DCC vs Hilton -

Hilton, Derbyshire, 1st August 2004

The long standing annual fixture at Hilton this week and what a scorcher of a day it was and good to see Alec back for the game too. Not for the first time this summer, Ian 'I might have a big watch but I can't tell the time' Cross decided not to turn up on time so VC Andy went out to the middle, lost the toss, had a chat and we batted first.

Steve Gaunt and Paul opened the innings with Paul for once outscoring the quieter than normal Steve. Trying to rectify the situation, Steve tried to pull a short ball only to have the ball trap his finger against his bat handle. Next over, and looking in quite a lot of pain, Steve retired hurt bringing Basford stalwart Mark Snelgrove to the crease. Paul soon departed for 36 which brought Crossy in and the score progressed nicely against some increasingly generous bowling. One over in particular seemed to go on for ages due to the number of wides, Terry having his work cut out keeping score and ruing the fact that he had only come armed with a 4B pencil.

Anyway, Mark eventually departed for 20, by which time Steve, having seen some of the bowling on offer, decided that his finger was not hurting as much as it had and he returned to the middle. He might have wished he hadn't bothered shortly afterwards when he was run out in bizarre fashion. Having drove the ball down the ground, he and Ian ran one and then Crossy for some reason decided to go for what looked like a suicidal second. As the fielder returned the ball, all the bowler had to do was collect it as Crossy floundered half way down the track. Fortunately for Ian, the bowler was unable to carry out this simple task but, as a result, the ball continued down the wicket, past an increasingly concerned Steve and straight into the wicket keeper's gloves. With the bails duly removed, Steve was run out for 25 much to the amusement of his team mates.

Dorchester's innings from this point onwards was dominated by a superb innings from Ian who just got better and better as Hilton brought on some more testing bowlers towards the end. With some moderate support from Spenno, Alec and myself, Ian finished on 86 not out to take out total to 230. Mention to debutante Simon Huckerby who was run out (by Ian) without scoring.

So a decent looking score at the interval, at which point Steve rushed off to hospital to have his finger checked out, as soon as he'd had his tea. A superb tea it was too, Alec seemingly convinced that he wouldn't be bowling for quite some time as the pork pie took a bit of a battering.

Hilton started their reply at quite a pace, thanks to a right bag of rubbish from yours truly although I did surprise one of the openers with a straight one. The other opener and the incoming batsman kept the score ticking along but Mick Stewardson seemed to break the partnership after sending down a 20 mile an hour beamer which the other opener took two paces down the track to and whacked miles into the air. Steve Bennett made excellent ground from mid-on and took a superb catch over his shoulder at which point the batsman told, I mean enquired of their umpire, whether the delivery was a no ball due to its beamer-like tendencies. The umpire agreed and stuck his arm out. Not out. Cue 10 rather bemused expressions to say the least.

So on Hilton went. Alec bowled his usual tidy line and length while Benno began to let all within earshot know what he really thought of village cricket, taking a couple of wickets in the process. The opener continued to his century, however, before another few moments of madness towards the end. Paul came on and, while attempting a caught and bowled, took a nasty blow to his finger and off he went. Spenno took over from Paul and, while taking a return to the wicket from myself, didn't take the ball cleanly and it later transpired that he had broke a finger too.

Not the best of days then as Hilton reached their target with an over and a bit to spare and we trudged off nursing numerous injuries and reflecting upon the intervention of the 'third umpire'.