Wheels Off Once Again

A depleted 1st XI team produced an abject batting performance on wet wicket at the new ‘Field of Nightmares’!

Skipper Rendu lost the toss and KCC were inserted and Benji was quickly back in the hutch without troubling Shelly’s pencil for a plum LBW. Iggy followed shortly afterwards, caught behind for 4 and at 4 for 2, Sherro came out to join Rocket in the middle as Meeky was still preparing the teas with Wozza and Mrs Meek!

Wozza had given up his Forest Season ticket to support the Club and do teas although he was in with a chance of making the 3 o’clock start the way the batting was going!!

Rocket was plum LBW 3 times in his first over but not given by ex-KCC legend Harry Pick, Sherro on the other hand was given caught behind for 0 to one that he felt didn’t carry – déjà vu from last week’s Balderton dismissal...

Meeky then came and went for a loan boundary, leaving Vice Captain Baker to join Captain Rendu at with the score at 20 for 4 after 12 overs.

The two senior pros were the only ones to join Extras in reaching double figures, both Rendu’s 11 and Baker’s 14 included a straight drive for 6 each, taking advantage of anything pitched up because the balls short of a length were popping and rapping the knuckles of all batsmen!

As Baker and then Rendu departed, Andy Hiller made his usual red inker with 4 not out and our makeup players of Liam Elliott, Neil Tuckwell and Dave Hiller (dislocated finger) hung around but only managed 2 runs between them at the other end.

51 all out off 23 overs was slightly on the disappointing side, 120 on this wet wicket would have seen a good game between the 2 relegation battlers...

The highlight of the afternoon then took place as Meeky & Woz served up a culinary delight, highlights were Deep Pan pizza, prawn wraps and 2 bottles of Chardonnay for the home side (tea or squash for the lads from the North, Thresher’s must have run out of Blue Nun for the NG15 palette’s...).

A light headed KCC then took the field & Rocket and Andy Hiller took a wicket each to reduce the opposition for 20 for 2 after 10 overs. Rocket bowling an interesting combination of good length balls and yorkers, unfortunately the track required some short stuff to exploit conditions!

Iggy and Bobby then joined the frame with the ball turning sharply but normal business was resumed in the field and several dropped catches occurred. It could have been 30 for 5 but unfortunately opportunities weren’t taken and the visiting keeper plundered our Superstar for 3 boundaries in an over to see the visitors home with 8 wickets in hand! IG was now bored and bowling to a 9-1 field, Bobby at first slip being the only offside fielder!

A 5pm finish and a trip to the Sal to get over the embarrassment but the regulars did appreciate the efforts of the support players and if the 2’s can get promotion, there is great optimism that under the new Tindsley leadership in 2009, we will again push for honours in both XI’s...