One Ell' Of A Knock

Bat First Keyworth got back on track with a comprehensive win over fellow village residents Willoughby.

Leading wicket taker Strong was absent, along with Day Hiller. Day had a tissue thin plot to cover up a mucky weekend away, but bringing in twin sister Andy was never going to wash with the KCC heirarchy.

Tinno had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss. Most spectators delayed their arrival to allow the Skipper time to play himself in, and the Postman delivered once again, taking 20 balls to get off the mark. Tuckers was overjoyed as it aided his need for sleep after a 4am finish, and spent the rest of the innings working through Super-Scorer Shelley's emergency first aid supplies. The Skipper reached 10 before perishing. XX Dale meanwhile was more fluent reaching 24 before slicing to gully.

One-Man-Team Graham was demoted from his usual opening spot on his return to the team, Tinno indicating that he couldn't dictate his place, and that there was only one captain, though quite which of the Miller's seven on-field skippers had made the decision was unclear. Jay fell quickly to a good ball for a duck, then Rocket was quite rightly fined half his match fee for not walking for an LBW that he middled!

At 66-4 after 20 overs we were in a spot of bother. The Chairman found himself in an unaccustomed no.6 spot but was in reality opening the innings to occupy the crease alongside IG. Bomber battling demons, berating himself after every ball that wasn't smashed for 6. With counselling sessions arranged between balls, Drurs reminded him that the pitch was more like batting at St.Ives than St.Edmunds, and guided them to a partnership of 107.

Iggy slowly got on top of the bowling, and bludgeoned his way to 81 off 70 balls, before holing out in the deep, like Bradman leaving his average on 98 for the season. The away side celebrated as if they'd won promotion, especially as we were down to a tail of Benji, Tom and Bobby....! Ben told Drurs he was going to have a look for a while, and promptly smashed his second ball for 6. He followed this with three more blows straight out of the ground, to win the day's longest drive, on the way to a fantastic 42 off 22 balls.

80 came off the last 10 overs, with even Drurs hitting a 6 as we posted 254 off our 45 overs. Tom got some valuable batting time in the last over, to allow Drurs to rest on his bat for a red-inker, 67 not out off 70 balls.

Tea by Justine was another impressive spread. Fruit kebabs were a joy, but were overlooked by Bobby, "not enough meat on those for me". The Youth Policy wolfed down old skool cheese and pickle sandwiches, but the highlights were home recipe millionaire's shortbread and jam scones that crumbled beautifully, a bit like our pitch.

In reply Rocket steamed in down the hill, still fuming at his earlier dismissal. Our batters roared him on delighted not to be facing. Steve deserved far better than his figures of 1-23 off 8, but this was a case of softening up the batters for wickets to fall at the other end. Andy Hiller-Sister took a wicket with his 4th ball, as Tom took a good catch off a top edge, and ran through the top order taking 5-55 off 10 overs.


A fly-past from a Lancaster Bomber was quite appropriate as Bobby licked his lips at bowling into the craters left from Rocket's earlier shells. The away side had no answer to back-page Baker who mopped up the tail with the same relish as the tea time sausage rolls, his 3-25 ending with a Warne-like bowled round the legs.

This was our best fielding display of the year. Dale pouched a sharp catch, Tom took a fine low edge, and Benji was even backing up his own throws! But Drurs awarded himself the fielding point, amazingly finding himself at cover point, and then pulling off a diving stop, to general disbelief.

A day when everything went right in the field as Willoughby were dismissed for 117 to see us take a maximum 20 points.