Thank Ged for that!
The Churchillian mid week rallying call from Chairman of Selectors Ian Graham had the desired effect as the Keyworth troops dug deep to grab 17 valuable points against the league leaders Gedling & Sherwood.
Mirroring the conditions at Royal Birkdale, the teams faced the prospect of a wet wicket that would continue to be blown dry throughout the day by the near gale force winds. With the threat of further showers, 39 overs a side was agreed. Skipper Rendu lost the toss and KCC were unsurprisingly put into bat, much to the alarm of IG and Grant who had both been on the sauce the night before and could have done with a few hours to clear their minds …and bowels. With the apparent threat of a follow-on looming, IG requested to bat down the order, which allowed Benji and Grant to open up.
The foul-mouthed Aussie had brought his native crowd to support him in his penultimate game for the club. Keyworth’s very own “Bay 13” was expectant, and the normally cool Grant admitted the nerves were getting to him. Things were not eased as Ben was bowled all ends up first ball. Next to go was the scorers Gazebo as the wind and rain played havoc with super scorer Shelley’s bookkeeping.
Early on the wicket was seaming all over the place, with tennis ball bounce for anything short of a length. The G&S opening bowlers, Macmillan and especially Kelly, were proving hard to score off as Emma-Dale dug in to steady the ship. The half-bred Aussie seemed determined not to be a Royal Birk-Dale by getting run-out two weeks running, as he turned down a couple of singles on miss-fields before finally getting off the mark after facing 20 balls.
Having got away from the feared duck in front of his mates, Grant (10) was soon out to a seaming ball that left him to take the top of off-stump, leaving Bay 13 flat – unlike their slab of tinnies. Having fully expected IG to stride to the wicket, Keyworth instead sent in their night-watchman as the threat of the follow-on was seemingly still on the cards for Ian. The Long Haired Buffoon (interestingly KCC’s 604th player, mirroring England’s own 604th LHB Ryan Sidebottom!!) took the number 4 slot, and played a captain’s innings, putting on a 56 run partnership before Emma was c&b for a gritty 29. Ablutions complete, IG (28) didn’t waste much time before launching 2 maximums towards the Village Hall. At the other end Rocket hit 3 of his own 6’s on his way to a great 51. Meeky got in on the act with another big hit as the Millers pushed past 130, for once being able to attack the final overs with wickets in hand. The best was left ‘til last as Bobby Baker, always keen to pepper the boundary with a full swing of the bat, latched on to 3 x 6’s hitting a magic 20 off 8 balls to see KCC in the box seat at tea; 165-7 with 8 an over scored off the final 10 overs.
Tea was a Rendu family affair with all hands to the pumps as the reduced overs and early start played havoc with timings. Despite the last minute rush it was a fine mixed platter and was gladly tucked into, with hot Pizza, Tiger buns and fresh melon the highlights.
The home side knew that G&S’s pro, Samrat Sharma, was their danger man and having just been hit for 4, skipper Rocket hit back Yorking him in his first over, much to his team mates delight. However a second wicket proved hard to come by and runs flowed at over 3 an over before Stuart Meek was brought on to mix things up. Yet he only succeeded in being hit for 13 with the blustery wind and the bouncy wicket proving too much for him to deal with. Andy Hiller’s excellent spell down the hill was proving mainly unplayable, with fielders losing count of the number of play-and-miss shots going past the outside edge. In the field some old habits die hard as a few chances went down to Ben and Ian behind the stumps and to Dave Hiller-sister at mid-on. At 70-1 off 20, G&S were up with the rate, but in a spell mirroring last season’s efforts, the spin twins of Graham (13-43-3) and Baker (12-33-3) would literally turn the match in Keyworth’s favour, taking 6 wickets in 10 overs. This was despite Parker dropping a dolly, cracking under the pressure of taking a skier at deep mid wicket as the expectant, and slightly worse for wear Bay 13 were shouting for their hero as the ball hung in the air. Clearly still suffering with vision problems from the night before, the air was blue as Grant failed to close his hands with the ball landing in his bread basket before falling to the floor.
