Firsts Win With Baker Spin

The Keyworth Canaries notched a first away win, but turned a canter into a near catastrophe at league leaders West Bridgfordians.

Golden Graham returned to a side still missing Laddy’s 20 per cent. Fantasy cricket students were reaching for their transfer forms with news that star all rounder Ball was ready for selection.

Rocket won the toss and took the new ball. Things were evenly matched until Bobby came on. Still smarting from last week’s ball tampering, Baker bowled a deft spell, completely outfoxing the home middle order; a full length c&b was the pick of five wickets.

Ground fielding was once again mixed, Bomber Graham kept up the circus act in the slips, Rocket spilled a sitter and let at least 3 through his legs. Tinpot for once held a diving catch, rather than pushing it round the post.

177-9 at tea was a job well done. Tea was reasonable; sausage and egg sandwiches the highlight, warm orange a letdown.

The usual cavalry charge in reply, DJ Sammy and Bomber Graham trading blow for blow as we raced to 58 off 9 overs. Ian was then suckered into a leg side trap and Sam soon followed. The Ex-Chairman lasted just 3 balls and we were wobbling at 60-3.

Finally the Postman delivered a full round, batting fluently with Rocket to take us to 150-3 without any alarms, before Rocket missed a straight one to go for 43.

Then another crazy Keyworth collapse, prompted by another champagne moment. Tinno skied one miles into the air vertically, the keeper and bowler collided spilling the ball, meanwhile Tinno had run two, but Meeky hadn’t moved at the other end.

It was all too much for the Postie who went for 58. Meeky tried to finish it with a big shot and missed. Bobby tried likewise and missed. Rob the Butcher chopped one to gully and Benji used the back of the bat to get c&b.

With 2 overs left we needed 6 with just Dale and Greeny at the wicket. Dale edged a nervy 2 through the slips, then shut his eyes and hoiked a boundary to win with an over to spare.

M.O.M. Rob Baker

M.O.M In Running: Bobby 1, Golden 2, Laddy 1, Meeky 1

Leggy In Seventh Heaven

The Seconds also nearly tossed away a straightforward win against fellow Keyworth residents Willoughby.

Missing skipper Cowlard, a re-glazed Drury returned along with DJ Vespa. Stand-in skipper Spence won the toss. Despite the Firsts scoring 600 runs in the last two home matches, the pitch was viewed as a seamers' paradise, and we chose to bowl first. Not that we were any the wiser as the Sheriff and Liam were wayward with the new ball.

Spence soon had himself into the attack and bowled with good pace and rhythm, taking two proper wickets, Ernie taking replica catches in front of first slip's nose. 2-21 off 9 overs was a good spell. Murali Burton was subdued up the hill, still with Wednesday night's videoing of his bowling action fresh in the mind.

Catching was again poor, dropped catches for the season now nearly at 20. Penfold Pete grasped at thin air, Liam had his mind elswehere, Tony had four attempts and still spilled a sitter, and Leggy had his blushes spared dropping a gentle lob at gully off a no ball.

At 65-2 off 20 overs we were struggling. Enter Boss Hog Leggy, with a point to prove, after being overlooked by the captain for the previous few weeks. Leggy simply bowled straight and full and was rewarded with a hatful of wickets. Ernie took two stumpings and another catch to finish with 5 victims, Paul Lay and Drurs took catches, and even Pistol Pete swooped for a low chance. And all this in front of the club president Copson, harshest critic Sticky, and 'er indoors. Leggy finished with amazing figures of 10-2-26-7.

At the break 142-9 was a great recovery. Teas by Pistol were ample, cherry bakewells the highlight.

In reply Willoughby bowled with more venom. Drury was in worse touch than Thorpe in South Africa, but evergreen Ernie punished anything loose, scoring 33 out of 42.
Another middle order procession with much shaking of heads as Top Man Burton and Spence missed straight ones, Paul Lay played an ugly cut, and Greats let one top slog go to his head. Pistol Pete made a dreadful call to run himself out by about 4 yards, and at 80-6 we were struggling.

Sheriff Hallam stopped the rot with a valuable 11, despite being dropped by the same man off two succesive balls. All the while Drury plodded on to one of the dullest 50's of all time. With 10 needed Hallam and Drury both departed, leaving a nervy finish.

But young Liam knuckled down, batting sensibly to protect his (Cheltenham) average. And it was left to Leggy, having the day of all days to smack the winning boundary.

M.O.M. Chris Legge

M.O.M In Running: Leggy 2, Murali 1, Ernie 2