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.