As Keyworth sniffed a deserved victory in the final overs, there was a moment of controversy as their Wicket keeper batting at 8, who must have South African or Aussie roots, refused to walk following a thick edge gobbled up by IG at slip.
Unfortunately, the final 3 wickets were not forthcoming and the innings closed at 136-7.
The Millers will take heart from this performance having batted and bowled well, and for once actually enjoying themselves in the field!
Early on the wicket was seaming all over the place, with tennis ball bounce for anything short of a length. The G&S opening bowlers, Macmillan and especially Kelly, were proving hard to score off as Emma-Dale dug in to steady the ship. The half-bred Aussie seemed determined not to be a Royal Birk-Dale by getting run-out two weeks running, as he turned down a couple of singles on miss-fields before finally getting off the mark after facing 20 balls.
Having got away from the feared duck in front of his mates, Grant (10) was soon out to a seaming ball that left him to take the top of off-stump, leaving Bay 13 flat – unlike their slab of tinnies. Having fully expected IG to stride to the wicket, Keyworth instead sent in their night-watchman as the threat of the follow-on was seemingly still on the cards for Ian. The Long Haired Buffoon (interestingly KCC’s 604th player, mirroring England’s own 604th LHB Ryan Sidebottom!!) took the number 4 slot, and played a captain’s innings, putting on a 56 run partnership before Emma was c&b for a gritty 29. Ablutions complete, IG (28) didn’t waste much time before launching 2 maximums towards the Village Hall. At the other end Rocket hit 3 of his own 6’s on his way to a great 51. Meeky got in on the act with another big hit as the Millers pushed past 130, for once being able to attack the final overs with wickets in hand. The best was left ‘til last as Bobby Baker, always keen to pepper the boundary with a full swing of the bat, latched on to 3 x 6’s hitting a magic 20 off 8 balls to see KCC in the box seat at tea; 165-7 with 8 an over scored off the final 10 overs.
Tea was a Rendu family affair with all hands to the pumps as the reduced overs and early start played havoc with timings. Despite the last minute rush it was a fine mixed platter and was gladly tucked into, with hot Pizza, Tiger buns and fresh melon the highlights.
The home side knew that G&S’s pro, Samrat Sharma, was their danger man and having just been hit for 4, skipper Rocket hit back Yorking him in his first over, much to his team mates delight. However a second wicket proved hard to come by and runs flowed at over 3 an over before Stuart Meek was brought on to mix things up. Yet he only succeeded in being hit for 13 with the blustery wind and the bouncy wicket proving too much for him to deal with. Andy Hiller’s excellent spell down the hill was proving mainly unplayable, with fielders losing count of the number of play-and-miss shots going past the outside edge. In the field some old habits die hard as a few chances went down to Ben and Ian behind the stumps and to Dave Hiller-sister at mid-on. At 70-1 off 20, G&S were up with the rate, but in a spell mirroring last season’s efforts, the spin twins of Graham (13-43-3) and Baker (12-33-3) would literally turn the match in Keyworth’s favour, taking 6 wickets in 10 overs. This was despite Parker dropping a dolly, cracking under the pressure of taking a skier at deep mid wicket as the expectant, and slightly worse for wear Bay 13 were shouting for their hero as the ball hung in the air. Clearly still suffering with vision problems from the night before, the air was blue as Grant failed to close his hands with the ball landing in his bread basket before falling to the floor.
As Keyworth sniffed a deserved victory in the final overs, there was a moment of controversy as their Wicket keeper batting at 8, who must have South African or Aussie roots, refused to walk following a thick edge gobbled up by IG at slip.
Unfortunately, the final 3 wickets were not forthcoming and the innings closed at 136-7.
The Millers will take heart from this performance having batted and bowled well, and for once actually enjoying themselves in the field!
posted by kccblogger @ Sunday, July 20, 2008
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