No Unity

An overcast night saw the 14s gather by the Trent to play Notts Unity. An astro pitch awaited as Tudor and Steiner opened up after Normington lost the toss.

The oppostion had a wide array of spin bowling at their disposal and used it with great effect with the openers being very watchful. Steiner crashed a nice boundary before being caught in the covers for 9.

KCC: 16-1 off 5

The Unity bowlers were enjoying the upper hand and were very bouyant as the runs were hard to come by - Newell and Tudor only able to deal in singles but protecting their wicket well.

Tudor (11) fell at the half way stage, stumped by the young keeper, as the platform was set.

KCC: 36-2 off 10

Healey was imediately in on the act as he was looking to establish another profitable partnership with Newell and ignite the innings. It only lasted an over and a half before Newell (17) was triggered LBW. Hennessy came in and was at his scampering best before being bowled playing round a straight one, for 6.

KCC 64-4 off 15

Normington dropped down the order and bludgeoned a few boundaries before a mix up saw Healey (14) run out. Normington crashed 2 further boundaries before being bowled for 18, whilst the tail was found wanting trying to push the score past the hundred mark.

KCC: 91-9 off 20

In light of previous matches it was a disapointing total with all the batsman never really settled and looking hesitant.

Brown (2-0-6-0) and Steiner (2-0-6-0) bowled tightly as both openers look very assured and Tuckwell worrying that it could be an early night.

However, the change bowlers swung the match into KCC advantage. Healey was on a hat trick striking with his 6th and 7th deliveries. Normington safe under the first at mid off, Brown inspirational as the 2nd was crashed straigt at his mid riff as he collapsed with the ball stuck, stinging in his palms. Match changing.

Shepherd ensured there was no let up with a double breakthrough in his second over, clean bowling the number 3 and Steiner taking a routine catch at mid on.

Wilkins was on debut for the 14th and struck with his first delivery as the new man in skied one into the covers which Cairns duly took.

Unity: 30-5 off 9.

Then it all kicked off leaving a rather sour taste... A combination of factors: the home teams plight and two decisions in successive overs given with gusto - a run out and LBW prompted an on the field tete a tete questioning the ethics of cricket.

The home team didn't help their cause as a continuation of high risk shots and indecisive communication saw 3 further run outs - thankfully at the home umpires end.

The game was wrapped up in the 12th over with the Unity all out for 36.

An atmosphere as sombre as the overcast weather descended over the field of play which clouded an otherwise excellent performance.