Tasty Bayford picks up first MOM...

It was a sun baked Field of Dreams as the winless firsts played host to unbeaten league leaders, the Hyson Green Caribs.

Just Strong, Graham, Rendu and Collison missing this week but KCC still managed to put out a pretty decent team. Tinno made it 2 from 2 for the toss this season and he elected to bat on a decent track, although the rain on Friday meant it did have a green tinge in it to encourage the seamers.

Bailey turned up at 1.29pm moaning about losing his contact lenses, however, the evidence that was apparent on his right shoulder told another story as he was sporting another ridiculous piece of body art added on the morning of the match! Ted stepped up from 3 to open with new signing Somekhe.

It was a steady start by both against a useful opening attack, but as was typical of the days proceedings, both got into double figures (15 each) but couldn't go on. Bails played fluently at no 3 and he put on 38 with Tinno (11) for the 3rd wicket but as the scoreboard was ticking over at less than 3 an over, both went as they tried to up the pace a little. Bailey eventually went for 35 including 3 sixes before he was bowled giving the spinner the charge.

Meeky and Potty then came together for a similar stand, Meeky first impact was to pull his hamstring (tart), Skipper Tinno went out to be his runner which meant two's were once again possible. Meeky hit 3 fours and 2 sixes in the top score of 37 and Potty added 9 in a useful partnership of 48 in 10 overs.

With the score at 130 with 7 overs to go, we looked a little light (well Ted, Meeky and Bobby did!?!?!?) but Benji Gilchrist came in and teed off. Dancing down the track to the seamers our confident stumper hit 33 from 21 balls, his knock also included 3 x 4's and 2 x 6's. Bayford and Baker tried to offer support, with the latter and Benji adding 27 in just 6 minutes, surprisingly with the Big Fella only getting 2 of them!

Ben was eventually bowled and another plum LBW for Dave Hiller meant the innings closed on 172ao; probably 30 runs shy on a decent deck, but the best structured and disciplined batting display of the season against the leagues best attack left room for optimism.

Next was the highlight of the afternoon, a banquet by Bayford - cheddar and red onion with mayo sarnies were great, but the "best sausage rolls I've ever tasted" quote from the pastry expert Baker ensured that this was the supreme highlight of the tea. Apparently 40 years of family tradition was shared when Grandma Allard broke her silence to the "housewives favourite" and gave him the delicious recipe!

Andy Hiller once again decided to leave tea early in a huff, but the jibes from the Senior Pro about his soon-to-visit girlfriend, weren't the reason - it was the surprise on Bobby's face to hearing that Andy was 26 years old. A response of, "26 and you've still never had a 5 for?!" went down like the proverbial with the fiery opener.

The Millers needed to get off to a good start in the field and did just that. In just the second over the housewives champ riffled in from the deep for Benji to whip of the bails and the opener was a foot short of his ground - 1 for 1.
Then Bill (2 for 43) and Ben took a wicket each as the visitors were 10 for 3, thanks largely to a great catch from Ben, diving forward to slide his Kenny Everett's under the ball.

KCC knew this was then a vital part of the game as ex-Plum Mahmood and semi-pro Douglas were at the crease. They played positively to put 40 on in 10 overs before Andy Hiller then got Douglas out. Keyworth felt they were in with a shout with one end to attack so the Skipper introduced spin into the attack - no, not with Bobby, but with his own off breaks (well somebody had to bowl up the hill as half of the bowling attack was missing and Meeky was limping around at slip).

Tinno bowled 10 steady overs for 46 runs but without a wicket, Bobby did join him at the other end to bowl another tight spell. He removed the number 6 for a duck and number 8 caught at long on by Boom Boom Elliott.

Sandwiched in between these though was the key moment on 100 for 5, when Benji snatched at an edge from Mahmood off Baker and crucially spilt it. Inzi was on 40 odd at the time and the Caribs had little to come from the hutch. Another run out did occur thanks to Andy Hiller but after years of playing against each other, Mahmood wasn't going to gift his wicket by trying to attack Baker, so his 2 for 28 off 14 were effective but not match winning!

At the other end Moody went on to hit 92no as the visitors achieved their target with 4 overs to go and 3 wickets in hand.

It turned out to be a great game between two sides who were well matched on the day, but unfortunately the league table doesn't lie, and next week sees a must win game at fellow strugglers Hucknall.

Man of the match should have been a first for Ben but it goes to Dougie (well, Grandma Allard) for that sausage roll recipe!