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Against the backdrop of some annoying bloke with a weird accent and microphone who had taken charge of the steam rally proceedings next door, Windows Media Player and his opposite number made the toss and it was decided that Nutbrook would have first use of the strip.
Whitey opened the bowling form the Church end and Elmo from the Get your Hot Pork and Stuffing Sandwiches Here End. After the early exchanges, it was Elmo who made the breakthrough after some tidy line and length darts at the openers. The older opening bat (who was described by the Ant as being half decent) poked outside the off stump at a ball that didnt quite come on to the bat as expected and resulted in the ball looping in the air to the waiting Dave 'Elijah' Wood at cover who took a tidy catch running back. Elmo took the next two wickets to fall, one a good ball that swung back in and took middle peg and another that Gonzo juggled behind the wickets and the waiting Ant cleaned up with the catch at first slip. 34 for 3.Bish took over from Bananaman and came on with his Tufnell like loops without much luck (Tremendous dropped catch by Dickie duly noted here!) and Scatt replaced Mr White at the Church End and took a wicket in his first over. He later picked up the wicket of the Nutbrook captain from a shot which was skied to the waiting Winzip who took a good snaffle at deep mid off. At this stage, Nutbrook were 59 for the loss of 5 wickets and was perhaps where the Toffs should have capitalised and forced home the advantage and got quickly into the middle to lower order. This unfortunately didnt happen. Some short (er) and costly bowling coupled with dropped catches and untidy fielding resulted in a partnership worth 65 runs and at drinks after 30 overs, the downbeat feeling in the Duffield camp was evident (In defence of the Toffs, the opposition did ride their luck to the extreme).
Change was needed. From where though? The executive decision was made that Gonzo would hand over the keeping duties for the final 3rd to Microsoft Excel and would have a go with the leather in hand himself. Before he had chance though, Scatt broke the partnership with an edge to the waiting DD two balls after the cordial. Gonzo came on in place of Bish and tried to further the damage but with no breakthrough and so the ball returned to the opening pair of White and Ellis to try and tighten up the finale. Eventually, the lad who had rode is luck the most and got 50 on the leg side (!) for Nutbrook was out with a good catch from Mr Wenden on the boundary. After some lusty blows from a toddler who came in at the end (suited and booted in his armour) Nutbrook ended their innings on 181 for 8, Elmo finishing with 4 for 31, Scatt 3 for 65 and White 1 for 40.
Tea was taken and a nice spread of butties, quiche, scones and cakes that had been lovingly prepared were consumed by both sides, washed down with some nice cha and squash. Most enjoyable.
The Ant and DD were the chosen assassins to face the new ball when play recommenced and things didnt start well as Powerpoint was caught out at gully flashing at a wide one for 2. Dickie Stevenson was in at 3 to join the Ant and didnt offer much resistance as he was bowled without scoring. Graham W joined the show and both he and the Ant looked in good nick, both dispatching good hits to the boundary. GW had scored 15 when he got a good un from the first change yoooff at the pavilion end, that found its way through to the stumps and was replaced by Dave Stevo. The Ant had reached 24 when he was (unfortunately) given out LBW from the same yooooff shortly afterwards. The Ant stood his ground waiting for his fate, confident of further involvement but Dickie (who was now umpiring) decided that it was a fair appeal (even though bat had been involved) and gave him his marching orders. There was no marching for the Ant who slowly trudged off looking at his willow and waving it at the Antill Grandstand who were obviously quite disgusted with the decision. One member of the Grandstand later confessed in the Tart that they were 'pi**ing themselves' at the decision and the subsequent breaking of bat back in the hutch. Scatt came to the wicket and he and Stevo set about getting the Duffield innings back on track. Things were looking good until Stevo pushed at a delivery just outside off stump and a little nick on the glove resulted in a caught behind and the arrival of 'Elijah' Wood to the wicket. What followed was a useful partnership of 84, Woody hitting the ball hard to all parts when it was presented and Scatt picking up ones and twos and the odd boundary. Woody took great pleasure in giving it some bottom hand and had reached 43 when he missed a straight one. For someone who has not played the game competitively for long, Woody demonstrated good levels of application during a difficult period in the game and showed his natural eye for giving it some welly when required (Ps to Woody: use your hands when fielding, rather than your knee caps- it hurts less, pal!). Scatt was joined by Whitey. With the score on 154 and the overs started to diminish, an acceleration in the score was required and after a 6 and 4 off the reintroduced opening bowler, Scatt was caught and bowled for a handy 59. Enter the injured Pete Turner who, along with Whitey, was given the task of guiding the Toffs to at least the extra batting point at 175 if not victory. Into the final over and needing 2 off the final ball to get to 175, PT proceeded to launch the ball into the Meadow for 6 leaving Duffield on 179 for 7, just 3 agonising runs from victory.
Result-Match drawn: Nutbrook (14 points) Duffield (11 points)
A cracking game of cricket for the neutral but Duffield knew that the damage and their undoing were in the field. Some lessons to be learnt as a team, but the belief must be that they can take the positives from the game and put right the negatives in time for next weeks fixture away to Clifton. Credit to Nutbrook also who contributed to a game played in good spirits.
Finally, totty count/watch. There were a few nice racks that walked behind the bowlers arm that caught the eye but nothing too drastic. The scorer for the opposition was attractive but very young so I suppose that cant count. If anything was missed please do tell all on the message board.
Related Links:
Duffield 2nd XI Fixtures
League Tables
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