Ben's Blast in Vain

The Second's were bouyed ahead of the visit of champions elect Stanton & Awsworth. Sheriff Hallam disclosed that he 'might' be thinking of playing on beyond this season. Before you could say 'Jack Palmer', Chairman Burton had the ink drying on a new three year deal. Drurs, Emma-Dale and Benji returned to the fold, while Boss Hogg Leggy was on some far flung beach considering his position as Keyworth Dream League supremo.

For once Skipper Cowlard arrived in time for the toss, but only because the visitors had been delayed in the Keyworth one way system. The Millers' batters were given a boost of confidence as Cowlard won the toss and chose to bowl on a dry, flat track under a cloudless sky, "just to make a game of it".

Despite an early breakthrough from Andy, this looked a batsman's paradise. The Sheriff of Keyworth was unusually wayward and was soon replaced by Cabbage Patch Elliott. Liam had a first over to forget going for three boundaries, but then made two good breakthroughs. Stanton's danger man Scott Law whacked it straight from the off helped by some sloppy long barriers from Drurs, Wensley and Pistol. Worse was to follow as Cowlard literally got one down his throat spilling a routine skyer.

At 150-3 Stanton were on for a monster score. Evergreen Ernie Lay had seen enough of our powder puff medium pacers and demanded a change of pace. Out of desparation spin twins Murali Burton and Drury were introduced. Murali was keen to get his money's worth with an 11 ball over, and Drury had seen enough of the flat pitch resorting to full tosses at every opportunity. But it proved an inspired move. The Stanton batters couldn't cope with the combination of flight and filth, having only slightly less idea than the bowlers of what delivery would come next. The middle order were spun out, Burton taking 2-31 and Drury 3-31 to peg back the visitors to 214-8 at tea.

Tea by Lorraine was a splendid banquet, ripe melon the undisputed highlight.

In reply we were all at sea. Harshest critic Palmer could only giggle as Drury got a first-baller, bowled by a half-tracker from a 7ft beanpole that shot along the ground. Three more bowled dismissals quickly followed, Ernie for 13, Top Man Burton for 1 and Dale to an awful pre-meditated slog for 4 - Mrs C immediately left in disgust. Paul Lay made sure that 'one gets two' with a mis-timed drive to mid on.

Meanwhile Benji was giving a salient lesson to his gung-ho elders, watchful in defence but brutal to anything loose. At the other end Cowlard was just looking to be brutal. These two put on a great partnership and were well set until Benji made the schoolboy error of being caught behind off some loose tape on his bat, all the more ironic given he'd missed out by 2 runs on getting a new blade from Father Ted. Still 48 with 8 boundaries was a gem of a knock.

Poor Cowlard didn't get a clap for a fine 50 as the scorer struggled to keep up with a blitz of boundaries. Sadly the wrong sort of applause quickly followed as Andy was triggered for a fine 52. Pistol Pete was a lot more adjacent and young Liam soon followed. Duncan held out unbeaten once again as Sherrif Hallam was last out leaving us well short on 152.

Still a good season with as many wins as losses.

MOM Ben Elliott
M.O.M In Running: Ernie 4, Leggy 2, Murali 1, Liam 1, Cowlard 1, Butch 1, Benji 1