Fabulous Finale for the U12's

Simon ‘Smudger’ Smith’s Gedling and Sherwood side were the opposition for the Under 12’s 20/20 match to kick start the Bank Holiday proceedings. As documented a sterling effort from the Sunday morning working party ensured the mindless vandalism would not prevent the most popular club event from occurring.

Both teams set about a warm up - the Keyworth boys shocked with it not be a regular match day procedure. Shepherd was soon sent by Legge on a lap of the boundary for excessive tomfoolery. Adult wicket, boundary and ball were testament to how far both sets of players had come. Hennessy, Normington and Steiner were absent in an otherwise strong looking side.

Back (L-R) Tuckers, Jack Cairns, Harry Stolworthy, Greg Mills, Isaac Brown, Leggy

Front (L-R) Josh Coulthard, Mackenzie Shepherd, Tom Newell, BenHealey, Joe Neece, Zachary Tudor

Healey won the toss and wisely elected to bat with wicketkeeper Cairns absent, having not got in until 4am – this time holidays - maybe different reasons in the future! Cairns arrived looking surprisingly fresh but forgoing the soldiers for his eggs and opened up with Tudor – across the wicket a new experience.

The second over proved sticky with Tudor pushing for a tight return run but ending up short while Neece came and went clipping to square leg with Tuckwell worrying if it would go the distance. 6-2 off 2.

Leading run scorer Healey came in at 4 needing 19 runs for 250 for the season and played sensibly providing an able foil for Cairns, who was showing no sign of weariness pushing hard to advance the score. 38 for 2 at the halfway stage as Legge signaled to accelerate.

Some deft flicks and good running saw Cairns reach 26* before retiring with the 50 partnership surpassed (52) and a new record for the 3rd wicket. Healey (25*) followed in the next over to a similar rapturous applause from the ever increasing crowd.

Coulthard and Newell found themselves entrusted with maintaining the momentum, a cracking offside hit from the former raced to the boundary before a top edge was gleefully pouched by the keeper. 77-3 off 17.

With 80 the pre innings target, Shepherd was given licence to push towards the 3 figure mark with 18 balls remaining, and Stolworthy and Mills padded up and prowling. 2 quick singles saw Shepherd reach his personal milestone of 100 runs for the season before some good hitting and a lofted straight drive to the boundary concluded the KCC innings, on a very pleasing 94-3 off 20. 72 runs off the bat and Tuckwell and Legge both proud, but job half done.

A demand for sharp fielding and accurate bowling was the message with Mills, Stolworthy and Brown entrusted to open up having not batted and Cairns being pushed to his limits behind the stumps.

Leading marksman, Stolworthy, was denied his 21st wicket off his opening over but he didn’t have long to wait, squaring the burly right handed opener up - Legge raising the finger for LBW and Dimp shaking his head in despair… not since 2001…

Mills bowled tightly in tandem a solitary boundary from the robust number 3 the only score. 15-1 off 3. Brown was keen to go out with a bang and produced a fine delivery which reared up presenting a straight forward chance to Tudor which was gladly taken. Shepherd was clearly fired up as two became 3 with the middle stump of number 4 being removed.

The Dangerman Dismissed - cue the customary celebrations

Some strong batting amid some good line and length from Tudor and Neece was finally disrupted as Tudor struck in the 8th over – Stolworthy taking the chance having spilled one off the same bowler in his previous over.

Give us a hug - Macca wheels away to celebrate with Hazza

27-4 off 8 compared to 27 for 2 at the same stage. All to play for

The innings was halted midway for the Evening Post photographer to get some action shots, (see Page 13 of Tuesday's Post). The boys proved the adage of you should never work with children or animals with concentration waining as the camera kept clicking for the money shot. It's professional boys you’ll have to get used to it!

Some excellent fielding and great pressure bowling from Coulthard and Neece prevented the necessary acceleration to keep in touch with the run rate. Newell turned the screw further with a clean bowled in his first over with Mills grateful to Healey’s positioning with a tidy take. 39-6 off 13. 56 needed off 42.

Tom gets his man

Healey (2-1-1-1) swung the match firmly in Keyworth’s favour with excellent line and a neat caught and bowled. 43-7 off 15 - 95 looking a tall order. The Gedling 8 and 9 batted sensibly and showed good understanding running some sharp singles and valuing their wicket to finish undefeated, as Shepherd finished off.

57-7 off the 20 overs and only 18 extras was an excellent effort for the Keyworth boys who have progressed beyond measure and perhaps finished with their most complete performance of the season.

Tremendous support once again and a fantastic conclusion to the season. Thank you to all involved.

2020 Vision

Our 2020 day goes ahead today as planned despite the vandalism to our square on Friday night.

