Howzat For Openers

At home to newly promoted Nuthall, the Firsts made a winning start to the season for the first time, probably, ever.

Tinno lost the toss, but was delighted to be asked to bat, on a good looking but very dry track more like Karachi than Keyworth.

XX Dale set off in 2020 mode carving a run a ball 25, before LBW. The same fate befell Jay three balls later for a duck. Tinno meanwhile had barely got the ball off the square, and realised be should've gone to Specsavers, having forgot to put in his contact lenses.

Drurs joined a now clear sighted Tinno for a solid 120 run partnership. Tinno was scoring so slowly he needed to pinch the bowling off eight consecutive overs, but Drurs got his own back running Tinno's scoring shots so slowly he was almost lapped at one stage. This was cultured batting compared to what was to follow, with high left elbows and sweet timing, and both passed 50 off successive balls. We were well placed at 150-2 with 10 overs to go. The Chairman fell for 67 off 74 balls, while Geoff posted 82 off 120 balls.

The Bank Holiday crowd at the Field of Dreams was now swelling into high double figures, and we were bouyed by the arrival of KCC legend Dougie Bayford on a flying visit, to discuss at length our Ashes victory.

Rocket and debutant Tommy Randall came and went quickly in search of quick runs. Bobby arrived at the crease with his pre-season nets consisting of 18 holes round Stanton. We needn't have worried as his wayward hooks were perfectly suited to the late order slog, crashing 37 off 19 balls with four sixes. The Big Fella was out off the last ball as we posted 232-7 off our 45 overs.

Tea by Jude set the usual high standard for the rest of the season, special recipe chocolate fridge cake being the high calorie highlight.

In reply Rocket ripped through the Nuthall top order with a devastating spell of 6-24 off 8 overs to leave the opposition in a bigger hole than the Chilean miners at 37-7. It could have been even better if Tinno hadn't performed a one man Billy Smart's circus act, shelling two catches at slip off Andy Hiller, who quickly realised hitting the stumps was the only way to strike.

Bobby was itching to bowl at the tail and talked himself onto bowling - up the hill! Drurs dropped an absolute sitter off his mate, day dreaming about what to put in this report. This was just a blip as Day Hiller jumped to the top of the bowling averages taking 2-6, to seal a comprehensive 20 point win, as Nuthall were out all out for 65.

Cup Success for the 13s

The 13s headed to Bingham, on Thursday ,for a Newark League Cup match.

Nice, Chamberlain, T. Newell, Shepherd, Kitching, Cairns, Flewitt, Phoenix, Walker, Wilson and Malik entrusted to deliver the goods.

Some early shambles from the home side - no key for the pavilion, no boundary markers, a team arriving in dribs and drabs. The result a reduced 16 over game, not that the loyal supporters would complain as the temperature plummeted with the disappearance of the sun

The KCC boys had already completed the vigorous warm up routine as Neecy Snr laid the final boundary cone, after a quick shuttle back to the van. Game on.

Nice and Chamberlain opened with a composed yet flamboyant partnership racing to 42 off 6 overs before Nice (14) tickled one off his legs to the keeper. Chamberlain (25) followed the next ball, losing his leg stump but entertained the crowds with a variety of controlled boundaries.

The Bingham attack put a holt to the scoring as Newell and Shepherd setled into their stride. But, it was to prove the calm before the storm as 25 runs came off the final 2 overs. Newell (23*) and Shepherd (28*) putting on 56 for the 3rd wicket.

Keyworth 100-2 off 16

Shepherd (2-0-2-0) and Chamberlain (2-1-1-0) made an already difficult run chase improbable, with an excellent opening spell. The homeside requiring 97 off the remaining 12 overs.

Nice, Newell and Shepherd were marshalling the field well as Phoenix was proving unpassable with a series of body on the line stops that set the standard.

Kitching (2-0-13-0) and Malik (2-0-17-1) were the second change. Malik finding the breakthrough in the 6th over as the ball dislodged the bails after deflecting off the openers pads.

A brief flurry saw the run rate increase before the youngsters of Wilson (2-0-9-0), Phoenix (2-0-11-0) and Walker (2-0-8-1) put KCC back into the driving seat. Walker's persistent line and length causing the number 3 to play around a straight one. In the same over a smart piece of fielding saw Newell arrow into wicket keeper Cairns for a smart run out.

Nice (1-0-8-0) and Newell (1-0-11-0) closed the innings with the Bingham number 2 finishing on 38*.

More importantly the Bingham innings closed on 86-3 meaning a 15 run victory and an away trip to Belvoir in the next round.

U12s are Underway

On Tuesday night the U12s headed across the river to play a strong, mixed U13/U12, Notts and Arnold side - in an 8 aside pairs friendly.

Rock, Baines, Phoenix, Wilson, Chamberlain, A. Newell, Blacklock and Walker were the octet on parade.

Notts and Arnold elected to bat and found cow corner regularly with some hefty blows. Undetered, the bowlers stuck to their task with Rock picking up the first KCC wicket of 2011. Baines (2-0-10-0) and Phoenix (2-0-13-1) both bowled tidily with the latter picking up the second wicket of the evening.

Chamberlain, on a big money transfer from Radcliffe, took time to find his range in the opening over before 3 wickets for 7 runs in his final two. A. Newell got his reward, a wicket with the final ball of the innings - clean bowled.

Notts and Arnold 145-6

All the boys contributed with the bat. Coaches Newell and Legge were impressed with the running between the wickets, concentrating keeping the ball on the floor and dispatching the legside wide to the boundary.

Blacklock (16), Rock (14) and Baines (11) all reached double figures as Keyworth posted 3 figures.

Keyworth 101-8

All Systems Go for the KCC Juniors

A busy off season, at Trent Bridge, has primed the KCC stars of the future for a successful 2011 campaign.

Leggy wrapped up before the hard graft, on one of the particularly cold mornings.

Rock and Nice preparing to unleash their full repertoire of shots

Some organised chaos


The 8.45 start a little early for the older ones...

... Not a problem for the U12s!

Junior Fixtures

All of our Junior fixtures are now confirmed.

Changing Rooms

The Pavilion at the Field of Dreams has undergone a makeover to be ready for the new season; getting a lick of paint inside for the first time since Leggy last made it into double figures.

Many thanks to Paul Nice for helping us out with the painting.

Cap That

A new batch of KCC caps have arrived, priced at £10. E-mail Drurs if you want one drurs2001@ntlworld.com