught for a duck. Dion came in and the occasion was also all too much for him, bowled by Stephen for 1. The CRAS debutantes now realised this was pressure cricket at the very highest standard.

The wickets were now falling steadily for the CRAS team, but fortunately Big Tone was still hitting them around the ground, ably supported by Buggers, who was really getting into the bowlers in the final overs.

Another debutante who made a brief appearance was Beck. He actually scored quite a few runs, but claims he was ripped off by the scorers, being run out for 1. Post match reports actually revealed that the young kid Beck was distracted mid pitch when something inside his box jumped out and bit him on the private part. It turned out that Beck was foolishly using the Dortman’s sweaty protector. Officials then put two and two together, fining the Dortman two weeks match payments for unwitting putting his CRAS teammates in danger.

The CRAS team were all out for 173 off the last ball. It was quite a respectable total in the circumstances, but one that would take a lot of defending if they were going to beat the Yapie boys.

Johnno & Dimi laid down the law – CRAS bowling and fielding had to be tight tight tight.

The South of African opening batsmen were welcomed into the cauldron of Regents Park No.3 with the usual enthusiasm and sledging that's become a trademark of all the CRAS teams. Phil and Buggers opened the bowling, and Phil struck first blood for the CRAS, a wicked out-swinger getting a thick outside edge caught at first slip by Beck. The CRAS boys were jubilant, and rightly so after Beck’s great horizontal to the ground one handed effort.

Up the other end, Buggers was on fire. First bowling Rayden, and then having Sumo LBW plumb in front. Another wicket was caught in the same over. Viper then came to the crease and after a few dodgy shots managed to start hitting a few fours off first change bowler Sac. It was then the turn of the King of Clubland Alex Mac to enter the fray, and he had instant results in his first over when he caught and bowled Bones for 8. The kid was on fire and was feeling none of the after effects of a heavy night. No one was more surprised than Johnno – for he could see Alex’s pupils underneath the clubbing glasses – he was indeed on cloud nine. His performance with the ball really did shock the entire CRAS.

CRAS were now on a big roll, and the Captain Johnno thought he would also join in the attack. He claimed a wicket in his first over bowling Wade for a duck. This brought big Pat to the crease, and he started well hitting a few boundaries off Sac. He was looking pretty dangerous. Sac had the last laugh though, after some mighty hitting by the lower order SA batsmen, eventually having Pat caught on the boundary for a well made 24. This just about spelt the end for the SA boys, who were now well and truly on the ropes.

On came the Dortman to clean up the tail, and that he did after a sloppy couple of opening overs. He had Thomas caught at mid-on by Phil and then he bowled Colin for a quick fire 12 to end the match.

A good win again for the CRAS boys by 60 odd runs. The CRAS look to be in tiptop form going into the next big game in Liverpool against the England lads.

Man of the Match was Buggers, who claimed three wickets with some great line and length bowling and scored 25 with good controlled hitting at the end of the innings.