England beat the Aussies (again)

Keyworth ended their season on a high with the club Twenty20 match held on Bank Holiday Monday. Fortunately the weather forecast held for the fourth year running and a bumper crowd gathered to watch the Under 12’s and senior matches played back to back.

The seniors’ game was an Ashes-style battle between ‘Aussie convict’ Doug Bayford and ‘English knight’ Rob Baker who were captains for the day. Before kickoff, Bobby cried foul of the team selections that he’d been party to the previous week, so it was either last minute nerves or just some tomfoolery to give Dougie a false sense of security...

Bobby’s blue boys batted first with Tony Newby and Marc Bailey opening up. Scooby managed to hit Drurs, (Dougie’s opening strike bowler!), straight down the throat of Leeds festival hangover victim Geoff Tindsley who was patrolling the deep-cow corner boundary in the first over. This brought Boom-Boom Ted Elliott (19) to the wicket. He and Marc (26 retired) took a liking to the opening attack and Ted took great pleasure in sending son Ben to all parts, even when batting left-handed! There was no let up for Doug’s baggy greens as Rocket Man Steve Rendu (24 retired), Bobby Baker (19), Dave Hiller (24) and David Owen-Jones (25 retired) all tucked in to Doug’s flaccid attack and generous field placement.

However, the highlight of the innings, and the day, was seeing future KCC captain young Jack Palmer do his Dad all ends up first ball with a great delivery that sent the bails flying and the players into jubilation.

175-8 off their 20 overs was an above par effort for Bobby’s blue boys leaving a mountain to climb for Doug’s baggy greens.

The half time raffle saw a myriad of donated prizes won, including a Junior cricket bat, vouchers for an Indian Nights meal and tickets for Trent Bridge. Chris Soar managed to win twice, starting off with some wine gums and then opting for the vodka that was quickly confiscated by club President and Youth-Alcohol Prevention Officer Barry Baker.

In reply things were going to plan with opening pair Iggy and Cowlard both retiring after reaching 25 in quick time. But from then on, the baggy green middle order floundered with only Ben Elliott (11) and Dave Strong (17) ever looking like keeping up with the required run rate as Duncan Disorderly ripped through with 3-9 off his 2 overs. The blue team hung on to all their chances, with even Andy Hiller hanging on to one (this is not a misprint). With no chance of a victory, Jack Palmer (10*) and Sam Neece (3*) refused to give up their wickets at the end and saw the innings through to a close at 141-8, giving Bobby (and England) a deserved victory by quite a margin.

Rocket Rendu won the Most Valuable Player Award, collecting his bottle of champagne donated by Shelley and promptly leapt up the Scorer’s favourite chart by giving her a smacker on the lips in return!

Thanks must go as ever to all those who gave up their time both before and during the event to make it so enjoyable and such a success, and thanks also go to all those who took part and came to watch. Initial estimates are that the day raised over £330 towards funding next years’ junior sides.

One other thing that events like this aim to do is to attract youngsters to the game to secure its future. This was borne out by a magic moment overheard in the car park when a mum said to her young lad, “...well if you like cricket that much we’ll have to buy you some whites for next year...” Priceless.

See you all next year at the 2010 Twenty20!!!