Stiffs March On At Thurgarton

A workmanlike win for the Stiffs away at Thurgarton.

The beautiful Thurgarton ground looked a picture and we had high hopes of a rock hard batting track with the strip covered. Sadly they had been left off overnight and it was no surprise that we were invited to bat when Cowlard called incorrectly.

We were boosted by the news that DJ Tony Spence was back from the knackers' yard for his first appearance of the season: sadly Big Tone still thought start times were 2.00 so arrived to see Drurs and Ernie fending off the new ball on a damp pitch.

With only 10 coming off the first 6 overs Ern' decided the best way to see off the new ball was to lose it in a nearby field hooking a welcome maximum. We'd reached 49 before Ern' was out in the 15th over for 15. Butch was looking to make use of his new bat but sadly ran himself out going for a suicidal second run for 2. Then more bad luck for Davey G, LBW again, this time edging a ball onto his pads, for 7. At 82-3 we needed to dig in.

Veterans Drury and Rainsford then put on a painstaking 41 with the home side shrewdly using lob bowlers from both ends. Drurs reached 50 for the 4th time this season, but for the 4th time failed to get beyond 60, finally out LBW to a grubber. Our batting had more depth than a Dalai Lama lecture with Top Man Burton in at six, who made a typically brisk 5 off 3 balls before being bowled.

Then a game winning partnership between new batsman Cowlard and Barrie. The boys put on 50 in 8 overs with Cowlard making good use of his cross batted slog in a rapid 27. The skipper was finally out, caught of a girl's bowling, in the last over.

By now DJ Vespa had found time to change and opened his account for the season with a single to take us to maximum batting points. Barrie hit two off the last ball to take us to an above par 182-6 at the break, remaining unbeaten on a priceless 33.

Tea was of a fine standard, scones with strawberries and cream the highlight, the lack of doughnuts a disappointment for Boss Hogg.

In the field we got off to a bad start. Leggy was distracted by the smell of the hog roast wafting in from a party in the neighbouring grounds, and regularly found the corridor of uncertainty: the only debate in the batsmen's mind was whether to hit the long hops for 4 or 6. Cowlard also struggled with his line as the openers reached 50 without loss in quick time.

Cowlard made a double change bringing on spin twins Beeton and Burton. The Adonis used his experience to gauge the bounce in the pitch, his first ball bouncing three times before reaching the batsman. But he was soon landing the ball on a sixpence, apart from one long hop that the opener smashed into Cowlard's safe hands at extra cover for the first breakthrough.

While bowling well, Top Man was having a nightmare in the slips, spilling four chances, two off the same ball! And we thought Liam had come on as sub such was Matt's tantrum as the last chance went a begging. The next over we held our breath as the other dangerous opener mis timed a drive back to Matt, who sank to his knees virtually praying that he would hang onto the caught and bowled. He did and we were on our way.

Numbers 3 and 4 were all at sea against the spin twins, the dismissal of no.4 being the highlight of the day. JB lured him down the track and Butch made a sharp stumping. The young batter had clearly been modelling himself on Rocket, as first the bat was thrown 20 yards, then both gloves. We all went silent as he climbed up the pavilion steps, counting 1-2 and on the third count came the crash as the bat was thrown into the dressing room - to a massive cheer!!! The spin twins returned great figures; JB 11-0-29-2 and Murali 10-1-27-2.

The run rate was now creeping well above six an over, and we were sharp in the field led by Tuckers. We even managed to find Big Tone who had been playing hide and seek behind the big oak tree in the outfield for two hours. Cowlard and Rainsford bowled staight and we never looked in trouble for the last 10 overs picking up 4 more wickets; Andy finishing with 2-35 and Rocky 1-33.

A solid 19 points and another fun day out to still be top of the league.


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