Seconds Roast Lambley

The monsoon season showed no signs of abating in the principality of Keyworth. Fortunately skipper Cowlard did not have to call the toss and was delighted to insert Lambley on a cabbage patch pitch. In a 36 overs match we had by far the best of the conditions for a change. Cowlard bowled a terrific opening spell with no luck at all. Up the hill, John 'The Adonis' Beeton was also back in the groove. After 12 overs Lambley had scored just 17.

Leggy was auditioning for a part in 101 Dalmations, kit splattered in mud after several forward rolls at gully. At least he was loose to bowl first change down the hill. Young Benji had to shoulder the burden at the other end but quickly took two wickets as the visitors looked to push on. Murali Burton replaced Ben and had clearly been to see Jim Furyk to remodel his bowling action, but had sadly developed a nasty leg side slice.

Ground fielding was better than of late, led by Duncan with a fantastic sprawling dive at cow corner to save a boundary. But as ever Billy Smart's magic was never far away. First Grets and Tommy weren't on speaking terms cocking up a simple run out. Then Tommy's plans for the weekend were ruined, a simple catch going straight through his hands and crashing into the crown jewels.

Cowlard returned to get a deserved wicket, and it should have been one gets two, but Paul Lay was day dreaming in the deep and made no attempt to reach a lofty slog.

Still restricting the visitors to 115-4 at tea was a top effort: Cowlard's 1-16 and Benji's 2-25 were splendid figures.

Duncan's tea was pukka, melon a rare treat. However, the highlight would have been enough chocolate cake to go round - a schoolboy error.

In reply Drurs and Evergreen Ern' were quickly out of the traps, but then disaster. Ern' was ball-watching as Drurs called for a long single and after a mid wicket handshake Lay Snr was run out. Drurs followed 3 balls later chipping tamely to mid wicket.

Top Man Burton guided Benji through a sticky spell and we plodded to 50-2 off 20 overs. Leggy was struggling to adjudicate from square leg umpire, distracted by some youthful heavy petting on the Village Hall bench, and had to be replaced.

Skipper Cowlard was getting restless though after successive maidens, stomping to the boundary's edge to tell Burton to get on with it. Tommy was less diplomatic, shouting to him to hit his own wickets. Matt was having none of it however, fearing the worst with Cowlard, Tommy and Grets all padded up and lob bowlers on at both ends. And it was Matt who was proved right pacing the partnership to perfection. In the end we cruised home with overs to spare, Burton unbeaten on 40, and Benji thwacking anything loose on his legs hitting 8 boundaries in his 47. 16 well deserved points.

MOM: Benji
MOM in running: Drurs 1, Cowlard 1, Top Man 1, Benji 1