JUST NOT ENOUGH ON THE BOARD….
DCC, rather incredibly, lost the toss. See below
Weather Beautiful, sunny with a small breeze.
PT (C) N/A, so RH (VC) is C, OK? Such was the cryptic message that was relayed, so Rob captained the side for the third time in his brief, but as yet 100% winning career.
Another new fixture for DCC, up near Clay Cross, Tibshelf way. Very little known apparently, but the convoy sped up the M1 and via Alfreton to the ground, mostly within half a mile of each other. Waiting for us was a lovely little ground (seemingly singles and fours only) and an Aussie skipper who had been a bit thirsty the night before, til 2AM, and slept on the pavilion floor on a bed of pads!
DCC minus both Gaunts, Paul and Benno, but otherwise not bad at all. One look at the ground convinced 6 jokers to be played.
Rob tossed, and incredibly, lost. No one can remember the last time we won a toss. Colin thinks it was with a sixpence. Bizarrely Paul always calls tails and Rob always calls heads, and still they can't get it done! Probability is a strange enemy….
Put in to bat, a bit of improvisation saw Smudge continue his "about twice a year" stint as opening bat, with Jamie. Unfortunately, as Kiwi mooed mightily, Smudge stayed for 8 overs to collect precisely zero, in what was thought to be the longest duck in the Club's history. (Note, this was maybe something to do with all Morton's first 4 bowlers being left armers…..) 3 of the top 6 got similar ducks, Dave and Rob (Captain's Knock) being the others. At 60 odd for 6, DCC were looking pretty ropey, but Crossy stayed around and, ably assisted by Alec and Ant, DCC reached what would normally be a very respectable 205 in 40 overs. Not enough, we thought…..
Morton's reply started slowly for us, as tea was very good indeed, and cakes were had, it must be said. Alec and Dean opened up and Dean had a very, very quick (honest) chance go between Birdy and Rob with his very first ball. Alec was his usual consistent self, on a length and line that Derek Underwood would be proud of, whereas Dean just came charging down the hill and pitched on his own toes for 5 overs. In other words, his usual consistent self also. When he did pitch it up, he got one, and a couple fell quite early, giving us some hope. However, Deano fed the batsmen a touch, especially the sequence of the following:-
Ball 1, short and wide, 4 past slip and 3rd Man (Rob moves to around where 3rd slip would be)
Ball 2, shorter and wider, 4 again past slip and 3rd man (Encouraging shouts of "Think about it Dean" from Rob, glares at the batsman from Dean)
Ball 3, shorter and wider still, 4 past slip again. "Just how long did you think about that?" asked Rob, looking less than pleased.
Most of the bowlers got a go, Dave Spencer assuming senior spinner role in Benno's absence, and a lot of variation was tried, but with the skipper (seemingly recovered from huge hangover and keeping wicket for 40 overs) and the sharp chance opener looking well set, times were getting difficult. They both passed 50 and by the time the opener (John, as I found out in the pub after) holed out to a good running catch by Rob at long off, all Skip needed to do was keep the strike and guide them home, which he did.
DCC had no answer to the strokeplay, and, on a small ground, you expect to get punished.
A hot days work for little reward, but somewhat tempered by the presence of a pub next door. I seem to remember singing "American Pie" at some stage.
Captaincy is hard work on a day like that.