The Under 12's kick things off at 11am, with the main event at 1pm.

A BBQ and licensed bar will be in operation all day.

Pitch Battle

Friday night saw the worst case of vandalism in the 194 year history of the Club. The hallowed turf on the square at the Field of Dreams had been dug up. This was a systematic approach to make the entire square unplayable, with both ends of every strip on the square littered with craters and divots.

The First Team's final league game of the season had to be re-routed to Clifton, but of more concern was the threat to Monday's 2020 Club Day. An emergency working party, boosted by tea and cakes, spent Sunday morning helping Groundsman Mick White to replace turf and fill in divots.

A new pitch for the 2020 was prepared in a divot free section on the middle of the square at 90 degrees to the usual direction.

Thanks to everyone who gave up their free time to lend a hand, and especially to Mick for helping us to put right the damage. Rumours were already circulating as to who might have caused the damage ....... !!!!!!!!!

A Triumph Over Adversity

Following the malicious damage to the Field of Dreams’ wicket the night before the game, Keyworth and Gotham collectively put two fingers up to whoever wanted to spoil their last match of the season by relocating to a hastily prepared wicket in Clifton. Gotham needed to beat the ‘home’ side to secure promotion to Div A, and the Millers were playing for pride.

The wicket was as firm as SpongeBob SquarePants and the outfield as long as Rocket’s hair, so stand-in skipper Rob Baker was relieved to win the toss and elected to field first. From the off Rocket Rendu (7-3-10-2) was getting the ball to swing and seam, and with the ball not coming on, found a leading edge in the first over to make the perfect start.

From then on none of the Gotham top order batsmen ever looked really comfortable, and wickets fell at regular intervals leaving Gotham at 85-5. Had Keyworth held onto their dropped catches, it could have been 85 all out! The fielding display was abysmal; Bobby (15-3-51-1) had a five-for in dropped catches off his bowling, which one can imagine he was really pleased about!

At the other end, new spin partner Dave Hiller (3.3-0-23-4) showed him how to do it by getting 4 wickets in as many overs, but the player himself admitted it was the filthiest 4-for he’d ever got!

Dave Strong also contributed with 2-31 off his 9, and should have had 3 but for a Dave Hiller drop under a skier. Dave tops the catching chart this season, but he must also be top of the drops. Next season a serious effort is needed at nets to improve the Keyworth catching.

Gotham relied on the clean hitting of Simon North (42) and the nurdling of Tom Chamberlain (22) to post a respectable score, but at tea 166 all out off 45 overs seemed 15-20 short of a winning total, plus Keyworth were gifted 2 additional overs should they need them.

Marc Bailey supplied the tea, and due to the lack of a pavilion the players all mucked in to dine picnic-style. It was a very good effort all things considered, the egg mayo and ham salad sandwiches were good, but the mushroom pasta highlight went untouched as there were no forks!

After the break, the wind got up and the sun went in leaving the scorers ffffffreeezing and the players sitting in their cars. The opening pair of Bailey and Somekh found the going tough, but put away the bad ball. Marc was out caught for 9 and Dale was soon to follow LBW for 1. Rocket (21) set about the Gotham attack but seemed to be triggered LBW just when he was enjoying himself. Ben Elliott was well caught by the keeper down the leg-side in the same over, leaving the hosts struggling at 53-4.

It was a case of cometh the hour as Dave Strong cemented his place as Keyworth’s top all rounder by putting on an 89 run partnership with Adam (43). The opener had set himself a target of going the distance until, after hitting a century to fielders, he had a rush of blood and was run out by half the track going for a suicidal single, leaving 30 to get in the final 9 overs.

When Scooby (22 not out) went into bat about 20 minutes remained until the park gates would be locked. Tony decided he didn’t want to nudge it around, and he and Dave teed off with the latter trying to end it in style with two sixes, with the second one being miscued and caught for a magic match-winning 61. With 3 overs remaining, the winning runs came courtesy of 4 over throws just as the park keeper blew his whistle.

So, in the end although the win could not prevent Keyworth from being relegated, it felt like a victory over the vandals who thought they could prevent the match from being played.

In summary, 2009 was a season of two halves. The first 9 games yielded a paltry 35 points and the last 9 games produced 93 points. It was all too little too late, but with Newstead finishing the season as poorly as KCC had started it, the margin between staying up and relegation was a mere 8 points.

Grizzly at Risley

The Stiffs took a mixture of the young and the old to Risley for the final game of the season.

Leggy won the toss, and his decision to field, with just eight men present, matched Ricky Ponting's decision to omit Nathan Hauritz for the last Ashes test.

