The Friday night, saw the celebration of Robin Stevenson's birthday, a BBQ and a veritable feast awaited the Duffield lads, as even Sergeant Sims turned up with a case load of Boddingtons, though he was claiming that he was only there to ensure the 1st XI stars didn't get too trashed ahead of this important match. He needn't have worried though, as any signs of a drunken stupor soon disintegrated at around 2.00am. A late night swim at Turnditch Manor, in an ice-cold brook, would have been enough to sober up George Best never mind the Duffield 1st XI. So escaping with only a few bruises and some soiled garments, the boys were ready.
The pre-match prep talk this week concluded with a special announcement from Kris Elliot. Whilst lodging at Mr Hadfield's residence, he and The Landlord have found a babies dummy lying about, nobody particularly wanted to know the reasons behind the discovery of this dummy, but nonetheless it was presented to the boys, attached to a piece of string. The boys were asked to keep an eye on any fellow teammate who displays a dummy-throwing incident during the course of the day. At the end of play, a democratic vote would ensue with the biggest dummy spit being awarded the prize, an item that would have to be worn for the duration of the night, and the next match (not during the course of play) until next awarded. Mr Fry was the first to don the prized specimen after being ridiculed by Big Neil and John Antill over his dropped catch the week previous, where the dummy wasn't just spat out, it was well and truly trod into the ground.
Duffield welcomed back Carrazedo from the side that had a winning draw against Selston, in for Dave Stevenson, and his much hyped analysis of how South Africa were going to pan New Zealand in the rugby, left him with egg all over his face. Richard Jordan, still asserting that smug look knowing that he was top of Division One bowling averages, half way up the batting averages, and in the fielding list too, was confident that his performance against the bottom placed side would further cement his spot in all three disciplines. Sims lost the toss, and Duffield were invited to bat once more.
Sims, who was nursing a sore finger decided to drop himself down the order, ironic really, because if hadn't have dropped the catch the previous week, this would not have been necessary. So Ian Hadfield and Phil Jordan strode out, looking to give Duffield a good start. Lee Colledge opened the bowling for Marehay, looking to gain a repeat of the 5 wickets he gained at Eyes Meadow earlier in the season. He and his fellow opener bowled well to begin with, giving the Duffield openers no room to score their runs. Hadfield was dropped at first slip off the bowling of Colledge in the 7th over. The fieldsman, who turned up an over late, appeared to be with the fairies as the ball looped to him. The first he knew of it, was when it hit him in the chest, and was consequently put down. Marehay would rue this missed chance. Jordan and Hadfield built the score up nicely, and Hadfield had another lucky escape, when he was put down at mid-on looking to dominate the "spinner". The introduction of the "spinner" gave Duffield more freedom, and Hadfield in particular opened up. Hadfield reached his 50, his first in the 1st XI for four years, with a four through midwicket, milking the applause from the pavilion. He was soon out however, trying to work another ball to the leg side only to find the top edge, and be caught by the not so confident looking keeper, who took the ball just in front of his pony tail. This brought Kris Elliot to the crease with the score on 88-1 from 30 overs, fresh from his 145 not out the previous week. Any hopes of building a partnership with Jordan soon ended, as Jordan looked to attack the spinner, gave him the charge, and despite being hit on the pad 3 yards out of his crease, the umpire deemed him out. Jones was in at four, and he and Elliot really took Marehay to the sword. Playing like they only know how, these two scored at over 7 an over for the next ten overs, giving Duffield real impetus on a good batting pitch. Jones was dismissed for a rapid 31, and the 'injured' Sims went in at five, looking to up the rate. Despite doing his utmost to run the overseas player out, Sims was bowled for 3, which heralded the arrival of Mr Fry. After his public humiliation last week, Arch wanted to demonstrate that he was going to bounce back, and he did just that. A lovely guided four was the highlight in his impressive seven. He even managed to block 3 balls with stout defensive skills in the final over, much to the annoyance of Hadfield and Sims. He holed out however with one ball remaining, caught at deep mid wicket, or more affectionately knows as moo corner. Elliot meantime, was getting on with it at the other end, toe-ing a straight six, on his way to 70 not out. Robin Stevenson came in to face one ball, and gloved one behind, as Duffield finished on 206-6.
Marehay's new ground and set-up is superb, and the tea gained equal approval from the Duffield lads, even malt bread made the cut, as Dong tucked in with ample ease. So, Duffield knew they would have to bowl well to restrict Marehay, if they were to secure yet another positive result.
