So near but yet so far for the Firsts

The Firsts took the short journey to Kimberley buoyed after their thrashing of Loughborough Carillion the previous week. The only change was to bring in Wozza for his first outing of the season following his recovery from a back injury. Dessy looked like a freshly cooked lobster, blaming the blazing sunshine beaming down on the Western Terrace at Headlingly the previous day… sunshine?…Yorkshire?… others suspected a visit to the local Tan-erife.

Laddy, IG, Wozza and Rob Baker were all at the Test on Friday, meaning that our top 3 had been on a 15-hour bonding session, getting to bed at 3am. Laddy predicted 50 runs between them would be a good return.

Skipper Rendu returned to form and was a late arrival, allowing Bobby to lose the toss - a Baker tradition.

Ladd and Graham hobbled to the wicket like Steptoe & Son, courtesy of a 15-pint hangover. The KCC openers got off to a reasonable start considering their condition, but quick singles and threes were clearly not the order of the day. The Kimberley openers bowled a steady line and length spell on a slow pitch that tended to keep low. IG was soon out for 10, and retired to the hill for a power nap. After playing out a patient innings, Laddy chased a wide one and was caught behind for 17.

The glowing Dessaur was quickly out for 3, ignoring the advice to get forward, and was out LBW whilst trying to pull. The opening 3 produced just 39 – probably matching the number of pints consumed between them the previous day.

At 54-3 off 20, KCC needed to steady the ship. Aussie Grant (52) and Tinno (48) batted patiently, putting away the bad ball, and save for one near run-out, ran sensibly to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Off the field, Rob Baker gave a powerful rendition of ‘Smelly the Elephant’ – quickly clearing the watching spectators from around the changing rooms.

XXXX Grant was out stumped going for one big shot too many, after advancing the score to 140-4 after 40 overs. The innings closed slightly below par on 170-9, with Dave Strong adding yet another not out to his KCC career.

Tea was a typical old school affair with fairy cakes topped with glacé cherries, and fat boy slim Dave Garland breaking his chair the highlights.

KCC took to the field in a light drizzle that remained all afternoon, with Bobby Baker, ever the optimist, needlessly wearing his sunglasses on his head for the entire innings. With Wozza struggling with his back in the cold and damp conditions, Stuart Meek was on hand to literally step into Warren’s shoes (and the rest of his kit) to save Keyworth from fielding with one short.

The Kimberley openers came out with attacking intent, and with a few firm hits including a straight drive back over Rendu’s head for 6, quickly put 25 on the board. Following a good recovery from the skipper and Andy Hiller, Laddy put down a chance at 1st slip. Perhaps he could enlist the help of his new 6-fingered friends in Hickling to improve his catching?

The slippery conditions on the ground were not helping the fielding side. Skipper Rendu did a full length Jayne Torvil-like fall when saving a quick single and Bobby Baker made running up the famous Kimberley slope look as though he was scaling the north face of the Eiger. Meanwhile, Grant (you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry) Parker couldn’t hold onto the slippery soap to stop the ball going for four and vented his frustration on the ground, his new cap and then the Kimberley opposition with his usual brand of sledging.

At 82-2 off 20 overs Kimberley were in the driving seat, but with IG and Bobby bowling tight lines, KCC managed to put the brakes on. With Tinno and Rocket taking a great catches, the Millers were on a roll, and the pressure started to mount on the Kimberley batsmen. After 40 overs, the score was 135-4, but a succession of quick wickets from IG and Baker got the Millers dreaming of a famous victory.

It came down to 7 being required off the last over with 2 wickets remaining. But it was not to be, and with two fours, the match was over.

Despite their first loss of the season, the Millers will go into next weekends matches full of confidence, knowing that performances like this every week should see them challenging at the right end of the table come the end of the season.


MOM – XXXX Grant Parker (for batting and sledging prowess)
TFC – Wozza

MOM Total : Ian Graham 1, Andy Hiller 1, Grant Parker 1