A Family Affair

The Millers and a good travelling support rolled up at the former Notts Police ground to take on the West Indian Caribs. This was a local fixture for Parker & Ladd, who saved on petrol money for once, whilst the rest of the team paid the North of the River tax. Elliott again stepped up to the team at the eleventh hour, whilst Rob “The Butcher” Beake dusted down his keeping kit for the first time in two years. An illness to Lady P left Baker unable to travel, and the Millers were down to 10. Unsurprisingly then, the Caribs captain won the toss and decided to field!

Parker and Graham opened up, with Bomber dollying up the first two balls of the game, but no fielder was on hand to catch them. Parker then committed the ultimate cricketing sin. Girlfriend Helen wandered into the ground, and the Australian could barely contain his excitement as it had been a full hour since he’d last seen her. A series of waves and blown kisses from the Aussie opener ensued, with little recognition from Helen who was more interested in Ted’s story about how he had once met an Australian! Unable to concentrate, Parker got out quickly to re-unite himself with Helen before Ted could list out all the nationalities he’d met over the years. As punishment, Grant’s personal run tally of 20 was put in the book as 15.

Laddy went in and yet again anchored the innings. Showing his experience, he failed to acknowledge his girlfriend’s appearance at the ground, although Vicky was soon off as the prospect of her deli sandwich won out over watching her man. Graham was finally out for 97, and Tindsley Jnr missed a straight one to be plum LBW. Enter Rocket Rendu, who hit a quickfire 66 to accelerate the innings. Meanwhile Laddy was going through the wars. His first wrap on the gloves had him shaking his hand in pain, albeit the wrong hand. A top edge into his chin had blood spilt on his shirt, and the second wack on the hands left him with a battered finger bigger than in a Captain Birds Eye factory. In the final overs, Meek was run out when in by a mile, Elliott departed for a golden, and Dave Strong protected his average, despite Beake’s best efforts to run him out with the last ball of the innings. 291-7 was above par.

Despite most of the 2nd XI appearing to watch some overs, it was not until tea that Rendu finally got his eleventh man. Former KCC captain Tindsley Snr was the saviour, donning a Scumtree shirt and becoming our eleventh fielder.

In reply, Rendu removed the top order, and the Caribs were never in it. Graham replaced Ladd at first slip, and declined to catch several edges that came his way. Tindsley Snr rolled back the years in the covers with a series of fine stops, showing up his son who turned slower than the Exxon Valdez oil tanker.

Tuckwell caught a steepler at long on with three fingers, having decided after a few minutes to go for the catch, whilst Elliott dropped a sitter at gully. A late waggle by the Caribs tail dragged out the result, with one tail-ender getting 60 having gloved one behind and refusing to walk. An apology was forthcoming a couple of overs later, but that was little consolation for Rendu who missed out on a five wicket haul. Meek returned to polish things off, with Laddy bravely ignoring the agony of his bust finger to hold a fierce drive at long on to wrap up the game.

Success was toasted with some speed drinking at The Chestnut Tree with the Carib boys who were on heat, and a tour of West Bridgford, with Strongy’s girlfriend Michelle being the highlight, and an undercooked kebab the lowlight.

MOM : Steve “Rocket” Rendu, with a “Big Up” to Tindsley Snr
TFC : Ted Elliott

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