51 Not Out

Gotham were the visitors on another sunkissed evening at the Field of Dreams for a pairs match. Normington won the toss (yeah!) and decided to try and post a total rather than chase one. That was before the Gotham management informed that 2 of their players were just leaving Bingham School and could they borrow two boys to field… mmmmh…

Therefore the roles were reversed and Gotham padded up as Keyworth took the field. So does that technically count as a lost toss and 5 in a row…

Newell Snr relieved Tuckwell of scoring duties and rekindled fond memories of scoring as a youngster down at Unity, scooping the coveted title of 1984 Unity Clubman of the year for his unerring accuracy, presentation and comedic descriptions of the opposition.

Tuckwell patrolled the boundary as Legge donned his usual role in the middle. 8 overs passed with the wide count spiraling out of control as the Boss hauled the youngsters in for a grilling, before the next pair returned. Neece did point out that if the stumps had been set properly his full delivery would have dislodged middle and off rather than threading straight through them without anything moving! Brown did give the home faithful something to cheer about as buckets Newell took a routing chance at short midwicket. 257 – 1 off 8.

No one could have expected the outcome of the third pair, despite standing nearly 6 foot, the lean number 5 proceeded to hit a 20/20 style chanceless knock including every shot in the book for a whopping 51 runs in 16 deliveries. Including 2 huge sixes playing on the adult boundary. Cairns had his work cut out in the retrieval process but found every ball! Mills produced a terrific run out, hitting the only stump he could see, for the only bit of respite in a textbook Gotham pair. 317-2 off 12.

With Newell Snr asking after a new score sheet with more numbers, the KCC boys produced a terrific response: Steiner with a double wicket maiden in the 13th over with lovely flight and swing. Newell was miserly before Steiner (3-1-8-3) struck the stumps again. 329-5 off 16.

The final pair pushed the score on before Normington (2-0-8-1) clattered the timber in the penultimate over to redress the balance. 343-6 off 20. 308 to win.

Despite the large total it was a case of 5 an over without any wickets tumbling as the aim was to value your wicket ala R. Drury.

Shepherd was instructed to remain calm and get bat on ball before cutting lose and did so impressively, with Coulthard at the other end gaining in confidence with each game. A Shepherd boundary rattled the Gotham fielders with overthrows a plenty. Coulthard with his eye in played all round a straight one, before the pair ran a four on the final delivery to Shepherd’s dismay. 227-1 off 4 – brilliant start!

A Gotham umpire change did little to help the Keyworth cause with the legside wide interpretation hugely varied. The Gotham bowlers given the benefit of pitching it in Plumtree before the arms raised, but anyway…

Mills and Brown were solid in defence for the second time in a week. Brown missed a straight one in an otherwise faultless 4 overs with good clear running. 240-2 off 8.

Newell and Stolworthy put on another 14 runs without loss, no boundaries but terrific clear calling and good running to show the progression. 254-2 off 12.

Healey and Steiner with plenty of runs in the locker already this season set off guns blazing. Although the first ball nearly produced tears with both batsmen at the strikers end, but a complete horlicks allowed Healey to return safely. Healey picked out the wrong fielder trying to force one through the covers but 280-3 off 15 was a cracking effort. The left arm Gotham seamer effectively stamped his authority on the game, Healey clipping to midwicket before Steiner pulled across a straight one the very next delivery. 283-5 off 16.

Normington and Neece had free licence again. Neece crashing a mighty blow over the covers and scampered through for 3 off the first ball. The running was superb, Neece especially as the pair repelled the straight ones, took the extras and forced errors in the field. 18 off the final 4 overs and 301 – 5 off 20. 271.

36 runs short but the first time we have got over 100 runs and more importantly the lowest amount of wickets conceded, allowing for the first time a competitive score to be posted. A tremendous achievement and plenty to build on next week.

A special mention for a textbook scorecard.

Wollaton at home on Tuesday