Stiffs Lose at Lambley

Leggy led a weakened side to old rivals Lambley with Cowlard, Murali Burton, JB and Dimps on hols. Thankfully Pistol Pete sped into the car park for a long overdue return to action.

Ball, fearing a fine for mucky kit, had washed his shirt at midday, and took to the field dripping wet, thankful that the heatwave hadn’t yet broken.

The postage stamp ground was like the Sahara so it was a bad toss to lose. Fresh from Hazzard County, Andy Hiller was swapping beach cricket for the real thing and was rusty early on, but soon settled into a fine rhythm beating both openers for pace. The outfield was like sandpaper and the new ball lasted about four overs, which didn’t help Moley get his usual swing from the other end.

Needing a breakthrough, Leggy turned to himself, and rode his luck with a series of full tosses and long hops that the openers couldn’t decide whether to hit for four or six, and did neither. Star all rounder Ball replaced Hiller and was soon relishing the start of the football season next week, as a series of looping half volleys disapeared to the cover boundary.

At 120 without loss off 25 overs we were up against it. Then inexplicably on 78, the Lambley opener pulled another Leggy long hop to the short boundary, only to see Moley leap like a salmon to snaffle a wonderful catch, leaving Bally contemplating a spell in Keyworth United Reserves. Drurs quickly beat the no.3 in the flight, who would have many sleepless nights at being dismissed Ct. Legge Bd. Drury. Moley then took a carbon copy catch off Leggy’s next over and we sensed the tide was turning. We kept a lid on the runs for a while with Duncan spritely in the field and Bo Hiller getting a deserved wicket.

Bally was delighted to get a second spell sensing he could post a career all time worst for runs conceded. However, the innings turned on controversy. Ball spilled a routine caught and bowled, but the ball ricocheted into the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Lambley’s no.6, an uncanny Monty look-a-like and even spookier namesake, still had his bat in the air, but the umpire was counting his pebbles, and in the absence of a TV replay Panesar escaped. The pair went on to post an unbeaten 80 partnership to take Lambley to 238-4 at tea.

Leggy led by example with figures of 2-36 off 12, Andy Hiller deserved better than 1-53 off 12, Drurs was steady with 1-35 off 7, while Ball will quickly forget 0-74 off 9.

Tea was a dry alfresco affair, the highlight for some, being Wes Morgan’s own goal.

In reply Drurs found form to be fickle, scratching around for 15 overs for 10. Only two balls were middled, the first off a head high full toss, miraculously caught one handed by a paper boy on the boundary, only to be called a no ball. And then one that Panesar snapped up at a square leg.

Lambley had seen Ernie bat before posting three gullies and a backward point. But Ern’ kept finding the gaps to vacant third man. This wound up the volatile young tearaway, who resorted to head high bouncers that were no balled by his uncle. A brief exchange of industrial language saw the ump threaten to walk off, then square up to his nephew after more provocative words. At the other end the bowler’s run up was interrupted as the ump practised a series of upper cuts that would not have been undeserved.

Ball capped a miserable day quickly following Drurs in the paper boy’s first over. Meanwhile Leggy was canvassing votes for a captaincy coup, securing Paul Lay’s support by promoting him to no.4. And Paul responded with a fine half century. Ernie had to give Paul his bat back and dried up, caught in the gully for 43.

It was run-a-ball stuff for the last 20, and text-a-minute, as skipper Cowlard requested ball-by-ball updates. Beakey played a fine knock of 35 putting on 60 with Paul. Then more controversy. With the wind getting up, Paul missed a slog and turned to see a single bail on the ground but neither the bowler or keeper appealed. Paul did the honourable thing walking, when many would have stood their ground, for a fine 59. Butch soon followed for an equally good 35.

Duncan had waited patiently for a chance to get off a king pair, but it was not to be, out first ball, again. Andy Hiller hit the shot of the day, a straight six, but was then run out as the rate climbed to 12 an over. Pistol Pete scurried between the wickets for an unbeaten 16, while Leggy did his best to gift the opposition another bowling point, dropped in the last over. We ended up on 209-7, 20 short which was a good effort.

In the bar, Leggy was upset to find out he’d come 2nd to KP in Sugar magazine’s Cricket Hunks, but had the last laugh cleaning up first and second prizes in the home side’s raffle card.

MOM: Leggy and Paul Lay shared
TFC: Bally
MOM in running: Leggy 1, Lay Jnr 1, Benji 2, Drurs 3, Cowlard 1, Top Man 2