Hibbert Edges It For Stiffs

An inspired batting and bowling display saw the Stiffs win big against Long Whatton. It was a nightmare for the red-inkers with the returning Elliotts joining a brace of both Lays and Hillers.

Skipper Cowlard lost the toss and we were surprisingly put in. Ernie got the ball of the day and went early for 1. Top Man Burton took over and looked in fine form. The opposition left the arc from mid-wicket to mid-on vacant and Menswear cashed in, dominating a stand of 71 with Drurs. Disaster stuck in the 20th over when Top Man ignored the golden rule of not running on a misfield, setting off Inzi-style for a suicidal run. Drurs had no intention or ability to run a quick single and Matt was run out for 37. Drurs soon followed for 21 dismissed twice off the same ball: caught down the leg side and then stumped.

Then the partnership of the day, a joy to watch father and son Elliott cart the ball to all parts. And even more joy to see Benji getting Ted to scamper quick singles. Ted was full of trademark lofts over the leg side, while Ben pulled and cut anything short. The pair put on 82 before Ted sensed an expensive day was on the cards and went for 47.

Skipper Cowlard had his proper batting head on, stoked up by news from Leggy that his batting average was lower than his bowling, and got stuck into the flagging opposition attack. Benji was dropped by the keeper in the nervous 40’s but finally scampered a quick second to bring up a maiden club fifty. Ted didn’t know whether to laugh or cry having promised Benji a new bat for his first helf century. In sight of a monster score the runs dried up as both had an eye on a red-inker, Benji holding the pose on some technically perfect forward defensives in the penultimate over.

However 224-4 was to prove plenty and was a season’s best; Benji unbeaten on 63 and AC on 32.

Tea was a banquet courtesy of Lorraine. For a change the Millers’ batters could stuff themselves silly and took full advantage of victoria sponge and enough sandwiches to feed an army. Garlic bread, though, was the inspired highlight.

Andy Hiller was moaning and groaning as his first over went for 10, Ted and Ernie looking at each other as an upper cut whistled between them. But it didn’t take long for the boy Hibbert to hit his straps bowling another inspired spell. The opener edged to Ernie and refused to walk, eventually given out by his mate. The no.3 lasted a couple of balls before slicing to Cowlard at gully. Then controversy, as in Luke’s next over the no.4, who’d clearly been watching too much of KP in test match cricket, middled one into Ernie’s gloves and stood his ground. This only served to fire up Hibbert still further, bowling him next over, and repeating the trick on the next man in. We were rampant at 22-4 with the top order back in the hutch for 2, 0, 0 and 0, allowing Paul Lay a rare chance to air the ‘four gets five’ chant.

Cowlard joined the party getting the next two wickets, and at 43-6 the gathering clouds were all that could save the opposition. Leggy was economical as usual, but in tandem with Dave Hiller, couldn’t make a breakthrough, as the lower order played for rain. Hibbert was still dreaming about his bowling as a straightforward catch went through his hands and onto his head. Then Benji was pleased that the football scouts had stayed away with a badly timed slide tackle that cost a couple of runs.

Cowlard turned to spin twins Burton and Drury to try to force an attacking shot. This wasn’t long coming as Drurs bowled a single over of unspeakable filth. However this opened up the game as the batters then thought they could do the same to Murali. But Top Man had too many tricks, cleverly bowling three wides that didn’t pitch on the cut strip, before a surprise straight one for a plum leg before.

Some late slogs had us getting a bit nervous, but Leggy returned to bowl the danger man and finish off the innings for 159 to bag 20 points. Great figures form Hibbert 4-52, Cowlard 3-41, Legge 1-26 and Murali 2-12.

MOM: Andy Hibbert and Benji shared
MOM in running: Leggy 1, Lay Jnr 1, Benji 3, Drurs 3, Cowlard 1, Top Man 2, A.Hiller 2