Belton Beeton

A sizzling performance in the field on the hottest day of the year saw the Stiffs pick up 17 valuable points away at Belton.

Held up en route by many tractors carrying hay bales, sadly none had come from Belton, the outfield resembling a freshly cut cornfield with enough sileage to keep a herd of cows in clover for a year.

With the wicket still being mown, Big Ted lost the toss and we were stuck in. We were quickly in trouble at 20-3. Drurs was far too casual and left in the 2nd over, Ernie as usual batting three yards out of his crease was run out by the keeper, and DJ Spence played all round a straight one.

Top Man Burton and Cowlard then put on a fine 50 partnership. AC was licking his lips, both at the arrival of his travelling support with a cool box of tinnies, and the introduction of the Belton pie thrower. The trademark mid-wicket pull was in fine order and it was a stroke of genius to lose the ball in the hedge to keep it shiny for the second innings. After a week of beach cricket, Matt’s on drive was in rude health. Luck finally ran out after a couple of dropped catches, Cowlard chipping to mid-wicket for 32 and Matt out for 24.

Team Elliott came and went quickly, Ted for 4 and Liam, going from batting hero to zero, for a pad whacking duck. We needed the lower order to bail us out of trouble. Tuckers, promoted after a good spell in the Firsts, mixed his trademark forward lunge with elegant leg glances for a fine 22, supported by Leggy nudging a valuable 7. Duncan was well set on 2 not out when JB got a golden. 124 at tea was at least something to bowl at.

A meagre selection of sandwiches had the KCC fatties jostling for pole position, only for platters to emerge from the home side’s fridge. Tea was at least 8/10, clotted cream scones and generously buttered malt loaf the undoubted highlights.

We needed to be miserly in the field and AC and Liam were up to the job keeping the run rate below 2 an over, but we needed wickets. Breaking news that star all-rounder Ball had shipped just two goals in nets for KUFC, inspired Tuckers to pull off a miracle diving catch at cover point, up there with Gordon Banks in Mexico ’70. Liam was ecstatic and followed up by getting the no.3 to play on.

With the wicket starting to break up and bounce alarmingly, Boom Boom called up DJ Vespa. Tone charged in down the hill and was largely unplayable, mixing up chin music with his mystery Harmo-balls landing at the feet of wide 2nd slip.

It was the introduction of JB that again turned the match. After hearing of last Sunday’s three wicket final over, the Belton batters were like rabbits in highlights. The Adonis struck with his very first ball and then mixed up a variety of unplayable spinners and swingers. Ernie was like Chris Read behind the sticks, palming a leg side wide back onto the stumps for a freak stumping. Then JB twice followed the adage of hitting the very top of off stump. Eventually The Adonis finished with god-like figures of 7-29 off his 12 overs, a new KCC personal best.

With such a small total to defend we were always in for a tight finish. Liam bowled a fine second spell and it was left to Father Ted to swing out the last proper batsman to see us home by 11 runs. Cowlard with 0-27 off 12, Liam 2-20 off 11, and Tone 0-25 off 7, gave great support to the star of the show JB.

MOM: John 'The Adonis' Beeton

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