DCC V Belper Meadows CC

Belper, Derbys, 6th June 2004

Scintillating scribing by Smudge r

Organisational farces don't get better illustrated than in our preparations for this fixture against Belper. 2 o'clock start lads?

Just after 2pm , instantly installed stand-in captain Andy decided it was best to go out and win the toss so off he went backed by the encouragement of his three team mates. Andy didn't disappoint and did the only thing he could and decided that we should bat first.

Steve and Paul opened the innings (they had to, even though they probably would have anyway) but neither lasted for long. However, they just lasted long enough for Jamie 'nobody told me it was 2pm ' Lees and Ian 'it's always 2.30pm here' Cross to get padded up, Bradley and Max unfortunate not to make their debuts in the ensuing chaos. The rush seemed to affect Jamie and Crossy and before you could say 'it's light until 10pm , what's the point starting at 2pm ', we were 30 for 4.

As a bonus for turning up on time, I went in at 5, which is exactly the number of runs I scored. Nick Briars was next, nursing one hell of a hangover but it didn't show as he top scored with 70 and gave us half a total to bowl at. Special mention to Andrew Kelley who, on debut, put on 49 with Nick for the 6^th wicket.

Would 128 be enough, nobody asked over tea.

Sadly not. Whilst chipping away with occasional wickets, we just couldn't apply any great pressure and despite two wickets for Mick and one each for me, Andy, Jamie and Andy Kelley, Belper reached their target in the 33^rd over

So a result to match our time management skills. Dear oh dear.