Stiffs Wilt to Willoughby

The World Cup meant another early morning start for the Stiffs, and a 36 over thrash, for the visit of fellow Keyworth rivals Willoughby.

Fantasy League transfer hotlines everywhere were jammed with news that Star All Rounder Ball was making his first home appearance of the season for the Stiffs.

Elsewhere, Dimps was in fine form giving Drurs, and anyone else who’d listen, earache about recent reports of his fielding on these pages, moaning only slighty less than Nikki off Big Brother.

Skipper Cowlard had sensibly opted for an early night to make sure the coin was the only thing spinning at the toss. As usual it was lost and we fielded, on the same belting pitch used by the Firsts the previous week. Cowlard bowled well early, but was hampered by our slip cordon taking positions two-thirds of the way to the bottom boundary. Neither Benji or Jon ‘The Adonis’ Beeton could find a rhythm, and the visitors raced to 50 without loss off the first 10 overs. Benji chipped a nail spilling, by his standards, a sitter, and we needed inspiration.

The stage was set for Leggy, a year to the day of his magical 7 wicket haul. And it was like Groundhog Day as Boss Hogg rattled through the top order to rock the visitors back to 75-4.

But this was a day when accuracy was at a premium, so 13 wides and a platter of full bungers were lapped up by the Willoughby middle order.

Murali Burton couldn’t repeat his heroics of the previous week, so Cowlard finally responded to the crowd’s baying, introducing the clown prince of KCC to the attack. And Bally didn’t disappoint serving up a mixture of unplayable balls and complete filth, taking four wickets, bowling five wides and leaking four boundaries in the space of 15 balls. It could have been a jug if Leggy hadn’t spilled a sitter at deep square leg. Leggy returned to complete a nap hand, finishing with figures of 5-48 off 9 overs. Bally was in 20/20 mode with figures of 4-32 off 4 overs. Cowlard conceded just 34 off his 9 overs.

Willoughby made 199 all out off their 36 overs, a very decent score. We could only dream about the Lay’s late lunch, fresh melon and all, as a quick 10 minute turnaround meant we were soon back under the blazing sun.

For a change, Cowlard had no need to pace the boundary as Drurs and Ern’ set off at a rapid rate reaching 50 in 9 overs. We reached 87 without alarm when Ernie tried one lofted drive too many and went for 36. Butch played a carbon copy and went for 7.

The visitors sensibly introduced spin at both ends and our numbers four and five were at sixes and sevens. Cowlard got a leading edge to a trademark cross-batted slog, and Ball was caught plum in front on the second revolution of a triple salco. It was then a procession as Top Man, Benji and Lay Jnr tried, unsuccessfully, to slog their way out of trouble.

Meanwhile Drurs at the other end was just looking for some company. On 99, Drury took a leaf out of Rocket’s book and played a dreadful reverse sweep, for the one and hopefully only time in his career, but happily survived, reaching three figures the next ball. We were always up against it needing 10 an over for the last four and 15 off the last, ending up seven short on 192-8. Drurs finished unbeaten and knackered on 114.

MOM: Drurs
MOM in running: Benji 2, Drurs 3, Cowlard 1, Top Man 1