DCCL Division 3 North - 14th June 2003

Darley Abbey 168-6 (P Jepson 56*, Ogden 3-15)
Clay Cross 169-6 (Lemon 41, Else 32, Carley 30, D Tee 3-29)

Clay Cross (22 points) beat Darley Abbey (6 points) by 4 Wickets

Neil Back Or A Bad Back?
Jon Branson and Andy Ogden were posing a few problems in the opening overs until JB felt a twinge. James Carley was quickly introduced into the attack.

Cool Hand Luke
The Abbey import, Luke Russell, began to impose himself on the game with a range of shots through the on-side. With skipper D Jepson the pair had put on 45 before Ogden bowled Jepson for 6. Russell (29) was adjudged LBW shortly after and at 50-2 P Jepson and D Tee set about rebuilding the innings.

Tee became Ogden's third victim with the score on 70. Jepson was then ably assisted by T Howell (11) and S Alcock (23) as they pushed the score to 150 in the 45th over. A late flurry took the final total to a challenging 168-6, Jepson remaining 56 not out.

Andy Ogden took 3-15 from his 14 overs, Darrell Dring 2-40 and the returning Mark Harland 1-48. 

True Grit
J Wayne opened the bowling for Darley Abbey with M Chauhan. The 'Duke' reeled off 5 consecutive maidens and picked up the wicket of Nottingham. 

Keep On Running
Steve Else and Paul Lemon battled through and began to accelerate the scoring. Else was soon in a heap, the groin this time !! A runner was eventually called for and out came Nottingham. True, he's a few stones lighter but he's several years older. A fair swap. 

Tee-Time
The pair had reached 80 when Lemon (41) played an uncharacteristic shot to a ball from D Tee. Else soon followed to leave Rich Greenhalgh and Ian Miller to pick up the pieces. They took the score to 104 before Greenhalgh was undone by Tee's wrong-'un. With Darrell Dring also falling to Tee the Clay Cross reply was faltering at 104-5.

Lip Service
Jim Carley joined Miller and immediately set about increasing the tempo. He had scored 30 when he top-edged the 28th ball he received into his mouth. A cut lip was his reward and this was compounded when he was adjudged LBW the next ball. 147-6 therefore 22 needed with 25 balls left. Jon Branson and Miller entered the final two overs with 15 still needed for victory. The penultimate over proved decisive. After watching the Abbey fielders make two terrific stops on the boundary, Branson launched the 4th ball over long on. Only four runs were now needed from 8 deliveries. Victory was achieved with a single off the 4th ball of the final over. Miller had quietly gone about his work to remain 25 not out.

The game was a good one, a credit to both sides. After a beer in the Abbey pavilion, a few willing punters followed the Else clan on a mystery tour. They were not to be disappointed. The Dead Poet was a gem. The beer was served from a jug, the lager was apparently poor and it was packed. Pure joy ! The acoustic musicians accepted a request from Fecker Else and gave a creditable rendition of Sabbath's Paranoid. What a day. 

Unsolved Mysteries
1. Dead Poet -- a better class of Hollybush Inn? Discuss.
2. How many folks got an ear-bashing when they got home?
3. Has John Else started a taxi firm?
4. How many films did John Wayne appear in.....name them.

Champagne Moment
JB's six over long on to settle the nerves.

The Oak Legend of Gold Man of The Match
Andy Ogden for 14 excellent overs