WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN....
DCC, rather incredibly, lost the toss, and had a bowl
Weather cloudy at first, absolutely p@#$ing down later.
Altogether now, "Didn't we have a lovely time, the day we went to Skeggy", or as its more properly known, Nottingham-by-the-Sea.
The coach turned up on time, a strong side was gathered, particularly batting, and the day went off with only the usual 35 hitches, Crossy being late (obviously) and Dean ringing Rob at 7.59AM to tell him that he would be driving. Not getting the coach, due to being in Mansfield. Yours truly had only got back from Rock City at 1.30, my reaction was not recorded for posterity, although I suggest that Dean check the "Father" section of his birth certificate.
A largely uneventful journey, but a treat awaited us, as Skegness Town's pitch is what can most properly be described as a bowling green. A 4 acre bowling green. The outfield is better than some of the pitches we have played on! Arriving at 12 meant that for an hour and a half we could see the sight (no spelling mistake) and go to the (tongue firmly in cheek) lush, golden sands that make up the beach. Of course dodging the pebbles and donkey pooh on the way. The pebbles will make a fine sandy beach, given another 2 million years or so of erosion. Around 1pm, the sky went blacker than a coal miners you-know-what and it lashed down for about 1/2 an hour.
Luckily, the ground drained well and we were scheduled to start at around 2.15. Some quality cricket shots were on display as we knocked up, including the first shot, from Kiwi, that Rob fielded, which can only be described as resembling a tracer bullet about waist high. Rob was equal to the task, at a cost of only 3 fingers. Dean took to boundary fielding, but no one could hit it that far. Another comedy moment courtesy of VC when, attempting to catch a skier, he realised at the last second that it wasn't going to be and pulled up, only to be the victim of a glancing blow by the ball to where it hurts most. As the twelfth man says, Koptone Indanadz. As he sank to the ground on all fours, the sympathetic laughter of his teammates was heard all over Lincolnshire.
Finally Paul tossed, and it soon became apparent that Skip had extended his record to 0 for 7 in 2000, with Rob chipping in with 0 for 2. Bets that we don't win a toss all year are now all off. William Hill are giving 2 to 1 on. Marvellous stuff, lets have a bowl.
Dean and Andy Gaunt opened, Dean pacey and lively, Andy swinging it miles. The Aussie opener had a nibble to Dean and spooned it to deep point, where despite all Smudge's attempts to drop it, it stuck, and the first wicket went down. Next ball, a looping chance from the number 3, that Smudge covered a lot of ground to get to, only to attempt to catch it like a big girls blouse, and spill the chance. (Piss taken not too much)
The rain appeared again briefly, and one or two of us rushed to the changing room to get sweaters and lock the keys in the dressing room for effect. The next ball to the colt in at 3 was best described as a brute that he did well to survive and when he nicked one from Andy a couple of overs later to Birdy, despite the umpire's "Not out" verdict, he couldn't walk fast enough. At about 40 for 3, the drizzle started and carried on. Smudge bowled an excellent line to the right handers, as did Benno, tricky as ever. Dave Spencer put in some fine work with the tweakers to contain the batsman a bit, but the long handle started to come out. As Rob took the 5th wicket, clean bowled, his first of the year, the rain started in earnest and didn't stop for 3 hours. The match was declared abandoned an hour later, and we all noshed to our hearts content on a super spread
A disappointing end to the day, but, hopefully, as Arnie once nearly said, "We'll be back"
PS When you spell check "Skeggy" the number one suggestion is "Squeegee". Quite apropriate in the circumstances I think.