Kicked Out – Week 8 Crofton (a)
We travelled to the wind swept Crofton CC on Saturday to face a side that had been placed in the top four of the league for the past few years. We were missing the VC JimBob who was off chaving it up in Benidorm on a “stag do”. I personally think the Rowett’s are Nostell’s version of the wedding crashers, although I am not sure who would be the Vince Vaughn version considering both are struggling for hair lines these days!.
Myself and the Filthy Tourist turned up early, and FT decided to test the Crofton plumbing out… it failed horribly and we were left with an unpleasant smell for the best part of the afternoon. Our Dale was next through the door, freshly shaved and looking like death after Miss Frickley had kicked him out the evening before after she had consumed two cans of Tesco’s best cider!. “Don’t worry Dale, I will smash the ball all over the park today and score your runs” crowed Just for Mal, who himself had hit the hair dye packet the day before (I think one packet could go a long way on that bonce though).
The captain won the toss and chose to bat, the kiwis got off to a decent start before I was yorked and lost my middle stump. The Ginge followed shortly after when he played a rather girly looking waft to young Cooper and was caught at point. Entering the fray next was JFM who took guard, tapped the ground expectantly and then tried to half jump out of the way, half poke the ball… with the result the ball going straight up and him departing the ground first ball. His walk back was greeted with a “Keep walking JFM” from Our Dale, who was struggling to with hold his laughter at JFM’s earlier statement to him. ” I wonder if the dog and I are allowed back in the House tonight” Our Dale exclaimed loudly at this point. The Saviour strolled out and managed to smash a six back down the ground before he became Coopers third victim. Neil joined FT, who was ticking along untroubled, and together they got the score over 100, with Neil playing very well before he got a good ball from Cooper and he departed for a well made 18. FT passed 50, and the captain stuck around with him as he started to open up. The captain managed to thwart the attack for a few overs before he was caught. Our Dale came out determined to show JFM how to bat and he took it to the attack straight away with several well hit boundaries. FT went through to his 100, one of his best in Nostell colours (unusually enough being White!) before he was out trying to up the scoring rate. Our Dale managed 24, before Simon added to the coffers with a duck to end our innings at 187, which was very creditable after being 100 odd for 6.
Defending the total started very well for us when the Saviour got one to kick off a length and the opener skied the attempted pull shot, I managed to scramble around and take the catch off the third ball of the innings. Uncle Ken, who having celebrated the arrival of his telegraph from the queen the previous day, showed that whatever the saviour could do- he could do better. The number three missed a out swinger and momentary lifted his foot, just enough for me to whip the bails off and have him out stumped. Lee went one better the next over when he knocked the poles off last seasons Division 1 batsman of the year Rob Cooper to give us a dream start. Ken followed up with another wicket when I held onto a sharp caught behind chance to leave the home side in tatters at 11 for 4 and the game seemingly out of reach for them.
We continued to apply the pressure and the run rate dried up , even as the wicket seemed to settle down and play well. Ken got through his 14 overs on the bounce and finished with 4 wickets, not bad for a OAP!. FT who found some energy came on to start the first of his 14 overs and his accuracy was proving a pain for the home side. Our Dale bowled his 4 overs of left, right and very rarely middle of the track bowling but he did not manage to pick any wickets up. Crofton ended up plodding there way to 120 for 9 at the end of their allocated overs, with JFM picking up two wickets in the penultimate over of the day. Lee finished with 3 wickets.
So that makes 3 wins on the bounce, and we have rocketed up to 8th in the table, with the fairies firmly in sight. Well done to the FT for a very well made ton, also well done to OAP who bowled with great guile, and well done to me for picking up my yearly stumping so early in the season!. Also well done to the big Ginge for a) not getting injured and b) not arguing with anyone in the field (although with VC missing there were not many candidates for him this week)
Up the eagle.
