Leggy Roasts Lambley

Many second team regulars were missing for the visit of old rivals Lambley: The Adonis had been called up to replace Ryan Sidebottom in the England one day squad, whilst Cowlard was making his debut on the PGA Tour.

Father Ted lost the toss and we were stuck in. The pitch proved to be fools' gold: hard and straw coloured on the surface, but with all bounce and pace surgically removed.

Extras started well as Evergreen Ernie and Drurs needed go-go gadget arms to reach wides on both sides of the wicket, Leggy flapping his wings more regularly than a chicken with a fox in the coop. With a frail batting line up this was a day for dogged resistance and building a target to bowl at. This suited Drurs down to the ground grinding out another entry in the least attractive all time KCC innings.

We had reached 63 when Ernie was first to go for a chatty 21, at that stage extras leading the way on 22. Boom Boom was equally vexed by the sluggish pitch and spin at both ends, and resorted to a series of deft cuts, one passing between the keeper and first slip off the face of the bat. Ted finally ran out of patience, out also for 21 to a wild slog.

The turgid batting had been the perfect antidote for the late-arriving Dave G to get some sleep after a marathon wedding day drinking session. The sweltering sunshine had DG sweating pure lager and seeing three balls early on. However a flat batted six to mid-wicket, that rose barely a yard off the ground, saw Dave into stride for a valuable 23.

Drurs vigil was finally ended in the 192nd over for a round 50. Leggy scoring, failed to realise the milestone, surprised that even double figures had been reached.

The lower order tried to push on but found it equally heavy going. Sheriff fell to a Yorker for 6, Liam LBW for a duck, and Dave Hiller-Sister run out not backing up, when looking to protect his average. This wasn’t the case for Paul Lay, sacrificing himself without facing a ball. 155-7 at tea felt a bit below target, but not much.

Tea by Lorraine was a feast. Radishes and Beetroot the perfect root vegetable accompaniments.
As so often happens tea weighed us down initially, with Ted in a permanent double teapot stance, as Leggy and Sheriff failed to bend down over their bloated bellies to leak runs. We needed to get Lambley’s prolific opener early and Dave Hiller almost got the breakthrough but Dave G spilled a sitter at gully. Drurs took DG into the office and told him to visualise a selection of savoury treats coming towards him. The coaching paid off as a carbon copy delivery saw Dave snaffle a medium size scotch egg to get rid of the other opener. Dangerous soon got his partner, bowled middle stump around his legs, on his way to a fine spell of 2-29 off 9 overs. Sheriff got a plum LBW in his favour and we were well placed at 40-3.

Lambley’s very own KP with the chat to match could have taken the game away from us, but struggled to cope with the Miller’s banter and Ted’s inventive field positions to deny him the strike. After one splendid six, KP claimed the Field of Dreams wasn’t big enough for him, which made for laughs all round given that Lambley’s home ground is just a touch bigger than a Penny Black!

With the game in the balance Leggy’s first ball didn’t inspire confidence, a throat high beamer, but adjusted his length to get a clean bowled from a long hop next ball. Liam then followed up with another clean bowled and we were well on top. Leggy followed up with three more, all clean bowled, including KP who was quickly running out of partners.

This set up a turgid last 10 overs. Dave G was called on for some flighted filth and finally wrapped things up, Ady joyously snaffling the last man at mid on.

124 all out was another great bowling display, Leggy leading the way with 4-18 off 8 overs.

MOM: Boss Hogg

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, Leggy 1