Drunken Display

Ted was away on a KCC strength and conditioning programme eating pizza and red wine in Italy, otherwise we had the normal motley crew for the visit of Lambley 1sts.

NG12 Cowlard lost the toss and we batted first on a wicket damp from heavy overnight rain. Lambley's young Afghan Express was all over the place, with two long stops in place, and pitched but three balls on the stumps during his opening spell, but all were too quick for Drurs (0), Paul Lay (0) and AC (12), all predictably bowled.

Ernie was having a charmed life, seeing three sitters dropped on his way to 38 before being bowled by the first change. Phil Dearden's bat wasn't in tune after a short break and perished soon after for 1, and at 83-5 we were grateful for a glut of extras.

What followed probably surprised even Duncan and Liam as they put on a brilliant 114 for the 6th wicket. Liam showed that a good night's sleep was over-rated, having crept in at 6.30am, well after Leggy's pre-match pitch inspection, and soon forgot about his toothache, on the way to a fine 40. Duncan meanwhile showed that his bat, due to be put on Cowlard's bonfire at the end of the season, did have a middle, hitting 12 boundaries in a fantastic unbeaten 66, his highest ever score. And all this in front of his young lady, and more importantly, Club Statto Barry, who was purring that this was the highest 6th wicket partnership ever for the Stiffs.

Leggy had been counting down the balls left in the Afghan Express's second spell, with regular trips to the gents, and was taking no chances should he called on to bat. Happily he went in to face the slower bowlers and hit a quick 5.

See Soar ended on 1 not out as we made 206-7 off 45 overs. This was far better than we could have hoped for, but helped by at least 10 dropped catches.

Tea had been eagerly anticipated as Cowlard Outside Caterers had been given the gig. And didn't disappoint with prawn cobs and chocolate log among the many highlights, though the spaghetti carbonara was the highlight for the KCC fatties.

In reply we let ourselves down with regular dropped catches, on a pitch that had dried out to the normal KCC featherbed. AC and Liam bowled well but without luck. It was left to Jack Palmer to make the first breakthrough. After years of idolising Leggy and queueing patiently for the Boss's autograph after play, it was ironic but predictable that Jonty should spill a simple catch at point of Jacko's 2nd ball. Happily Leggy visualised the next ball as a custard doughnut and took a replica catch, at the 2nd attempt. Junior Sticky bowled his 6 overs for just 26 for a fine debut.

Our ground fielding was good, with Sam Nice and See Soar doing fine work, but elsewhere catches went down regularly and allowed a third wicket partnership of over 100. We nipped in with a few late wickets and put ourselves in the game with 24 needed off the last 6 overs.

The tense silence was broken by the boorish chants of legends Baker and Ladd staggering up Nottingham Road after a day on the lash at the Test. Poor old Dimps didn't need to call for the DRS, as the pished-up pair gave a running commentary on every ball! Seven were needed off the last over, but the Lambley skipper played a couple of good slices to the short third man boundary and we lost with a ball to go. Leggy returned to the top of the wicket taking charts with 2-54, Cowlard took 1-41 and Liam 1-44.