Kimberley Leave Stiffs Bitter

What could go wrong went wrong as the Stiffs went down by 24 runs at home to Kimberley.

Dimps was soon scouring his new umpires rule book as the opposition had just two players present at the 1.30 start.

Ted won the toss and sportingly waited for the visitors to arrive and hoped the new ball would zip around, but this was a pitch more often seen in August than April after a week of fine weather.

A fine crowd had gathered, the Hiller Sisters had spent the morning revising with their heads in law books, to see if we would be in hot water after mid week revelations that Iggy would be 'grooming' Tinno for the season.

Cowlard and Tinno bowled without luck as edges went everywhere but to hand. Scooby back on home soil was soon in on the act. Drurs revealed he'd backed Scooby as first wicket taker, and next ball Tony got a plum LBW! Another wicket next over with a clean bowled put us on top at 50-2 after 20 overs.

Then a grim hour. First Ernie and Matt in the close catching positions did a passable audition for the all new Billy Smart's Circus juggling not one but two chances off Scooby before the no.4 had reached double figures. Then Tinno chased after a half drive and threw in a routine return only for his shoulder to pop out and sadly spent the rest of the afternoon in A&E, season over before it had hardly started. Such has been the progression of the Youth Policy, that young Isaac Brown stepped in as substitute fielder to make his KCC debut for the adults rather than the under 12s!

Leggy was bowling with deceptive pace up the hill, if anything slower than he looked. After six fruitless overs the Boss finally picked up a clean bowled only for Father Ted to whip him out of the attack. Ted was obviously sniffing a few cheap victims but was soon teaching the young Kimberley batters some industrial phrases after disappearing for 31 off 2 overs.

Delighted to be given three innings in one day, Kimberley's no.4 struck the ball cleanly to reach a fine 100. Liam chipped in with a couple of late wickets, Ted taking a fine tumbling catch, to see the away side pegged back to 215-6 at tea. Scooby was the pick of the bowlers with 3-39.

Jean had served up the usual banquet for tea; cornet shaped wraps followed by pickled onions the highlights.

In reply Scooby was quick out of the blocks with a rapid 23 but wickets tumbled too readily; Ted made 9, Ben unluckily caught off a blinding cut shot for a duck, Top Man for 1, Ernie for 9 and Liam for 2. At 80-6 this was another fine mess.

Fortunately Cowlard was in blinding form and had Drurs nagging him after every ball to play straight. And play straight he did racing to 50 and starting to dream that an unlikely win might be on the cards. With his own shoulder injury after bench pressing two bags of sugar in the gym, Drurs struggled even more than usual to get the ball of the square, but supported AC in a stand of 84.

With the rate up to 8 Drurs holed out limply to mid on for 24. Leggy had used up all his luck keeping out the under 12's in early morning nets and went quickly for a duck.

Young Chris Soar showed his older team mates how to value your wicket and kept Cowlard company for the last 5 overs.

With an over to go the run chase was in vain but Cowlard needed 9 for his maiden hundred. Young Chris scrambled a single to let AC smash a boundary, but then mis-timed a drive to leave him needing a six hit off the last ball. Sadly Andy could only manage a four to leave Barry with another archive entry for the nervous nineties.

Addition in the scorebook though was about as accurate as a Zimbabwean general election, and after a second recount, Cowlard had been found the elusive single to take him to 100 not out. as we finished on 191-8.

A bright spot on a frustrating day.