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With the usual poor availability, changes were made in the batting order with the evergreen keeper being promoted to open the innings and once again lock horns with his old adversary Mr Mudd.
Steaming in, both literally and metaphorically, his first two balls were banged in very short and very wide. At this point Mr Mudd recalled the joys of bowling fast at Duffield and came off his short run. Sims, taking advantage of some loose stuff outside off side soon had the scoreboard rattling from one end, while at the other a steady spell had the evergreen keeper working hard.
Realising the flatness of the wicket, how hot it was, and the quantity of totty walking around the Meadow the experienced keeper lobbed an easy catch to gully in order to maximise the time the overseas pro would have at the wicket.
Despite the skipper trying to run him out for 0, Spaff soon settled in and worked hard to build a total, against some fine left arm spin bowling. Gradually getting on top, the pair errupted into a crescendo of Caribbean shot making with the Skipper easily out scoring the Aus (shame he cannot do the same in the Soda bar!). A splendid 196 run partnership ended when the Skipper uncharacteristly slogged the irrepressible Mr Mudd to wide long on where he was caught for 99.
The Arch came in at four and ran well with the Aus to ensure a season best total of 229. The Aus, ever careful to avoid buying a jug, was not out 96.
With Hughie opening from the Church end runs were always going to be hard to come by and when the skipper threw the new ball at Dong, to open from the pavilion end, the Duffield lads sensed the Skipper had a cunning master plan.
Bowling slow, straight and sometimes subterranean (how is that for alliteration!! - look it up flash) the Milford Dong proceeded to pick up 4 wickets during his 15 over spell.
By the last drinks interval the batting side required 128 off 16 overs with 5 wickets in hand. Unfortunately the batting exertions (and bedroom antics) of the main run scorers and key all rounders Sims & Elliot, meant they were not their normal miserly selves with the ball. Simsys first over included 8 wides and Elliot was little better spraying the ball like the Dong giving facials in a Dutch whorehouse. (That is a simile dong!! Look it up!)
36 from the first three overs after the break put Lullington right back in the game and despite losing wickets regularly they were looking favourites to win the game. Having taken the 8th wicket the crowd were on the edge of their seats and most of the Duffield fielders were reaching for the toilet roll. Spaff bowling for run outs in the 49th over had the opposition number 11 stranded 10 yards out with the ball in his hand he managed to miss from a distance where he should have hit and secured the 27 point win.
With the last over to be bowled and 8 required the first ball was put away for four by the Jo 90 look alike who played a real cameo innings despite taking exception to his nickname. Simsy tightened his line and the last ball came with 3 needed to win. A biff to long off resulted in 2 and the game tied.
A tremendous game of cricket, which in all honesty neither side, deserved to win. Duffield retired to the White Hart and reflected on an appalling ground fielding performance which conceded far too many twos and the two death bowlers acknowledged, alongside the evergreen keeper, they were not at their best.
Still 17 points was a good result, and if Duffield had not bowled and fielded so badly, we probably would not have taken 9 wickets.
Bring on Staverley!!!
PS: Totty not great (in quantity) in the Hart but nice to DD, out for his first survey of the eye candy this season
Related Links:
Duffield 1st XI - 2003
Duffield 1st XI Fixtures
League Tables
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