DCC V Eastwood CC

Eastwood, Notts, 16th May 2004

Penned by your roving reporter Smudger

After more false starts than a primary school sack race, the 2004 season finally got underway at Eastwood, looking rather delightful on a warm spring day.

Not sure who won the toss. Them probably, as we spent the first 40 overs in the field. Eastwood got off to a steady start but wickets began to fall with yours truly making up for a rank "have a rest, then" 7^th over by claiming 2 in 2 in my 8^th for figures of 3 for 22. John Newton kept Crossy busy behind the stumps for a while before claiming 2 for 18 while Luke Rowley, an Eastwood youngster on loan for the afternoon, sent down some quality tweakers for figures of 1 for 20 in six.

Jamie and Dean finished off by which time Neil Gregory had stepped to the plate. Both bowled well and Dean himself finished the innings on a hat-trick although, as was the case earlier, he couldn't get the all important third wicket.

Eastwood finished on 180 for 9 and a rather splendid tea was taken.

For Dorchester, 180 should be a gettable target but unfortunately, things didn't quite pan out as hoped.

Steve and Paul opened up but neither really got going and were out for 7 and 6 respectively. Ian's father-in-law Barry failed to trouble the scorers, Jamie got 1 and the skipper 7. The only rays of light were Dave Hibbert who scored 21 (including 1 six) and Dean with 16. Once they had departed, the tail point blank refused to wag with Luke, myself, Mick Stewardson and John all scoring big fat zeros, John Newton taking an absolute age over his.

12 extras dragged our total to a dismal 70.

Not the best of starts. Let's put it down to an extended winter shall we and try again next week.