As in recent weeks, the new ball was tossed to Nicholls and Richard Jordan, despite protestations from Jordan, that when he hasn't bowled with the new ball he has taken 17 wickets for just 90 runs - don't mess with Ceefax. Nicholls bowled with good line and length, extracting bounce and lateral movement from a wicket that had a bit in it for both the batsmen and the bowlers. There wasn't a lot to go at in terms of dummy spitting so far, until Mr Elliot fielding at mid on, went down to stop a drive by the Marehay opener, only for a little buloop to take it past him and to the boundary for four, the slow walk after it indicated that the lip was well and truly down. This was not an isolated occasion either, as another one bulooped past Mr Elliot, and they took two, with this being followed by a wild throw into Hadfield behind the stumps. Lip down, dummy out, tremendous. But he wasn't alone. Rich Jordan who was bowling from the other end, also spat the dummy big time, as two wide half trackers were dispatched to the boundary by the, lets just say unorthodox opener. Nicholls soon claimed a wicket though, Elliot catching his man at mid on, much to the relief of his fellow fielders. The number 3 was soon following him back to the shed, trapped LBW off the bowling of Nicholls. Marehay continually kept up with the run rate, and with the aggressive batting of Lee Colledge making inroads into the total, Duffield could not afford to relax. However, one attacking shot too many accounted for his wicket too. A delivery from Nicholls that checked on the batsman could only be guided into the waiting hands of Robin Stevenson at extra cover. Marehay now 3 down, with Nicholls claiming all three. Jordan bowled his 10 overs with no reward, although Hadfield did drop one from him, whilst standing up, although it was later claimed that it was a deliberate ploy to keep the unorthodox batsman at the crease. Nicholls bowled through his allocated overs, taking 3-41. Elliot replaced him, and Sims replaced Jordan. The match could have swung either way, with Marehay never needing more than 5 an over. Then Sims claimed 2 wickets in one over, accounting for the opener, bowled for 41 and his replacement LBW. So Marehay were now 5 down, though the number six and seven batsmen were looking good, and played some good strokes especially from Sims. However, after a couple of useful overs from Elliot, the run rate started to increase a little, nearer to a run a ball with just 10 overs remaining. One particular blow came the way of Mr Short, who was having a quiet time down on the boundary, he raced round, and tried to flick the ball up one handed, only to see it bobble away and over the rope for four. No dummy was spat by Short, but in the distance the sound of "ang ang ang ang, f***ing w***er, hehehehehe" with the customary hands on hips pointing inwards at least 20 yards from the stumps could be heard from Duffield's exuberant wicketkeeper. Whoops. Short soon made amends however, as the ball was hoisted high off the bowling of Sims, Short ran round, and plucked it comfortably. Sims now had 3 wickets, and Elliot started to crank up the heat from the other end. Elliot picked up one wicket, as Hadfield plucked a diving catch, and two more were bowled, leaving Marehay nine down, with 12 balls remaining. Despite the efforts of Sims and Elliot, Marehay held on, 27 runs short of their target. Sims took 3-75, though by his own admissions, was probably the worst he has bowled all season, especially on a track that offered turn and bounce. Elliot bowled his 10 overs, taking 3-29. A good all round effort from the Australian.
So Duffield once again secured a positive result, stretching their sequence to just one defeat since the first weekend in June, with all other matches ending in positive outcomes. The only blip was against Elvaston, and the erratic bowling of Hall and clueless batting of Muskett. A tougher test next week however, as they take on runaway leaders Shipley Hall, missing both the skipper and the vice skipper.
It is sad to report that tottie was very limited on this particular occasion. Only one specimen in purple trolleys recorded on the tottie meter. Yet again, we had to reply on the trip to the White Hart to appease our desires, though the decision in the last week to remove two of the hottest barmaids from the staff rota has not pleased the Duffield contingent.
And the dummy?? Well a unanimous vote meant that Mr Elliot was the proud wearer of the item. The trip into town, joined by Hadfield and his good lady, complete with Mr Myers, and a chance meeting with Dave Olsen and his lovely lady, was to complete the evening. Dong, decided it would be a good idea to give the returning taxi a bit of interior decoration, in the form of malt bread, cheese cobs and pizza, oh and 6 pints of cider. This was followed by a kip in a Duffield doorway, before being walking home at 5.00am. An eventful night had by all. Bring on Tanveer!!!
Related Links:
Duffield 1st XI - 2003
Duffield 1st XI Fixtures
League Tables
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