The eight men went to mow and were soon on the wrong end of a run fest. Billy and Leggy opened up and bowled well but there were spaces galore. Leggy's bowling resources were stretched further than one of his Tweedie's shirts, such that Drurs was brought on first change for his first proper bowl of the season. The Chairman surprised even himself by pitching 28 of his 30 deliveries somewhere on the wicket. Drurs and Boom Boom behind the stumps were soon chuntering and giving double-teapot poses after a couple of plum LBW's were turned down. Dimps at mid off chuckled to himself at the theatrics, safe in the knowledge that he too would have kept his finger firmly in his pocket.

JB (5-0-33-1) trundled in up the hill and made the first breakthrough, Leggy taking a simple catch at cover point. And young Ben Healey showed how far the under 12's have progressed with a steady spell at the other end (4-0-32-0). But, the gaps in the field seemed to widen, not helped by our arthritic fielders who wouldn't have been out of place in the adjoining Treetops Rest Home for retired cover points. Risley raced to 130-1 off 20 overs.

Reinforcements arrived over the horizon in the shape of Evergreen Ernie. Ern donned the keeper's mits to allow Ted to bowl his gentle swingers. Then Paul Lay turned up after the football final whistle and we suddenly looked like a team in the field. Drurs came back for a second spell and ran through the middle order taking 5 wickets in 5 overs with four clean bowled's to end with figures of 5-39 off 10 overs. Kitcho brought up the full complement with a couple of overs to go with news of his first century of the season, but sadly this was on the golf course! Leggy nipped in with a final wicket and at tea we had pulled the home side back to 250-7.

Tea was well above the usual away standard, with the pickle and onion varieties of cheese sandwiches the highlight.

In reply Drurs and Ern set off at a rare old gallop as the young opening attack served up a succession of long hops. We reached 100 in the 17th over without alarm. Drurs needed to leave early and decided to hit out or get out. With the clock ticking, the more he tried, the more edges that fell to ground, until bowled from one ugly smear too many for 72. Ernie fell a couple of overs later for 43 and we were then on the back foot.

Paul Lay (1), Billy (7) and young Ben (2) and Chris See-Soar (0) fell looking to push for quick runs and it was left to Boom Boom (27) and Kitch (25) to get us to maximum batting points. Dimps and Leggy fell cheaply and we ended up on 199 all out.

A heavy defeat in the end, but a fun day out.

Heatwave For Twenty20 On Monday

"Bank Holiday Monday generally dry and warm, the best of the sunshine in the south and east, becoming very warm in the southeast."

Junior Twenty20 Match v Gedling & Sherwood 11am
Adult Twenty20 Match 2pm

BBQ and Licensed Bar all afternoon

Firsts down and out

The Rolls Royce batsman put Keyworth to the sword as the firsts were relegated from Div B with one match remaining.

At the toss the skippers agreed to let Keyworth bat first as the Hiller sisters were helping their sister to pass her driving test at the 7th attempt, and didn't arrive until the 19th over - one assumes she took a wrong turn out of the test centre...

For once the Millers got off to a good start with 29 put on in quick time for the first wicket until Adam (9) was caught behind. Marc Bailey (17) was looking fluent off his legs until he got triggered LBW to one that was going over and down leg side. Emma Dale found some form at last and looked set to have a partnership with Tinno until the skipper again fell victim to an LBW that never was for 11. Scooby (4) managed to hit a full toss from the worlds worst leg-spinner straight down the throat of deep square-leg. Two balls later Meeky was on his way back after not seeing the first and edging the second to the keeper. Next over Dale (31) was back in the hutch after being caught by the leggy after clipping the ball onto his boot and seeing it spoon up for an easy c&b. Ben and Strongy then put on 20 until Ben (13) was out to an ugly hoick, and similarly Bobby (15) had an entertaining but all too short cameo. Strongy (12) didn't quite get another red-inker, and the twins were unable to see out the final overs as Dave was out for 8 leaving Andy stranded on 6; 149 all out in the 46th over was about 100 short of a decent total on a good batting wicket and super fast outfield.

Tea was good, held in the superb clubhouse that was showing the Ashes on a big screen, and was perfectly timed to see Trott get his ton.

After the break it seemed that the Royce batsmen had to be at a party as they teed off in Twenty20 style, with their opening bat smashing 50 off 29 balls and ultimately getting to the target inside 22 overs, with only 2 wickets down, bringing up his ton in 68 balls in the process after being dropped 3 times in the 90's. The Millers were glad they didn't field first or they could have been chasing 350+.

Ben has leapt up the scorers favourite chart for offering to carry Shelley's bag at tea and after the game; brought up not dragged up that one.

With it all to play for at the top of the league it would be nice to spoil Gotham's party next week for one final hurrah this season.

