Moral Victory

With eyes still on a league and cup double, West Bridgfordians made the short trip to the Field of Dreams to play the 14s.

Having 2 successful run chases in the bag, Normington was delighted to have lost the tossed and been asked to field. The Bridgfordians County opener obviously keen to hit the 500 runs for the Summer, accompanied by his free scoring partner.

Steiner had other ideas as he immediately swung into action as a reckless cover drive was taken safely by Normington at mid-off, during the first over. Brown was asked to bowl up the hill and did so with unerring accuracy, frequently beating the edge.

Then the moment came... Steiner produced a big in-dipper which Bridgford's main man went after. The ball skied high into the air and hung agonizingly over Normington, once again at mid off. With the whole crowd holding their breath the skipper safely swallowed it up, leaving both openers back in the hutch with only 15 on the board.

Steiner and Brown took a break as Healey (4-0-21-2) and Mills (4-0-17-0) bowled straight through. Healey struck in his opening and final over, amid a bit of tap - Newell and Shepherd both rock solid in the field to take the catches. Mills bowled a teasing line that unsettled the batsman. The Number 3 was well set as the run rate remained at nearly 6 an over.

WBCC: 71-4 off 13.

The match hung in the balance. Brown returned to remove the dangerman for 34 as the away side were handily placed at 87-5 with 4 overs remaining.

Steiner and Newell had other ideas. Newell (2-0-9-0) bowled with great containment to set up Steiner for his finest moment of the season. Dominic's final 2 overs up the hill saw a wicket with his final delivery which went with 2 others and a meagre 3 runs leaving him with outstanding figures of 4-1-13-5 and the first Five-fer in our fledgling junior adventure.

WBCC: 98-8 off 20

Legge and Tuckwell were keen for deja-vu to be avoided having been in a similar position during the cup game, only to be reduced to 8-4 off 8.

Normington (2) fell in the first over failing to get forward which brought Newell straight to the crease to accompany Tudor. Once again the opponents were remarkably accurate with runs very hard to come by.

KCC: 15-1 off 7

Tudor (7) fell in the 8th over, as one squeezed through the gate, which brought Healey to the crease. Ben was in no need to hang around and launched a majestic 6 to long off as the opponents started to panic with the run rate increasing. With the partnership well set on 33, Healey (26) was deemed to be run out returning for a second. The disbelief on Ben's face said it all...

KCC: 48-3 off 13 (51 off 42)

Hennessy was unrelenting as another fine partnership was forming as 30 runs were put on in 4 overs and the momentum building in Keyworth's favour. With the victory target looming invitingly onto the horizon, Newell (24) fell in a carbon copy to Healey - run out returning for a second. The disbelief and tears in the eyes said it all as did Leggy's teapot impersonation at the bowlers end.

KCC: 81-4 off 18 (17 off 12)

Cairns (8) briefly injected some wind back into the sails with a glorious stright drive and a magnificently scampered 3 as a tense final over was set up with KCC requiring 10 off 6. The WBCC opener had other ideas with an excellent final over. 4 wickets with the first 4 balls. The hat trick delivery unfortunately a run out, but a tremendous effort nonetheless. Brown and Steiner finished on a high scoring 5 runs off the final 2 balls.

KCC: 93-9 off 20

A moral victory against another of the leagues elite and testament to how far the boys have come. So proud of the boys achievement and their manner and demeanour.