Seconds Thrumped 'Em

A quite awesome all round performance saw the Stiffs win the League for the very first time.

Needing a win away at top placed Thrumpton, the boys were boosted by the return of Cowlard, Spence, Burton and Paul Lay. We missed valauble squad members: JB still on England duty, Benji still lame, Boom Boom even lamer, and Potty dancing down the aisles.

Cowlard won a valuable toss and took the new ball. This was the tightest bowling display in living memory with probably six bad balls in the whole innings, and in truth the game was won by 22 overs. AC started up the hill and found seam movement a-plenty, while Liam down the hill bent it like Beckham. Andy was unlucky not to get the first breakthrough when Ernie spilt a regulation edge in front of first slip.

Boss Hogg and The Sheriff came on first change and tightened the screw still further. Sheriff got the first breakthrough, Ernie taking a catch behind off the face of the bat. Crawling along at less than a run an over, the Thrumpton batters needed to take chances and this led to the next wicket. Drurs dived to parry an off-drive, Liam picked up the rebound and hurled down the stumps to prove you should never run on a misfield.

Amazingly after 22 overs, our pace quartet had resticted the home side to 22-2, Liam bowling his first 8 overs for just one run! Even Dave and Ernie couldn't remember seeing such a score during their combined 100 year playing careers. Boom Boom did his injured hamstring no good at all trying to balance one-footed on this strange form of 'Nelson'.

Dave G quizzed Drurs at the drinks break:

"Is it true you had to leave Thrumpton earlier in your career?"
Drurs looked blank while sipping his lemon squash
"For scoring too quickly!" followed up DG, much to the mirth of the bouyant Millers.

The Thrumpton no.4 looked ready to unleash, and played the first aggressive shot of the innings, lofting Leggy back over his head. The ball though had more backspin than a Titleist Pro-V. His batting partner was slightly less mobile than Andy Fordham and refused a second run. Liam hurled the ball in from the boundary and Leggy had the luxury of walking to the stumps for a simple run out. Leggy followed up with three more wickets as the middle order had no answer to our accurate bowling.

The Boss then bowled a full toss that went for four. Such were the high standards being set that Cowlard immediately brought back Liam. Sadly a straight six ruined Liam's final figures to an expensive 0-18 off 10 overs! The Sheriff retired to the deep with awesome figures of 11 overs 7 maidens 1 for 5. Leggy came back to finish off with 4-28 off 12 overs, while Cowlard deservedly got a wicket to end on 1-23 off 12 overs.

A fantastic performance restricted the home side to 80-8 off 45 overs. Tea was a nervy affair with the top order batters focusing on the task in hand.

In reply Drurs set off to prove Garland wrong blocking everything that the opening bowlers sent down. Ernie enjoyed some width and angled his way to 15 before caught at gully. Garland bristled to the crease and refused to touch gloves with Drurs with a simple "That's gay!" Dave made a valuable 9 before the ball of the day jagged back to hit off stump. DJ Vespa was due in at 4 but the tension had forced him to go to the gents. Top Man didn't need to be asked twice and sprinted onto the field before Spence could hot foot it back from the urinals.

Eye brows were raised as Matt looked to smash everything from the off. Cowlard and Leggy were pacing their 6th lap and drawing on their 20th fag of the afternoon as Matt had a sitter dropped at mid off.

Drurs though was like a limpet at the other end and Murali blasted a quickfire 20 not out with a glorious on drive for four to seal the victory. Drurs ended on 28 as we reached the target in the 27th over.

A fantastic achievement, the best ever for the Second team, and a complete team effort from start to finish.

The celebrations went on long into the night, the day completed with news that Sheriff Hallam had accepted a new three year contract extension.

MOM: everyone