Firsts Rock to Rocket’s Rhapsody

Another episode of carry on Keyworth, as one-man-team KCC took this too literally leaving star-all-rounder Ball and Drury behind for the trip to Hucknall, leaving the Stiffs with a squad of 15 to choose from at 1.30. Drury hot-footed it up the A60 while Ball more sensibly opted for an afternoon with Gabby Logan.

Meanwhile north of the river, it was a case of the show must go on, and Rocket won the toss and batted. Garland was promoted from no.8 to open, but the move backfired and Dessy was soon in. Bomber set about justifying his reputation blasting 59 out of the first 70 before edging behind.

The late arriving Drury joined Woz for some proper cricket. Dessy was in fine form placing 90% through the arc from wide gully to backward point. Such was Marcels’s confidence against the spinner that he predicted a straight driven six and delivered the same. Having done the hard work, a slower ball from the local paper boy saw Dess out for 37.

100% Aussie Grant got another shocker, LBW to one that pitched on the adjacent astroturf. Drurs and Rocket then worked it around steadily to set up a last 10 over slog. Rocket smacked some lusty blows, including a glancing blow to a docile dog being walked around the boundary, his new gratuity allowance at Pedigree Petfoods used up within the first week.

Drurs hoisted the white flag on 32 to allow Meeky to have a dart. Rocket was run out for a fine 67 and Dale skipped out to bat. Sadly for Wensley, the skipper stopped him in his tracks, to promote Bobby to the crease. Baker was multi-tasking, answering his mobile phone midway through three runs, to guide wife Paula to the ground. The two big hitters decided they wanted to break free thumping a flagging attack to take us to 251 at the break.

Tea was filling, almost fresh pineapple the highlight.

Rocket’s arousing team talk called for one vision, but was interrupted by a motivational medley of Queen hits being pumped out from the home dressing room. However, Rocket and Charlie soon had the openers under pressure. Runs started to flow but the arrival of spin twins Graham and Baker had the middle order completely ga-ga. Rendu was like Monty at deep mid on dropping a catch three times in one go. A few balls later, Drury was startled by a howitzer at mid off but spared Rendu’s blushes.

Hucknall had no answer to the spin attack and another one bit the dust as Bomber turned one square through the gate. Great catches from Grant, Dale and Ian were a kind of magic and saw us well on top. It was like waiting for a hammer to fall as the tail-enders slogged a few lusty blows. But for Bobby, it was a case of don’t stop me now as I’m having such a good time, with a magical go-go gadget arm caught and bowled. We were rehearsing a rendition of we are the champions as Hucknall were all out for 135. Golden ended with 5-31, Bobby 4-53.

MOM: Golden
MOM in running: Garland 1, DJ Sammy 1, Bobby 1, Bomber 3, Big Tone 1