The Field of Screams

The match between Keyworth & Plumtree was played on a very autumnal day, with grey skies and a cold wind whipping across the outfield. The wicket could not have been greener and looked as though it may do a bit early on. Following last weekends bowling performance, and after winning the toss, Skipper Rendu elected to field despite the fact that the Millers only had 9 players in the changing room. DJ Sammy was en route from Manchester and Bobby was stuck at “work”. TBC arrived just in time to take the field at the start of play but it wasn’t until the 12th over before Baker eventually made it to the ground.

The Plumtree batsmen certainly rode their luck and a combination of edges, chances not going to hand and a series of dropped catches saw them progress to 109-2 at 24 overs. One fielding highlight from the innings was a run out from the boundary by DJ Sammy after the batsman went for a tight second.
Their 3rd and 4th batsman then put on a 90 run partnership taking them to 200-3 off 40 overs. But Keyworth did well to restrict Plumtree to 236 all out in the last over, with Bobby Baker bagging 4 for 52 off 12.

The match was sponsored by Plumtree Fish n Chips, which confusingly can be found in Keyworth. However, despite the sponsorship no fishy fayre was on offer at tea, and only a poor effort was to be found; the highlight an assortment of jam tarts.

The tone for the Keyworth innings was set in the 2nd over with Wozza edging to gully. IG and TBC Sammy then put on a good partnership seemingly putting the Millers in a match winning position. But a Keyworth collapse of epic proportions was to follow as IG was caught at cover followed by Sammy by a useful ball that nipped back to clip off stump. Skipper Rendu was soon caught, bringing a combination of XXXX Grant and XX Dale to the crease at 85-5. Grant failed to observe the golden rule, never to run on a misfield, and was narrowly run out by a direct hit. Dringy, who had been edging everything at Wednesday’s net session played to form and edged his first ball to the keeper for a golden.
Even the rain could not save the Millers and the Keyworth tail was docked, all out for 104 in the 26th over, with Plumtree’s young opening bowler taking 7-44.

A bad day at the office all round, but with 3 matches to go against Hucknall, Thrumpton and Newark, the Millers’ promotion is in their own hands.

MOM: Bobby Baker
TFC: Golden boy Matt Dring (narrowly beating skipper Rendu for his decision to bowl with 9 men)

MOM Total: Garland 1, DJ Sammy 1, Bobby 4, Bomber 4, Big Tone 1, Grant 1, Rocket Rendu 2