Following the days proceedings Bobby decided to drown his sorrows and retreat to the comfort of his castle...

Stiffs Hit For Six

In control until 5.30pm the Stiffs were blitzed by an amazing innings at home to old friends Clifton.

With undated 20p coins going for a mint on eBay, what price for Cowlard's double headed coin? Another lost toss, but for a change we had the chance to bat on a beautiful Summer's day.

Drurs and Dougie set off as if trying to bat for two days to save a Test. Nursing a post stag-do hangover, Dougie was seeing even more stars when ducking into a pull shot and copping a blow on the helmet. After a fine boundary Doug was then c&b for 9. Beakey once again batted fluently but on 16 kept his eye on an incoming Ryanair flight rather than the ball and lost his off bail.

Ted joined Drurs and after a steady start the pair upped the rate in a partnership of 92. Drurs reached a 1,000 runs for the season hit straight to fielders, while Boom Boom was finding his range with trademark leg side lofts. At 154-2 with 7 overs to go the slog was well and truly on. Ted was knackered, couldn't make a second run, and was run out for 52. Drurs followed three balls later bowled to an ugly slog for 66.

This let in Cowlard for a cameo knock with shots hit to places where you couldn't set a field. Kitch chipped a quick 6 and Liam was caught off the back of his bat for 1. AC was left on 31 not out as we reached 198-6 at the break.

Tea was an Italian feast from the Legge's: tonno pasta and the arancio e barbabietole sorpresa were the highlights for many, Cadbury's mini rolls for others.

In reply Cowlard bowled another dangerous but luckless opening spell, edges and miss hits going everywhere but to hand. Kitch meanwhile took the more direct route hitting the top of off for the first wicket.

Liam had been modelling his approach to bowling on darts' superstar Peter 'One Dart' Manley. And for the second week running 'One Ball' Elliott took a wicket with his first ball, Ted taking a great catch running backwards. Liam needed only two more balls to get another wicket, a fine caught and bowled. Boss Hogg trundled in down the hill and bowled the second dangerous Fairhall brother and at 60-4 we were well on top. Leggy took advantage of bowling at the paper boy in at no.6 to post figures of 9-2-27-1.

What we hadn't bargained for was the innings of this and many another season from Clifton's no.5. Our bowling went to all parts as he scored an unbeaten 113 out of the remaining 139 runs with some amazingly clean hitting. Kitch (2-56) was clonked twice onto the Ashley Road roofs, Cowlard (1-45) into the Vicarage, and Liam (2-47) one bounce into the car park. Poor JB started off with a maiden and then joined in the carnage with 20 from his next over. Leggy unfortunately dropped a sharp chance in the 70's, but otherwise this was a chanceless knock.


Watching legends Baker and Hepburn could hardly believe what they were seeing. With Rocket and Iggy also watching from the sidelines, Cowlard looked to be lining up a 'bloodgate' replacement to his bowling attack, but the claret dripping from Leggy's mouth turned out to be ketchup left over from tea.

AC and Kitch nipped in with consolation wickets but the game was up in the 40th over. We were made to feel even better when the Clifton lads revealed their no.5 had scored less than 80 runs in total for the rest of the season!

The Key To England's Batting

After another dismal batting display, two of England's over-looked batting stars drowned their sorrows, and dreamt of what could have been ..........

Not all nights out 'round Rudd...

VEGAS BABY!

It appears that it's not just the bright lights of the Ruddington strip that Keyworth's Star All Rounder, Ball, has an interest in. By day a mild mannered Ergo Salesman. By night one of the Vegas high rollers! Does Donna know?

It’s Not Over ‘Til It’s Over

Tuckwell returned from honeymoon duties for potentially the last game of the season and a chance to exceed this seasons expectations with a second win. Due to holidays both teams fielded a mixture of experience and youth - Pavier, Kitching and Hefter all stepping up.

A beautiful night at Ellerslie saw Normington lose the final toss as Ellerslie opted to bat. Shepherd and Healey opened up. 11 off 2 was a steady start for the home side before the deadly duo swung the match on its head. Shepherd with a triple wicket maiden: A first ball cleaned bowled followed by an LBW, which Mackenzie was the only one to appeal for, and another clean bowled in his last 2 deliveries. Very pleasing to see that the celebrations were still best in the league.

Healey, not to be overshadowed, opened with a clean bowled and a straight forward caught and bowled, with Tuckwell wondering if he would accept $5 as the hat trick prize. 4 dot balls and a double wicket maiden left the home side reeling at 11 for 5 off 4, and surely job done…

Shepherd returned for his hat-trick ball but was dispatched to the boundary as the dangerous number 5 set about rebuilding the innings. His final over left him with season best figures of 4-1-24-3 and thoroughly deserved.

