With captain Cross otherwise engaged...er.. Married, on his honeymoon and VC Andy Gaunt with his bowling arm in plaster, the Committee asked Paul to take the reins at this replacement fixture for Matlock who seemingly were involved in a cup match. Greenfields were certainly not green and they fronted a very ebullient twenty-something side who must have been looking forward to a straightforward victory as they swaggered around with pre-match banter-filled confidence.
Sadly for them 'Tails didn't fail' and they glumly trooped into the field, their opening bowlers each marched their long run ups and Steve Gaunt after a two week break, prepared for battle.
After a few air shots and the early loss of fellow opener Gouldy, SG clubbed a fierce 64, with 13 fours and a six. The outfield was quick, the bowlers were sharpish and the cricket was good. The quality was enhanced considerably by some delightful proper cricket shots from Nick Briers, real top batting, not fearful of the odd pacey effort ball as the day before he'd been fending off Chris Lewis in a League match the day before. Jamie & Dean each got going to double figures but each missed out, but Paul chipped & chopped his way to 31(including a bloody thumb interlude fending off a beamer). When Nick fell for 83 in the 34th over the score was 222-4, less than six overs later we were all out for 258, with 2 hat trick balls being made available. The latter one saw Benno walk in at number 11 and the quickie steam in, in search of 3 in 3. What happened next?
Well anyone that knows Benno, would have known that he doesn't shy away from a challenge……if he had moved his feet it would have been a perfect cover drive! Nevertheless the ball rocketed to the boundary and Benno simply tapped the wicket in the general area where the ball had pitched. The bowler suggested 'well you're no f***ing number 11!' Fantastic.
Good tea, Open golf and then a quick fire start and
at 69 for 2 off the first 10, it was interesting. Anything in the arc took a
beating, but Dean struggled to control a swinging ball, although he certainly
hit Gouldy's gloves hard and claimed 2 for 37 off 5 overs. John Newton worked
tirelessly at the other end with a wicketless but credible 8 overs for 36 runs.
But this was Benno's day, introduced early to stem the flow, he ripped through the Loughborough line up with aplomb. 8-2-16-4 was a top spell, considering the previous 50 overs of the day had brought over 350 runs and they were going for it. The spell culminating with the prize batter wicket outfoxed and driving to Paul at mid wicket and more so a surreal one handed caught & bowled, which was quite stunning.
Mick, Jamie & Smudger all bowled well as we acquitted ourselves very well, de-swaggered our rivals and made the stand in skipper proud. Go on Benno!!