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Crofton clinch a low scoring match between
recently promoted rivals.
Stainborough's relatively new look 1st XI
at fellow promoted rivals Crofton. At the
warm up the team were resplendent in the
new look Dental Studio sponsored shirts.
Style conscious Clarkey however refused
to wear his citing the Burberry looking
embroidery around the buttons as CHAV.
Captain Londt lost his first toss of the
season and Stainborough took to the field.
The opening spells by Londt (5 -2 - 11 -
0) and Clarke (5 - 0 - 28 - 0) were reasonably
tight although Crofton's folically challenged
skipper lofted a couple of wind assisted
6's into a neighbouring garden where a children's
party with bouncy castle was in full swing.
Sadly his behaviour later in the dismissal
of Rushforth suggested he should have been
attending the party.
Rushforth took over from Londt at the top
end and bowled in "good areas" dismissing
Shepherd via a good low chance snaffled
by Kershaw in the covers and clean bowling
the Crofton No.3. Pepper, who has more resistance
than most, bowled manfully into the wind
and uphill as well, entertaining the umpire
with lung busting lbw shouts to no avail.
The introduction of new boy Singh (13 -
5 - 18 - 4) slowed the scoring and often
bamboozled Crofton's verbal keeper and their
new Sri Lankan quickie. Crofton's skipper
on 64 finally lunged forward to one which
turned past his bat; he slipped into ungainly
splits and was deftly stumped by Liam McFadyen.
Seasoned Stainborough warrior Archer (11.3
- 5 - 27 - 3) joined Singh in 22 overs of
spin. The unlikely spin twins restricted
Crofton's scoring to such an extent the
language and sending offs on the adjoining
football pitch suddenly became exciting.
Crofton looked as if they were going to
block the last few overs to deny Stainborough
full bowling points until a bizarre run
out in the last over ended their innings
on 125.
After a hearty feast of the usual refection
including super strength tea and whose highlight
was juicy jam doughnuts Stainborough commenced
their reply through Pepper and Singh. The
start was pedestrian against good bowling.
Singh (7) was out with the score on 15 bringing
skipper Londt to the wicket. Bobby could
not capitalise and departed for 9, Clarke
sadly soon followed for 5, run out whilst
backing up. The portly umpire never got
into a decent position and a TV reply may
have shown it to be 50:50. The umpire certainly
should have phoned a friend.
Kershaw joined the ever watchful Pepper.
The even more watchful Kershaw finally got
off the mark on his 25th ball faced but
the two put on 41 for the 5th wicket taking
the score to 94. At one point Pepper caressed
the ball for a possible 3 but after turning
for the second pulled a fetlock, or possibly
two, which necessitated a runner for the
rest of his innings. Confusion reigned as
all the out batsmen had got changed. Eventually
the umpires fearing their supper may be
burned allowed an in-going batsman to be
a runner until Clarke could don his kit
again and take over.
The partnership was finally broken when
Pepper (44) drove back hard at Cooper's
first ball. The bowler stuck out an arm
and the ball ricocheted off it allowing
him to gather at the second attempt. None
of the remaining batsmen were able to trouble
the scorers much. Rushforth looked solid
but then skied one. His departure was met
by derision and scorn from Crofton the type
of which is more commonly seen on the fields
of the "beautiful game" where it quite frankly
should remain.
Stainborough's innings finally stuttered
to 113 just 13 disappointing runs short
of victory. Great solace should be taken
from the bowling and fielding performance
but the batting looked rusty on a slow wicket
and will need to improve next week.
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