Mills was brought in to the attack and immediately removed the danger man with smiles all round on the boundary -28 for 6 off 6. Although from this point it was a feeling of job done as the ground fielding was a little lethargic at best, with the ball rolling agonizingly under finger tips and through legs, with the exception of Captain Normington leading by example.

Hennessy was doing a tremendous job behind the stumps with the wide count esculating and the scorecard accelerating. Healey returned to finish with another wicket and his best figures for the season. 4-1-12-3 with the score on 71 for 6 off 16.

Normington removed the chief tormentor for 18, after a smart dive, roll and throw into the keepers gloves to claim an excellent run out.

Young plum Cameron Hefter, 9, had another tidy spell pitching it up well in only his second hard ball experience. Cairns delivered a much needed wicket and great line in the final over to restrict Ellerslie to 88 for 9.

With 51 extras, mostly wides, the changing room door firmly closed Legge and Tuckwell took on bad cop – bad cop role, but still instilled the belief that it could be done.

Cairns and Healey opened up posting 22 for the first wicket, Cairns possibly hitting the shot of the season, a square cut that raced to the boudary, before being bowled round his legs.

Coulthard kept the scoreboard ticking with Healey before a superb caught and bowled removed him. Normington (3) fell soon after followed by Shepherd (0) then Healey who was unfortunately bowled off his pads. At 42 for 5 off 12 and the time at 8pm, the outlook was decidedly gloomy, especially as Stolworthy followed in the next over.

Arise Sir Hennessy (24*) and a magnificent swash buckling innings of cuts dabs and express running between the wickets accompanied by the light of the moon and Hefter. With 22 required off the last over the ball was tossed to an unbowled member of the opposition.

wide-5wides-wide-2-dot-wide – suddenly had Tuckwell hauling the rest of the Keyworth team out of the nets to come and watch the improbable. 12 off 4 – A choice cut, from Hennesy was sucked all the way to the boundary with 8 off 3 required.

Wide-wide – 6 off 3 – dot –single- wide. With 4 needed to win off the final ball. The teary eyed bowler held his nerve as Hennessy scampered through for a bye leaving Keyworth 2 short on 86 for 8.

Legge and Tuckwell were delighted with the boys’ response as the opposition manager breathed a sigh of relief. A tremendous gutsy man-of-the-match performance from Hennessy saw Keyworth out score their opponents 56-37, unfortunately the downfall 51-30 in extras.

Some important lessons to turn the screw when you are on top and bowl at the stumps and anything can happen until the final ball is bowled.

The season finale, unless Unity pull their finger out, will be against Simon Smith’s Gedling and Sherwood side in a Junior 20/20 game leading up to the main 20/20 game on Bank Holiday Monday – August 31st.

Black tie

Barring a last minute reprieve from the league, should they decide only one team will go down from B following Loughborough's resignation, the Millers look to be facing a 2nd successive relegation and life in Div C next year.

The first team met bottom placed Kimberley in a relegation dogfight, and at the end of the match it was clear that both teams have failed due to their batting performances rather than their prowess in the field.

Tinno won the toss and asked the visitors to bat on a firm but still drying wicket. Rocket opened up and bowled with aggression and control to return 1-20 in his 9 overs. The first wicket was actually a sharp run out by Marc Bailey who picked up the ball at 1st slip, following a big LBW shout from Andy Hiller (0-14 off 8), and threw down the stumps to make Kimberley's opening bat even more miserable than normal.

Scooby (1-12 off 4) came on for Rocket and took a wicket in his 1st over, but he was out-done by newly wed Dave Strong (2-41 off 11) who took a remarkable c&b that could be a cert for catch of the season. It was catch it or wear it time as he gobbled up an Exocet, leaving the basement club struggling at 79-4 0ff 30 overs.

Without IG in the team the skipper was looking for someone to pair up with Bobby (2-31-10) to close out the innings. Who better to turn to than Dave Hiller, who has been perfecting his F&G all season off his long run up. However, credit where it's due, apart from the 10 runs off his first over courtesy of a couple of full bungers, Dave (2-14 off 3.4) showed the potential to become a decent left arm spinner - and actually hit the stumps twice!

Keyworth's bowling and fielding display was the best seen this term, and at 136 all out, the home side had the advantage at half time.

Tea was a great effort, seemingly made by the skipper as he brought it in his car, but he was only taking the glory from the twins who did their 2nd tea of the year. They were assisted by Shelley who provided some old school favourite treats. Her crunchy cornflake tarts and the boys' fruit kebabs were the highlights.

