1sts Win 4th In A Row.... In Style

Wollaton 2’s were this week’s visitors to the Field of Dreams; replacing the away side in the top half of the league table was an incentive for victory!

Benji and Strongy were absent but a late call up for home boy Cowlard and Duncan disorderly meant a strong side was still fielded...

After the early dismissal of Marc Bailey (who didn’t walk as he middled one to the keeper for 10), IG and Jamie put on 116 for the 2nd wicket in less than 20 overs. IG was in great form and smashed 114 off 76 balls including 6 x 6’s. Jamie played the supporting role hitting a useful 21.

Both fell in quick succession, Tinno (32) took up the anchor role and Rocket tried to emulate Ian but fell after a quick fire 28 caught at long off going for another maximum!

Steve was replaced by AC (or as he is now known NG12) who was under strict instructions to play within himself with 15 overs still to go. After a few quiet ones Andy cut loose and smashed 42 out of a partnership with his skipper of 62, this included 20 off one over!

Beake 9* and Kitch 5* were unbeaten at the end and although Ian was the mainstay, a good team effort including 8 x 6’s and 32 x 4’s meant we finished on a convincing 290 for 7 at the interval...

After Ian’s knock it was then time for the 2nd highlight of the day with Simon ‘Chopper’ Harris providing the tea – this was done free of charge to the Club by one of our much appreciated Vice President’s.

Highlights included Asparagus and goats' cheese pasta; mozzarella, tomato and mint salad and milk chocolate brownies mixed with a swirl of white chocolate (even Bulimic Bobby had to have a 2nd brownie, although he did have to pass on the fruit kebabs to accommodate!).

Time for Wollaton to bat and the Rocket Man took a wicket in the first over, this was quickly followed with a 2nd wicket as Bail’s took a great low catch at short extra cover to leave the visitors up against it.

Things went from bad to worse for both Wollaton and Bail’s as his catch of the season contender was surpassed just moments later by the athletic Baker (?!?!) in the gully. Baker defying his years (and waistline) dived full stretched to snare a one hander that never got higher than 6 inches above the ground. The stunned silence only broken by onlooker Roger Wilson who shouted out “Did you think it was a pork pie Rob?” Quality banter...

As drizzle was in the air the spinners were introduced to speed things up a bit, but Rob, Ian and pick of the three Dave Hiller all struggled to have much penetration on a slow featherbed against a team that had given up going for the win by the 25th over (when they had been reduced to 60 for 5).

Opposition skipper Andy Crossley batted stubbornly for a well constructed 67no and Wollaton gained 7 points as they finished on 148 for 8.

Rocket was once again the star bowler with two great spells giving him a return of 14 overs, 6 for 42. This also lifted him to 27 wickets for the season (one above Bobby). Kitch taking 2 for 31 off 12 also had some joy as he showed the form that he had shown at the start of the season!

A 142 run ‘winning draw’ and 17 points was enough to lift us into the top half.

Unfortunately the Firsts don’t have a fixture this week but hopefully a strong 2nd XI will be well supported at the Field of Dreams whilst rumour has it ex-KCC star Laddy is in town for the Test Match and to wet the head with new Dad (and KCC’s 5th wicket partnership all time record holder) Degsy. Congratulations to Degs and Vic on the birth of baby Lucas last week.