No Dreary Derby Here

Kibworth V Fleckney

Ah Kibworth. Near neighbours, dear friends and set in facilities that few could hope to match. Yet still only half the club that Fleckney will be when Frank finally hits his peak. Sadly though due to ill health Frank couldn’t play this weekend, perhaps it may have gone better if he had.

Uncle Scooter won the toss, chose to bat and out strode Mike Dunkley and Brij Barot. The Fleckney equivalent to Strauss and Cook. That is if both were left handers, oh and as good as their international equivalents. But apart from that the analogy is totally spot on.

Brij walked about with a steely look in his eye, the sort of intensity a guy can only muster when he works out who has nicked his razors (for the love of all that is holy please give them back). He had bashed a breezy 30 odd yesterday and was back for more than the same. This time score 19 off 21 including a mighty old six down the ground. To be fair the Club Welfare Officer’s day to improve, he had phoned a teammate from the balcony of the pavillion asking where the pitch was. This is not a drill, it actually happened….good grief!

Brij fell to the first ball of young spinner Bandi who had a highly impressive game all around. Saga Hill sadly played on just when it looked like he had just got settled in with his Ovaltine and issue of The Peoples Friend. Fergus too played on but his delivery ‘shot through’ and would have decapitated any passing earthworms.

Mike Dunkley fell for a well crafted 80 and it was left to Seth Styles 19* and Adam Houghton on Sunday debut 13* to see Fleckney to 172 off their allotted overs. Well played both of you, a real highlight of the afternoon.

Anyone who has had the genuine pleasure of playing on the bottom pitch at Kibworth will tell you it is a bit exposed and can be chilly. Well for chilly read cold enough that even a penguin would want to wear three pairs of socks. It is a good job we play the Summer game because, let me tell you, it would have been a four layer of whale fat day otherwise.

Fergus Weir took his revenge with some high quality bowling that got two wickets. A victim each for Vijay (lovely to have you with us fella) and the skipper had Kibby at 50 for 4. Then Fleckney hit a considerable roadblock in the form of young Bandi (again) and Jake Long. The former all technique and application on his way to an unbeaten 51 and Jake dancing feet, long levers and boundary peppering. The game got away from Fleckney quicker than a greased pig hearing the words’ Hog Roast’.

Jake did retire on 63 off 35 balls (well batted young man) which allowed a further wicket to fall before proceedings wrapped up with 3 overs to go.

This was a game of youth taking the fore and there was genuine talent on show. Glad to report that some of it wore Fleckney green and whilst the scoreboard read a Kibworth win, and deservedly so, in terms of camaraderie and team spirit Fleckney won by a country mile.

Let’s do it again soon Kibworth, maybe when it feels warmer than about minus 40 though?