If you thought Greatbatch's stint for Skippy's XI was outlandish, then try this for good measure:
When the James Marshall-skippered Central selection Masters came out to bowl, Sinclair faced the first ball from Craig Auckram with the entire field, including the wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk, packing the offside for a catch.
What did the batting maestro do?
He tickled the ball behind the stumps for four runs.
It was, after all, a day of fun with predominantly Sinclair's former CD and international teammates as well as other elite cricketers from around the country.
Comedian and avid CD supporter Ben Hurley was 12th man for both teams and kept the smattering of spectators entertained with witty remarks between overs of both innings.
CD and Hawke's Bay Cricket had organised the tribute weekend to recognise the contribution of the retired CD allrounder/wicketkeeper/skipper who turns 38 this Saturday.
At the tribute dinner night on Saturday, former CD Cricket CEO Blair Furlong revealed Sinclair had played as many games as Martin Crowe, Scott Briasco and Greatbatch and also scored as many runs as them.
With statistical business out of the way, the guests enjoyed the Sinclairisms or Skippyrisms of the yesteryear.
Sinclair said yesterday former CD opening bowler Ewen Thompson had a penchant for gathering his interviews from TV, websites and newspapers to muster what eventually evolved into a nice collection.
"They can generally understand what I'm saying but Thomo would come up and remind me of them."
Classic ones are "prawns on the chess board, not just pawns, you know"?
"I've seen the four corners of my four walls, is another, when I meant 'I was sick of being in my room'."
A man who loved a brand of deep-fried chicken, Sinclair received a reminder from Jamie How of how he always had a choice between a quarterpack or a half pack while playing away.
"I used to say can I have two quarter pieces of chicken when I could have simply asked for a half," he said, glad to make people laugh in summer.
CD CEO Hugh Henderson said it was a fitting day for farewelling Sinclair with the weather gods playing their part with the crowd and players enjoying the humorous vein that permeated the match, which, incidentally, the Masters won by two runs.
Henderson said it was a great way to salute a man who was a "true champion".
There was no doubt, he said, Sinclair was still capable of playing not just domestic cricket but at the highest level in the country.
"He's made the brave decision of moving into the next stage of his life and the next chapter, which is life after cricket.
"I think it's a very brave decision for anyone to make when he's capable still playing at the highest level so for that he needs to be congratulated," Henderson said of Sinclair who announced his retirement from domestic duties in July in the hope of securing fulltime employment, which he did on Wednesday last week.
He said there was always scope for people with Sinclair's experience to return to the CD stable to impart their knowledge and skills to youngsters."I think there's definitely opportunities down the road to involve him as we've done with others like Mike Shrimpton and Mark Greatbatch."
Henderson said Sinclair would be the greatest runs scorer in the history of CD cricket.
"I don't think his records will ever be surpassed ... ever. I think that's the true measure of the man."
A grinning Sinclair, bemoaning not getting half a ton (he got 49) and his selection losing by two runs, was over the moon with how the day panned out.
