DCC lost the toss and fielded. (Bad decision)
Weather : Not as warm as it looked, but sunny and dry.
Back to Derbyshire, where last year had yielded a formidable batting display, much mooching in the cow field over the road looking for balls and at least one dent in Rob's car.
A strong ish side was out, both lads playing, but, as now appears to be the custom, playing a part in the proceedings. The first game for Smith (J) as skip, after about 15 seasons dawned in traditional fashion, as he heroically lost the toss. Brailsford, somewhat surprisingly batted, and were never really there at all. Opener 1 went to a catch at gully by Steve and opener 2 to a big 35 point er for Alec. #3 looked threatening, but was undone by a ball from Benno that evoked Mike Gatting/Shane Warne. It pitched well outside leg, was shaping to be pulled and hit middle and off! For once we all believed Benno when he predictably said "It turned a mile!!" Never before have I heard a batsman shout "Oh s%@*!" between the ball pitching and hitting the stumps! Wickets were steady and well distributed after that, only a couple of lusty blows by the skip (59 in the end) giving us a reasonable target. The last 4 overs turned into a little competition between the 4 "less able" bowlers, Steve G, Rob, Crossy and Jamie, in that order. They turned in very respectable figures of 4-0-25-4 between them, for Rob the only points of the day, and Jamie a twofer. Last recorded twofer for him was 1972 or thereabouts, we think. Alec took 3 catches and two wickets (point bandit!) and Benno 2-18 despite a mashed middle finger. Well he should have caught it properly...... 149 would surely not be enough on a small ground.
So it proved. We were expecting a moo fest the same as last year, but were never quite prepared for what Steve Gaunt did. When we got to 40-0 off 3 overs, the 3rd over having gone for 20, the writing was on the wall. The bowler concerned recovered(!) to 3-0-34-0, but was soon relegated to gully. Steve hit all balls to all parts, driving slashing and occasionally mooing, but most were quality shots and all had the same effect. 50 off 31 balls faced, and Jamie was, for once, left holding up one end. The most awesome thing since Crossy at Papplewick in 2000, a joy to watch. The bowlers just didn't know which way to turn. Jamie finally went for 1 moo too many, caught for 37, Ben played down the wrong line for 1, and the final overs became a chase to get Steve a richly deserved ton. Crossy hit one scoring shot, but what a shot. A back foot punch through cover, seemingly no effort, I swear it got faster as it got to the boundary. Steve got his ton with 4 from the last ball of the game, and was applauded off by all 10 DCC players. 150-2 in the 20th over. God alone knows what we would have got if we had batted for 40 overs.
Brailsford 149-9 in 40 overs (Alec Street
3-15)
DCC 152-2 in 19 overs (S Gaunt 102*)