Bevercotes Colliery, Notts, 23rd July 2001
DCC won the toss and batted.
Weather : Dry and fine, but cloudy.
New fixture this one, down a long and winding road (one for the Beatles fans, there) deep in the North of the County. Nice open ground, and a setting so remote you could only hear the sound of birds singing and farners shooting things. Wonderful countryside indeed.
Despite all efforts, Paul won the toss and we batted, with only Benno missing form a first choice XI. Steve and Jamie opened up, Steve quite literally, as he again hit 50 in double quick time, finally falling for 64 in the 20th over. Jamie had by then gone to a snorter from a genuinely sharp bowler (Bridon firsts apparently, so no wonder), and Crossy the same way, but different bowler. Paul got in a bit for 22 until a textbook slog/sweep resulted in overbalancing, missing ball completely, and a dislocated knuckle. Never before have I seen such a shot, I can safely say. Retiring hurt, in came Rob, and, after struggling early, a useful 22 was made. Dean then came in and made the kind of cameo most players can only dream about, 34 no including a huge 6 right onto the red Fiat's back door. Ouch. Nudging from Birdy got us to 201 off 40. It looked a decent total on a pitch that was never that easy to bat on.
Tea was a lovely plated salad affair, including 2 jam and cream scones, fully deserving of the 14.7 rating. Nightmare moment came when we were hitting up prior to taking the field, Crossy lobbed one in full pelt at Birdy which took off and hit him just over the right eye, with a bizarre "clunk" sound. He simply shrugged and muttered something dark and deadly. By the game's end, he looked like he had an extra head growing out of his eyebrow. Ouch again.
We won the match in the first 16 overs, Alec and
Andy bowling superbly for combined figures of 16-6-22-3. Wonderful stuff. Smudge
chipped in after a slow start (including the attempted bouncer of the day) with
7 overs for 14 and it was game over really. The 2 Bridon first teamers
threatened, but both fell to stumpings off Dave Spencer and Paul. Bevercotes
ended up with 114 all out, and were treated to an exhibition of spin bowling
from Dean, Jamie, Rob and Crossy at the end. Oh, I nearly forgot, Dean dropped a
howler.
DCC 201-4 off 40 (Steve Gaunt 64, Dean 34*)
Bevercotes 114 all out (Andy Gaunt 8-3-13-0, Alec 8-3-9-3, Dave Spencer
3-40)