All Tied Up

Promotion rivals Belvoir were the latest visitors to the Field of Dreams, which had become a fortress for the Millers after several huge scores. Missing from the team were Aussie Parker, having failed to escape from Senoritas a week earlier, whilst ½ Aussie Dale was having a weekend in Hull – an odd decision. However, back from filming with Daisy and Uncle Jessie, Bo Duke Dave Hiller filled one of the slots, with Dave Strong also back.

Belvoir won the toss and batted. Rendu failed to turn up until the fifth over, although he had bowled two of the first four. Perhaps the weight of captaincy, fatherhood, and making the teas has finally proved too much for the normaly laid-back skipper? Meanwhile Dave Strong was serving up some buffet from the bottom end, whilst Baker’s mayonnaise covered fingers let another dolly slip through at Gully. With the openers set fair, a big total was in the offing. The Millers thought they had broken the deadlock, as Meek hit the stumps direct whilst the batsman turned his back and strolled back towards his crease. Sadly, the Square-Leg Umpire was making notes rather than looking, and had to give the batsman the benefit. Graham soon had his man though, as another ripper was nicked to slip, although the bowler was already celebrating a caught behind? Baker saw his chance to grab some wickets, and was soon ripping through the middle order, claiming five wickets. His efforts were not helped by some slopping fielding. Tuckwell spilt two chances, Meek was dancing around some catches at mid-wicket, but eventually held a couple. Dessaur then spilt his second catch, pushing it for six, although others claimed a four. Surely the two runs wouldn’t matter at the end? In the final overs, the Millers realised that Belvoir had reversed the order and some lusty blows got them to 203 before a suicidal single ended the innings.

The Rendu tea was an excellent affair, with egg mayonnaise ciabattas and melon the highlight.

In response, Dessaur and Graham exchanged blows (batting ones that is) as the innings opened at a canter. However, Dessy missed a straight one, and despite several good starts, the Millers kept losing wickets, with Graham top scoring with 60. When Baker went for a duck, and Garland for two, 70 were still needed with only the “non-batsmen” left. Meek hit some lusty blows, but it was Dave Strong, yet to be dismissed in the league this season, who was our last hope. He didn’t disappoint, with some crunching cover drives and a couple of sixes, whilst Dave Hiller scored a personal best of 10 before missing a straight one. Last man Simon Tuckwell strode to the crease, with 15 still needed. A selection of singles moved the target closer. As a last resort, fielders crowded round the lofty number eleven, who immediately dollied one to short leg – who dropped it. Tension gripped the ground, and suddenly hope for the music loving Millers came from the Village Hall as the rock n roll band started belting out the hits. A misfield thanks to the Keyworth Bumps got the scores level. Tuckwell blocked out a few more deliveries, but a vicious yorker castled him, leaving Dave Strong stranded on 36*. The game was tied, and cricket was the winner. Or so most thought, but for one disgruntled wedding guest who had wandered over to enjoy the tense last few overs - “ Six hours standing in a field and then no winner at the end”.

Strongy’s sporting weekend then went from bad to worse, missing a four foot putt on Sunday morning to hand Laddy and partner a halved match at the Sunday Golf Challenge at Ramsdale.

MoM : Bobby Baker
TFC : Rocket Rendu

MOM Total : Garland 1, DJ Sammy 1, Bobby 3, Bomber 4, Big Tone 1, Grant 1, Rocket Rendu 1