Better Than Average

With shower clouds circling, the Firsts travelled north to Suthell or South Well passing at least four grounds where pitch inspections were taking place under umbrellas. Amazingly the beautiful Southwell ground had missed, and continued to miss, all of the forecast rain.

Tinno lost the toss but was delighted to be asked to bat first. Sadly the smile was soon gone as the Skip was undone by some great seam bowling for 5. Iggy needed to score 4 not out, or 104, to get to a better-than-Bradman average of 100, and it looked like it was to be the former, as the one-man-team scratched around for just a single after 20 balls, including an expensive drop by the 'keeper. At the other end Jay was equally watchful as the pair carefully saw off the accurate opening attack. Both had accelerated through the gears and created more work for Barry putting on 104 before Jay was bowled for 31 with score on the dreaded 'Nelson'.

Drurs walked in only to see Iggy also walking off, having decided he needed a rest, to protect his back, and average, on 58. Rocket took guard and had Dimps all in a spin, "Where's Jay gone?", asked our ump', completely unaware that Jay had been bowled in all the mayhem! Rocket and Drurs tucked into the opposition spinners putting on a run-a-ball 85. The Chairman was gasping for air as the pair scampered 20 2's on the large Southwell outfield. Renders was caught behind for 39 off 37, and was later gutted to be found he'd been out-scored by his old mate.

As usual Benji took time to play himself in, crashing his first two balls for 4! And cemented his place at the top of Bobby's strike-rate chart making 13 off just 8 balls. Tommy had another thankless task with just three balls left, and would have been 6 not out at the Field of Dreams, only to be caught on the long off boundary. Drurs confirmed his re-birth as a born again slogger, attracting interest from the Chennai Chiefs, making an unbeaten 61 off 51 balls. Ever the old-pro, IG limped back on for the final ball and hobbled through for a single, to avoid any debate about the effect of a 'retired hurt' on his now three-figure average. 229-5 at tea was another great effort.

Southwell were the latest entrants in KCC's 'Mastertea 2011'. This was an above average spread with an abundance of cakes, and sliced gammon cobs, catching the KCC fatties attention. But a lack of fruit, and no real signature dish, made it touch and go whether this was a contender for 'tea of the season'.

Rocket roared in and this week got full reward by blasting through the Southwell top order with three clean bowleds in a hostile opening spell of 3-10 off 8 overs.

At the other end Strongy was fuming as a straight-forward edge was dropped behind, "F****** jugglers" moaned KCC's golf pro, along with other less printable obscenities, tarring the whole hapless umbrella cordon with the same brush! Tom soon brought a grin back to Strongy's chops with a fantastic diving catch in front of first slip. A couple more wickets kept Charlie at the top of the wicket taking charts, ending his spell on 3-18.

Spin twins Bobby and Day Hiller-Sister tucked into the lower order with the same relish as the tea time fairy cakes, both helping themselves to a brace of wickets. Again everything went perfectly in the field and Tuckers had to move barely an inch to pouch a catch in the deep.

Southwell were all out for 52 and a 20 point return saw us return to the top of the table.