Howzat?

I am eighty, not out,
but I’m aiming for more;
I reckon that a century
is the perfect score.

Whatever I’ve achieved
was off my own bat,
regardless of opponents
querying “Howzat?”

I’ve been very determined,
standing firm at the crease
and  have dealt with googlies
with relative ease.

One only has to watch
what happens on the field
to repel fierce attacks
but never ever yield.

I am a good all-rounder,
can bat as well as bowl;
my game is pretty good,
adequate on the whole.

But not everything
has been a walkover.
I struggled at times
bowling a maiden over.

                                              I’ll always soldier on
                                              but if everything fails
                                              I know that the umpires
                                              will remove the bails.

© Luigi Pagano 2015