Stiff opposition at Lambley

The Keyworth 2nd XI finally managed to get a game in against all the weather forecasters predictions. The KCC 1st XI were called off in the morning, with unconfirmed reports of the Vice Captain having one eye on improving on his best ever round achieved earlier in the week rather than taking to the sodden Field of Dreams…

The captains agreed to play on the artificial strip and a reduced 40 over format.

Stand in skipper Andy Cowlard won the toss and elected to field, with the Keyworth opening batsmen itching to get their pads on. Rain was forecast for later in the afternoon, so the only way Keyworth were going to win was to bowl Lambley out cheaply and knock off the runs before the heavens opened (well that was the plan!)

The Lambley opening pair rode their luck with numerous half chances not going to hand and regulation catches dropped in the sleepy Keyworth field. AC was unable to find his normal length, and 4’s came easily on the small ground. Dave Hiller bowled well at the other end, but to no avail.

Dave Garland was brought on to buy a wicket and did so in his first over, with the Lambley opener trying to cut the off-spinner through gully. DG could have had another wicket 2 balls later with the new bat edging behind, but Young Ern’ couldn’t hold on. The other opening bat was causing much consternation in the Millers ranks by chipping the ball with regular frequency just past or over fielders fingers. After Liam Elliot had a few costly overs, Ted was brought on to try to stem the flow of runs. Boom Boom had their opener ‘caught’ on the boundary by AC (at the 5th attempt), but the home crowd called foul claiming he had stepped over the non-existent line. Tuckers also dropped one in the deep, with the ball thudding into his chest after passing through his hands.

Fresh from earning ‘man of the series’ against the West Indies, the Millers were surprised to see look-alike and name-alike VJ Panesar striding to the wicket with 4 overs left. Leggy’s cry of “this lad can bat as well” left a demoralised Ted shaking his head saying, “with 215 on the board I don’t think it really matters!”

The Lambley innings ended at 233-4 in 40 overs with the opener eventually out for 114 (on about his 10th life!)

Tea was reportedly “worse than Wilson’s”. The home side were overheard saying, “that’s posh” on seeing the culinary delight of bags of Walkers crisps. The highlight, cakes that Stuart Meek brought and managed to cut with his bare hands – amazing what you learn in the Far East!

The Stiffs were without regular opening batsman Richard Drury who had been called up to the firsts, with Benji and Potty sunning themselves in Malaga.

The stand-in opening pair of Dale Collison and Dave Garland took to the wicket, knowing that if one of them could bat 40 overs, the match was in the bag. The plan worked for the first 20 overs, with the pair putting way the bad ball and managing to see off the opening bowler who had been drafted in from the Lambley 1st XI. At 98-0 off 20, the platform had been made without any real chances being offered. The duo’s only indiscretion was a near run out mix up, with Wensley edging along the ground to 2nd slip. DG was certain of a quick single, and shouted ‘Yes!’ Dale obliged as the ball was fumbled only to get a few steps out of the crease to hear the dreaded ‘No!’ All of a sudden both batsmen were ‘in’ at the strikers end, with the wicket keeper demolishing the stumps in the process. Wensley quickly set off and safely made it in at the other end - real Keystone Cops stuff!

Dave Garland was out just prior to the drinks break in the 21st over, with a jug avoiding 45. One notable strike of his innings was the straight 6 that got double points by bouncing into the path of a passing motorbike.

Matt Burton came to the wicket and ignored DC’s advice of getting used to the pace and bounce of the wicket by quickly blazing a massive 6 over deep mid wicket. Unfortunately Top Man didn’t hand around and was soon bowled whilst trying to repeat the shot. Dale was still finding the boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking along, with one four clattering into the crowd, popping open a bag of crisps in the process much to the delight of Meeky who loves his cheese & onion.

Andy Cowlard also showed his intent by trying to hit every ball out of the ground. As required run rate started to creep up past 7.5 an over, Dale was caught at deep mid off for 62, after not quite middling the slow off spinner. The wicket did not alter AC’s approach, and unfortunately he was caught the very next ball by the same fielder.

The remaining batsmen gave it their all to keep up with the run rate, seeing some great hits by Dave Hiller, with Simon Tuckwell repeating his Twenty20 form by smacking a quick fire 23 that included three huge 6’s.

Despite the late rally, Keyworth were all out in the last over for 213 with the 1st XI opening bowler coming back on to clear up the tail.

The defeat and other results leave the Millers 3rd in the table. The Stiffs face table toppers Thrumpton at home next week.

MOM – Dale Collison

MOM in running: Jean 1, Potty 1, BJ 1, Sheriff 2, Murali 1, Dangerous 1, Drurs 1, Wensley 1