Bouncebackability

Another home win at the Fortress of Dreams as the Stiffs gained revenge for last week's thrashing against the same opponents Kimberley.

Team selection was more straightforward than previous weeks: a home fixture meant Cowlard was available, while the lack of a first team game gave Tinno some much needed time in the middle, and Benji replaced Ted, who looked for a cure to his yips with the coloured pens in the scorer's gazebo.

The opposition skipper got lost in the mean streets of Keyworth so the toss was done by mobile phone, but we still ended up fielding on another warm day at the Field of Dreams.

The pitch was as dry as a harvested corn field and 200 looked a minimum score. So we were well on top keeping the away side to 21-2 off the first 13 overs. Cowlard made the first strike with Tinno taking an amazing one handed slip catch with the ball almost a foot behind him. Drurs then took a more straight forward catch off Liam at mid off, as the Cotgrave Connection opened with a brilliant spell of 1-9 off 8 overs.

Leggy had been more miserly than George Osborne in previous weeks but here went for 14 in his first over. Billy Butter-Fingers was much steadier up the hill and made a great breakthrough getting the dangerous Danny Williams to slice to Benji at extra cover. 53-3 at half-way drinks was ahead of forecast. The orange barley was served by Jay-Bee, resplendent in vest and rapper's golden bling.

The scoring rate upped after the break but never got out of hand. Ground fielding was tough on the baked out field; Drurs copped one on the jaw, Cowlard one on the chest, and Benji banged his head twice on the sightscreen diving for a catch.

It was hard to keep track of the score. Legends Palmer, Daft and Hallam were busy chatting and Technical Ted had yet to rig up a pulley system to the scoreboard. Ernie finally lost patience screaming out "scoreboard" during a break in play as a Leggy long hop disappeared into the Ashley Road hedge. Dimps soon added a double teapot as Chris See-Soar ran on with some extra balls, mis-hearing the shouts as "spare balls"! The Boss finally got a wicket when Sam Nice took a fine catch at extra cover, to seal the day's fielding award.

A few more big hits raised the score to 160-4 with 5 overs to go and a par score in sight. However AC and Liam bowled full and straight to restrict Kimberley to 180-8 at tea, well below par. Liam led the way with a magic 3-29 off his 12, AC 3-37, supported by Billy 1-16, and Leggy, with erm, 1-60.

Tea courtesy of Lay and Son was fit for an episode of cricket Masterchef, grated cheese and pickle sandwiches the highlight. Though Leggy was more Gregg Wallace in his feedback, moaning about the lack of fruit.

In reply, Ernie wound up the opening quickie down the hill with a ball-by-ball commentary, and the red mist grew thicker as Ern' told the bowler where to bowl to him - and chuckled as he sliced successive balls to his favourite third man boundary. Drurs was again using his WG Grace two foot wide bat and we raced to 75 in the 17th over before Ern' went for one pull too many and was bowled for 32.

Tinno started scratchily, looking like he had only faced a couple of balls all season, which of course was true. The lull in the scoring rate had skipper Cowlard looking twitchy, pacing around the boundary edge. But this was but a temporary hiccup as Drurs and Tinno accelerated through the gears, albeit helped by a few dropped catches. Drurs lofted a six over mid wicket only to be sledged for slogging by Olivia Baker! We smoothly reached our target for just one wicket down in the 40th over, Drurs unbeaten on 89, Tinno on 44, the only downside being a nasty dose of pad rash for Beakey, padded up all innings at no.4!

Thanks to Dimps for umpiring and Ted for scoring, the latter earning a house point from Mrs Elliott for the neatness of his homework.