Weather - warm, cloudy
2 debutantes today, team debut for Steve Perry (man mountain, with a bat that even Crossy said "Blimey this is a bit heavy!") and Dave Hibbert (welcome return for the man "large hill"). Nice day for it, Jamie was late so AG was deputised to be the pinch tosser. He lost, and we fielded.
Bright start with early wickets all over the place, Andy Gaunt bowling especially well and moving it. Occasional keeper brother Steve kept most of the filth out and only conceded 5 byes all day. He tells me 4 "weren't his fault". Matlock batsman came and went, 3 departing to much the same shot, a flay of a drive to a wide one when the ball was not coming on ever so well. Cue spooned catch to mid off ish. Mick Stewardson got his by now almost usual 2fer and highlights of the late bowling were Crossy's dropped 35 point c&b, and Rob doing the graveyard shift, 2-0-22-0. Ouch. The last few Matlock batsman hurried it on nicely and they reached 192-7 off 40.
Rob was off to see the Fun Lovin' Criminals at Rock City so the terrible twosome of him and Paul opened up. Could be a cue for some nudging, but Rob hit 10 in successive balls before feeding the slips and Paul departed early too. Cometh the hour cometh the debutant with the 3 pound 4 bat. I kid you not. He seemed to like the bowling and reached 50 fairly easily with punchy drives and forces. Steve Gaunt wasn't on top form but he too got to 50 before capitulating. At the death, Steve Perry had 99*, we were 191-3 chasing 193 to win and Crossy played out a maiden to get him the strike. (Good effort Mr Cross) First ball nest over, Steve missed, so did the keeper, 4 byes, game over. Pants!
Good win, good debut, good effort.
DCC 195-3 (Perry 998, Gaunt S 59)
Matlock 192-7(Stewardson 2-41, Gaunt A 2-28)