Breaking News...Dougie has fallen from his lofty perch as Scorer's favourite (supplanted by Dave Hiller) due to favouring watching Forest over playing cricket...

Adam and Marc opened up but were unable to tick the scoreboard over as the opening bowlers kept things tight before 3 wickets fell quickly. In the 10th over Adam was caught behind off a mystery edge with the score only on 12. Dale lasted only 3 balls before being yorked, and Tinno mullered a full toss right down cover's throat leaving the home side at 22-3.

Rocket (17) came in and tried to get things going but he was eventually caught on the boundary after looking set to form a match winning partnership with Bails who was looking set to carry his bat at the other end. But Scooby and Ben both came and went and it was left to Strongy to try to stop the rot at 78-7 with 15 overs left. However, a sharp run saw Marc (42) cramp up and unable to make his ground (or leave the field for 5 mins afterwards!), so at 80-8 the writing was on the wall.

The two Dave's, Hiller and Strong had other ideas and put on 56 in the last 10 overs to take things down to the wire. 23 was required off the final 3 overs, 17 off the final two and ultimately 12 off the final over. Strong was facing, and, as predicted by his nervous teammates, launched a full delivery over long on for a huge 6. A scampered 2 and a single off the next two balls saw only 3 required with Dave Hiller on strike. He tried in vein to dab a single for two desperate dots, but managed to hit a two off the final ball to see the match tied with Strong on 37 and Hiller on 16. Only a win would give some hope of making it out of the bottom 2, so the result left an empty feeling for both sides.

Kitch Turns 30

A last ball loss for the Stiffs away at Attenborough spoilt a landmark day for Kitcho.

Cowlard continued his record of losing every toss this decade and we were put into a bat. The exposed Long Lane ground was windier than Leggy after an evening at Indian Nights, and it took gold arrow scouting skills for the home side to secure the temporary sightscreens. The outfield looked to have been allotments in a previous life, with most of the UK varieties of cabbage sprouting somewhere. Meanwhile there was more chance of life on the Moon than in the slow, low pitch.

Ern and Drurs set off like Paula Radcliffe in a 60m sprint, blocking out six maidens in the first eight overs, against the best opening attack we'd seen all year. Ernie decided to put the bowlers off their lengths by batting a yard outside his crease and then charging down the pitch to create half volleys from long hops. And it worked, scoring 25 out of the first 36 runs, before diasaster. Drurs hadn't run a three since he was 18 and settled for two after Ern drove a ball to mid on. Sadly the call got drowned out by a combination of the wind and the passing 2.12 from St.Pancras. Ern had plenty of opportunity to get back in his ground, but kept running and running ........ all the way to the pavilion!

Beakey joined Drurs for a gritty partnership of 68, with both scoring at least another 50 to fielders, before Drurs was out caught and bowled for a dull-as-ditchwater 39. Butch perished two overs later for 38.

Next ball, skipper Cowlard was soon one nearer to matching Courtney Walsh's record number of test match ducks. Kitcho treated the hat trick ball with little respect and breezed his way to a quick 17. Ted chipped in with 11 and Greeny 4 not out, before Kitch was out off the last ball to see us to 145-6 at tea, about 15 short of an ideal target as it turned out.

Tea was a great spread, the lack of any chairs or tables made it into an al fresco picnic. Sausage meat balls and Mr.Kipling's cherry bakewells were the exceedingly good highlights.

In reply AC and Kitch bowled just as tightly as the home side keeping the score down to 20 off the first 10 overs. Liam came on for Kitch and took a wicket with his first ball, AC taking a fine catch low at mid on. Leggy had fitness worries, barely able to see his feet, after a 10 course family banquet while away in Italy, and pulled up with cramp after his first ball. The Boss struggled through 8 overs for 27 runs. We had to wait for another breakthough until the score had passed 50 when Liam hit leg stump with a beautiful in-swinger.

Cowlard and Kitch came back for second spells. Cowlard finally got an LBW, after two more clear-cut appeals had been turned down, on the way to great figures of 1-23 off 12 overs. Kitch nipped in with two more wickets and we were well in the game at 95-5, with 50 needed off 10 overs.

A good 6th wicket partnership rescued Attenborough as our fielding showed signs of age. Leggy hobbled after an on-drive like Herr Flick of the Gestapo, only to collapse in agony on his back with cramp, his leg bolt upright, like a dog waiting for its belly to be scratched!

Kitch then swung the game back in our favour with a run out off his own bowling, and then a clean bowled to reach 30 wickets for the season - a fantastic achievement in his first season back after retirement. Kitch bowled out with 3-34 off his 12 overs.

