Papplewick, Notts, 3rd September 2000
As it turned out, we didn't toss, but batted and are therefore claiming it as a win!
Weather : Balmy September afternoon, a bit chilly, but sunny
This is the time of year when the fixtures really start to get as competitive as they ever do, Papplewick and Linby being one of the big two, Eastwood the other. P&L put out a strong side, but Paul had no hesitation in talking the Aussie pro into giving us a bat. The man should be in politics.
Smudge and Rob walked in late recovering from a particularly colourful drinking session, as did Alec, but his problem was digestion rather than dehydration, if you get my drift. You should stick to wine and not Stella, Al.
Steve Gaunt and Jamie opened up, but it wasn't long before Jamie was out for a duck, after being bounced twice in one over by a freakishly tall and very quick 15 year old. So much for the friendly cricket bit. However, this only brought Crossy to the crease who proceeded to hit as awesome a ton as I've ever seen, including hitting the quick lad into next week, where he went, tail between legs, to rethink. Crossy simply drove like a God and hooked, pulled and mooed a bit too. Mostly though, it was classic Crossy, never looking in any trouble, all the shots, hugely powerful. Awesome.
Good job really, as Paul departed for 1, Dean for the big 0, and Rob continued his awesome run with 2. Luckily Dave Spencer liked the look of the track too, and stayed for a super knock of 44 no at the close, 224 runs was a good total.
P&L started well, with some good looking bats, but they were always behind the required rate. Attempts to hurry it up just ended with numbers 2 and 3 departing cheaply to cheap shots, but when the third pair came together, anything was possible. Alec and Andy opened up very well indeed, and pinned the batsmen down for the most part, but the odd bad ball still got the treatment it deserved. For a change lately, poor catching let us down, especially Gaunt (A), but Dean bowled a very tidy little spell, not as quick as he can, but genuinely hostile, and Benno was his usual wily self. Benno took the third wicket but this brought the Aussie skipper to the crease who sent us on a bit of chase, despite all attempts to hole out to Crossy at deep long leg. Still behind the rate in the increasing gloom, DCC made a game of it with Paul coming on early for him at 38 overs, but the end was spoiled by the skipper re-injuring his knee with 3 balls left. Benno tended to the injured batsman, and P&L sportingly called it a day.
A good win against a good side, at a lovely ground on a lovely day. It doesn't get much better than that.