Thoresby
Colliery II 137 for 8 (46 overs) [3 points]
Blidworth
II 139 for 5 (about 35 overs) [16 points]
With the
damp pre-weekend weather, it was no surprise that this turned out to be a rusty
early-season performance from Thoresby. Indeed, rheumatism, arthritis, partial
sightedness and obesity also took their turn throughout proceedings.
Rob Walker
made a predictable start with the coin – losing – and Thoresby were put in on a
damp ‘un. Halfpenny soon succumbed to a vicious short ball, from Russ Breedon,
that circled tantalisingly in front of him before he decided to lob it to the
only man on the legside. Staunch Stuart Evans stuck out the shine with Mick
‘Careful’ Case until Mick got a real snorter from veteran veg-man Andy Mason
and was caught at the wicket.
After that
it was a steady procession of indeterminate strokes and injudicious swipes,
including a shameful first-ball half-swaft from run-machine Paul Hutchison,
that saw TCCC lose wickets cheaply. Only Chris Mitchell and Johnny Rossington
looked like taking the attack to Craig Turton but they fell together in their
teens, Rossy to an unplayable underground pearoller.
With
Thoresby only fielding 10 batsmen due to a late withdrawal (who could
resist the draw of a Johnny Mathis
tribute band at Ollerton Miners’ Welfare?), skipper Walker and Russ ‘Shiraz’
Marson came together at 83 for 8. Blidworth maestro Breedon withdrew the
visibly dieting Mason to introduce Dave ‘Goliath’ Wilcocks with his wrist spin.
Marson took advantage of some woefully short deliveries to boost the total
quickly …….. and then repeated his efforts two overs later as Wilcocks was
replaced by Kirk ‘I’m a celebrity get me outta’ Sear. Excellent work from the
last pair eventually took the total on to a competitive 137 for 8 from the
allotted 46 overs.
Teatime was
enlivened by conjecture about why the Stags game at Tranmere could have been
abandoned at half-time, but no-one guessed the real reason ……. man climbs
floodlight then jumps onto roof of stand! Stags relegated anyway.
The
Blidworth innings started promisingly with two youngsters confidently taking
the score into the mid-20’s. But Huggy, and first-change Billy Lippeatt, put
the brakes on before Hutchison took both scalps in successive overs. With
Turton and Andy Mason at the wicket, Blidworth scored steadily. However when
Mason played all across a straight one from Billy, then Kirk ‘Messageboard’
Sear gently lobbed back a c&b to the crazily shaven Lippeatt, Thoresby were
back in with a shout.
Richard
Thomas joined Turton and these progressed favourably, albeit being fed a
succession of half-volleys. The turning point came when Thomas skied a chance
over bowler Evans but Billy unfortunately misjudged the flight and the ball
dropped harmlessly between them, neither having moved an inch towards the ball.
When Turton
was caught at long off by Mitchell off Halfpenny, the 15 runs required would
prove little problem. A shame, since one more wicket would have exposed Blidworth’s
weak tail.
So,
all-in-all a mediocre performance. No doubt the talent and experience is there
but we need to work harder to rekindle the glory days. A new ball might help
too – Mr.Birkett please be generous!
Next game,
Anston at home next Saturday.