It was even money with 30 needed off 4 overs and Attenborough's best batsman still at the crease. Some lusty slogs left about four needed off the last over, though it was hard to be sure as the scoreboard resembled the bottom line on an opticians eye test chart, and it was a case of 'should have gone to Specsavers' for most of the KCC fielders.

Liam went for two off the first ball, but then took two wickets in two balls. A scampered single left the scores tied with one ball to go and the no.11 on strike. Chaos reigned as a forward defensive saw everyone scrambling for the ball and Ernie's under-arm narrowly missing the stumps to see us lose in heart-breaking fashion. Liam finished with a season's best 4-38.

A great game, played in fine spirit.

Strong Completes Hat Trick

Dave and Michelle, the new Mr and Mrs Strong, followed the Ladd's and the Tuckwell's up the aisle last Friday to complete a hat trick of KCC weddings.

Congratulations from all at KCC.

Liam's Eleven Update

With Leggy away in Italia, Liam led the Sunday stragglers for the home but away fixture against Ernehale at Platt Lane.

Despite the wet weather, the newly laid track was as hard as any seen all season, and much more pleasantly sited than the previous square.

Liam had learnt well from years playing under Cowlard, winning the toss and bowling. Despite good bowling from the skipper, Billy Harrison, and youngsters Alex 'well bowled Shane' Riley and Isaac 'Izzy' Brown, some fine batting saw the home side race to 120 without loss. Liam tossed the ball to Drurs in desperation, without hope or expectation, but as is so often, the talented Ernehale opener couldn't decide quite where to hit the filth for 6 and holed out to Billy, juggling the catch.

After this breakthrough, a steady stream of wickets fell, with Liam, Isaac, Alex, Sheriff and Billy all successful. Drurs dropped a sitter with two balls to go, much to Dimps amusement, and we headed for tea with 178 conceded off 40 overs.

Tea was bang up there with any KCC spread, understandable given that Lorraine had prepared it!! Freshly cooked chocolate rice krispie cakes were the highlight.

In reply Duncan Disorderly and Chris See-Soar, showed what England had been missing, putting on 40 for the first wicket, doggedly leaving anything off the stumps, but sadly taking 20 overs going about it! Ted had fallen asleep in the scorer's chair, convinced he was watching himself batting at both ends!

Chris fell for 11, and young Alex, suffering from a nasty dose of pad rash, missed out soon after. Duncan's vigil, only slightly less dogged than Atherton's 9 hour 185 against South Africa, finally ended in the 30th over.

Beaky and Drurs had a quick slog for 30 odd each, and Liam chipped in with 14, but we were 30 runs short.

An enjoyable day. Thanks to Ted for scoring, Lorraine for doing teas, and the many Sunday supporters.

A,B,C, Easy As 1,2,3

News reaches us from the Wiltshire branch of the Supporters' Club, post honeymoon.

A Darren Gough lookalike gives lessons in Rock n' Roll on Strictly Come Dancing. Len Goodman generously gave him a "Seven!"

Laddy was available for comment: "The big fella had worse footwork than Bell, Bopara and Collingwood put together".

Adam Turns On The Taps

On a disappointing day at the Field of Dreams, Keyworth put in an inept batting display to concede all the points to relegation rivals Hucknall.

With Skipper Tindsley on a stag weekend (the Club feels it was a bit rude of Andy Hiller NOT to invite his brother?!?!?!), Dale on holiday, Strongy celebrating his marriage of the previous day, and Andy Hiller attending a Craft Fair with his first and only girlfriend in deepest Essex, changes were once again required!

Iggy was given the captain’s arm band and obviously lost the toss. This was a bad one to lose and we were unsurprisingly put in to bat on a damp wicket that would only improve under the sunny overhead conditions.

Even with the changes, we had (on paper once again!!!) a strong batting line up, and were confident that 150 would be a useful target but we got nowhere near that in reality...

Iggy went early on for 1, playing an expansive drive before Marc Bailey and Adam Somekh dug in to try and ensure that we lasted all 48 overs. Unfortunately both fell in quick succession as 28 for 1 after 18 overs, turned into 30 for 3 after 20.

Ted and Tony then entered the fray with Scooby quickly returning back to the hutch, unable to repeat his magic of a fortnight ago. As our latest signing put in a no show, Rocket entered the crease to give the innings a little bit of impetus hitting an easy-on-the-eye 36 off 32 balls, including the shot of the day, a straight driven six.

During Rocket’s innings, Adam was standing amongst his team mates and officials watching proceedings, when he was approached by a Hucknall official in what was one of the least subtle “tap ups” of all time, well, at least since the same gentleman made a similar approach a month ago in the corresponding fixture. Unluckily for the said gentleman, Bobby Baker was in earshot and challenged his actions in what can be best prescribed as a polite but forthright manner! Baker questioned Hucknall CC’s behaviour before finishing the conversation promptly as another pathetic excuse was unloaded.

