Belper, Derbys 6 August 2000
DCC, rather predictably, lost the toss, and fielded.
Weather : A bit breezy, but generally very sunny indeed.
Paul, amazing as it may seem, lost the toss. Now we are 1 for 11 this year. The pinch tosser idea is currently under discussion at a high level in the club. Who's the best tosser in the club? Answers on email, please.
We had a bowl, and Paul led us out at Belper's super ground, at nearly full strength, only Birdy out from normal (down at Brands for the Superbikes), although quite who he'd have come in for is anyones guess. Alec and Andy opened up, and soon got it moving and swinging, but with no luck in the slips, and Steve Gaunt performing heroics behind the ash. Wickets feel pretty regularly throughout the innings as a mixture of colts and experience came into view. Highlights were a genuinely quick and hostile spell by Dean, which included much less filth than normal, and one over right out of the top drawer, and a super display of spin from Benno and Dave Spencer. Alec and Andy were consistent as usual. Dean took a running catch on the boundary like he was catching a beach ball (it must be nice to make it look that easy) and Belper were held to 127. We thought it wouldn't be enough.
It wasn't. After some butties and cakes (naturally) Steve Gaunt quite simply let loose in a superb display of stroke play and defence and simply creamed it to all parts of the ground, ably assisted by Skip. Kiwi, for once, failed by his standards, and it was left to the second wicket partnership to knock them off. A square cut by Steve was shot of the day for me, it would have been 4 on any ground. I can just imagine Richie on Channel 4 commentating now.
A nine wicket win was a just reward for a super display of batting. Just don't ask why Bamber wasn't playing......