Size Matters

A Bank Holiday friendly at Holme Pierrepont saw a great turn out swayed by a bar and barbeque. With half the squad on holiday a trio of Plums and hopefully KCC stars of the future, Palmer, Kingsley and Devenney faced a Gedling and Sherwood side looking for experience.

A pairs format ensured everyone would get some action, with a bonus 4 overs for the 2 batters with good application.

Normington and Devenney opened up amidst a flurry of early wickets. Devenney found the boundary twice and good running saw the pair depart after their 4 overs at 27 for 3.

The Plumtree connection of Palmer and Kingsley showed high technique. Kingsley’s late cut the pick of his 3 boundaries. Palmer was bowled by a straight one but proved resolute. 23 for 1

Coulthard and Stolworthy meant business and were exquisite between the wickets, pressurising the fielders and running sharply at every opportunity. Coulthard was dismissed once but continues to impress picking his shots. 20 for 1

Neece and Cairns looked to keep up the pressure on the quick singles, but Neece was caught out with a direct hit. Cairns whipped a delightful one off his toes for the pick of his 3 boundaries before being undone by one that nipped back. 21 for 3.

Mills and Brown found themselves back at the scene of their last ball triumph a month previous and faced the pick of the bowlers, with 3 wickets tumbling. Mills capitalized on the bowling machine practice with some excellent off side shots. 14 for 3.

Stolworthy and Coulthard were elected to pad back up and both hit a pair of boundaries but unfortunately both were bowled twice, but good practice nonetheless. 28-4.

An impressive 133 runs in the 24 overs but once again 15 wickets at -5 runs a piece really proving costly. 58 the total.

A couple of physically stronger under 13’s effectively ended proceedings after the second pairing, with the ball being dispatched frequently, expertly and competently to all parts, which was then continued, with morale low.

Taking an over each and rotating, Brown, Mills and Palmer all felt the wrath before Neece slowed events by pitching the ball up. 36 – 0

Kingsley showed what could be done when the ball was pitched up and removed middle stump. While the wicket machine, Stolworthy, produced a wicket maiden with Coulthard taking a smart catch in the covers. Cairns was proving an excellent cover behind the stumps as Devenney and Coulthard experienced some big hitting. 30 -2

The boundaries kept accumulating and although it was quiet heads never dropped. Palmer lifting spirits with a clean bowled as the third pair finished with 37 for 1.

Kingsley pouched a smart catch off the bowling of Neece which was followed in the next over with a caught and bowled from none other than Stolworthy. 38 for 2

Coulthard bowled a tidy second over, only a wide preventing a maiden as Normington got in the wickets. Brown, Palmer, Kingsley, Neece, Stolworthy and Normington all got the nod from Leggy for a 3rd over.

A maiden from Palmer was followed with a wicket for Normington with Stolworthy taking the catch. Kingsley finished impressively with a wicket maiden after a clean bowled. Leaving Stolworthy as the pick of the bowlers. A second wicket maiden finishing with figures of 3-2-2-3

360 runs for the loss of only 9 wickets meant a comprehensive victory for Gedling and Sherwood as Palmer and Kingsley shot off for the Durham innings at Trent Bridge.

A good practice with the emphasis on pitching the ball up and keeping the wickets down.

Monday 1st June – Wollaton (a)
Tuesday 2nd June – Radcliffe (h)