Anyway, moving on, the dismissal of Rocket and Ted (6 from 47 balls for the Grinder) led to Benji and Doug at the crease. When Ben spooned one up for a duck, he was replaced by the now slightly wound up Baker. 30 seconds later his mood worsened considerably as he was given out LBW for the first time in 5 years for a “goldie”!

Doug quickly followed for 2, leaving Dave Hiller on 0* as the 10 men of Keyworth returned a disappointing 79 all out from 39.1 overs. Credit to the two Hucknall spinners who snared 7 for 37 between them, and to their skipper and keeper for some good field placing and work between them.

Tea was a typical Jean Anderson master piece – Onion Bhaji’s, multiple wraps and fresh cream scones being the highlight.

The Hucknall lads were purring, it made a change from poached eggs and tap water, and they could see why Adam wasn’t going to be tempted away from the Hot ‘Plate’ (oops I meant ‘hot bed’) of Village cricket to “a small town near Mansfield” (sorry Shelley and Jenko!)…

The bhaji’s weren’t the only things making things spicy at teatime. Keyworth had two spare places at the dinner table, one was the absent chair saved for the new recruit, the other was Iggy’s who, after a verbal volley of sarchasm about the bowling line up from Grumpy Bear Baker, decided to dine alfresco with the Club’s Under 5 members!

Bobby dragged Iggy to one side for a kiss and a cuddle, and for them to both find their respective dolly and teddy bear which had been depositied out of their own prams and into those of the KCC creche. The result meant that Rocket had a couple of steady overs from the top end but as the ball was gripping for spinner Graham, Baker was soon introduced and both the tweakers quickly settled in to a decent rythmn. Unfortunatley the Hucknall boys batted patiently in pursuit of a below par total with little pressure on them chasing just 80.

Hucknall lost just 2 wickets (both openers bowled by Baker - 2 for 26 from 12) and despite some tight bowling from seamers Rocket, Dave and Tony in their short bursts, and the spin twins (IG and RB), the visitors had a deserved and comnprehensive victory, forcing home the advantage they held ever since the coin left Iggy’s fingers.

However, one champagne moment did occur during the day when the visitors were on about 40 for 1 and the league’s leading run scorer Robin Maxwell straight drove Iggy to long on.

The man at the centre of the “poach-gate", Adam Somekh, ran around to stop the ball just inside the boundary. As he slid anticipating the ball to reach him, he didn’t realise that Beechdale Baths was having an away day. He made a dive that the World Diving Champion Tom Daley would have been proud off, sliding about 8 yards and into the deep end - unfortunately this was 7 ½ yards past the ball which had already stopped and sunk in the lake – the dirty whites 2009 competition was also over in a flash!

Ted being Clubman of the Century was happy to take Adam’s whites home to give to Lorraine, but Adam preferred the option of posting to Hucknall with a ‘thanks, but no thanks’ letter ………..

Please note: this incident was so amusing that it even forced Big Bear Baker and Graham into smiles! And found the umpires adjusting their 6 signals down to a 5.9!

In summary, we got well beaten after a very poor display and it was most definitely a week to be forgotten.

One consolation was that we had a good turnout at the pub including a debut for many of our Under 5’s .

Unfortunately about 5 seconds after the photo below was taken, a wasp was daring enough to try and come between Olivia Baker and her food – big mistake!!!

However, the wasp didn’t come off worst on this occasion though, as Olivia swung for the said insect, but in doing so she fell off the picnic table and cracked her head on the concrete patio slabs beneath. This lead to a crying fit similar to that offered by her father for several hours the very same afternoon, a bad day for the Baker’s and lucky Paula!

The Sven Effect

The biggest event in Nottingham for many years was overshadowed by the wedding of the new Mr and Mrs Tuckwell. Congratulations to Alex and Simon from all at KCC.

Wash Out

Both Saturday fixtures fell foul to the Great British Summer

Firsts rained off

Loughborough tried their best to get a game in with all hands to the pumps before the kick off, and in the end their big covers had done a good enough job to just about make the game playable on a wet wicket. Tinno lost the toss, and was asked to bat in a 33 overs a side match.

The forecast rain held off until the 28th over, by which time Keyworth had largely struggled to put bat to ball and reached 87 - 5. With the ball not coming on only skipper Tinno looked in touch as he hit a dogged 58 after opening up with Bobby.

The umpires called it a day after the teams sat down to enjoy a tea that easily took the 'best away tea' trophy this season. The assortment of cholesterol packed sweets were the highlight and rivalled anything seen at the Field of Dreams - praise indeed!