2005 Season - Stanton-by-Dale - 2005/07/10
Paul writes
Looney Tunes time commenced as the convoy rolled into Stanton by Dale, with three point turns, frantic reversing and poor parking all in evidence before the long walk up the hill through the fields to the ground.
29 degrees c.
By the time I reached the top I was ready for bed never mind the energy required to call �Tails�. Fortunately Andy had resisted the temptation to stand in and call in my absence. He�s a heads man, but as most people know �Tails never fails� and sure enough their skipper almost reluctantly fetched the 50p off the wicket with Queen Elizabeth firmly facing the wicket. Hurrah!....cos it was still 29 degrees and we�re batting.
Mick Brennan was drafted in to replace Jez (at a family do) and he made a pleasant 20, not before his opening partner Jamie had dragged one on for a gut wrenching nought. Jamie�s departure saw the arrival of batting God Ian Cross, who set off at a pace, pulling disdainfully to leg anything remotely shortish. In the 16th over I surveyed the field from the non strikers end and noted all but one of the opposition fielders on the boundary. Interesting Power Play tactic this, but it was preceded by a great cry from their captain of �Spread out!� each time Ian took strike. Ian took the odd easy single, but generally pierced the boundary hugging fieldsman with powerful drives and pulls. Oddly they all came in for me�.not a bad estimation, can�t slog, never been able to.
Ian complained to me about not being able to time the ball.
I recall he did this at Calverton as well.
Same outcome...
...another glorious hundred, so that�s three in six innings this year plus a seventy odd. All those doubters who thought that the pressures of Dadmanship, had taken their toll and the goldenballs of DCC had succumbed to mortality with 2 low scores, were unfounded and Ian Cross, father of Ben rattled up another ton.125 to be precise, 18 x 4s and 4 x 6s, and a partnership of 127 with yours truly who nurdled, edged, huffed & puffed a painful 42. I don�t know if I mentioned it was 29 degrees C and a wee bit bit hotter than that inside your helmet (you know what I mean).
With a couple of hay makers from Alec and some late hitting from Dave & Smudge plus a generous 32 extras we got a run a ball 240..
Jamie took pleasure in correctly naming a helmet clad Graeme Wood on a picture in the pavilion, when everyone else failed, which eased the burden of collecting tea money for his nought.
It�s on these occasions, particularly on a small, bone hard, well cut ground, that you want to keep it tight for the first few. Don�t let them get a start. Don�t give them a sniff. No problem I thought, Andy had rocked back into form last week with a four wicket haul and Alec has bowled as well as any of the last few years, always tidy, there and thereabouts..
Therefore at 50-0 off the first six, Vietnam-style flashbacks of Calverton were beginning to blur my vision or was it tears?
But if sixteen odd seasons of Captaincy has taught me one thing, its if you�ve got trouble�.get Benno on.
And as if by magic�.a first ball caught and bowled no less.
Mick Brennan called it inspired captaincy as their number three took guard, which was very kind of him, but more common sense and ofcourse good bowling. Which Steve continued to do through an excellent spell of 8-2-21-2 and for you Fantasy fans out there, they were both caught & bowled�..70 points in the kitty for starters.
The second wicket was caught by the ever retreating Mick Stewardson at deep point (I didn�t put him that deep) and we were on it. Mick then came on for his customary mixed bag and we all took a sharp intake of breath as the previous week had not been his best. But what do you know he bags a three wicket haul and we started to relax a bit more.
Benno was relieved from the no site screen end and Bradley was introduced for a three over spell which produced his first wicket for the club as one was turned round the corner and who should be there with a Salmon-like leap and a one handed catch but Mr Bennett. Much celebrating followed.
Dave got a wicket with one of his more mysterious deliveries and the unlucky Smudge elevated to a lofty five in the batting order, just got a solitary over before Stanton capitulated at a pretty reasonable 173.
After the long and winding walk back from base camp to village pub, a very fine pint of Black Sheep Bitter was enjoyed by the skipper, who secured the match ball for his son�s first wicket and set about plotting the assault of Thorpe Arnold at their Presidents Day bash next week.