KMCC knock off huge total.
Although never a classic this match was personified by attacking batting from both sides on a day that brought 443 runs and only 7 wkts from a drenched pitch. KMCC won the toss and inserted Newby Hall hoping that a couple of early breaks would enable the bowlers to restrict the opposition to a manageable total. That early break did not come... and indeed the first wicket only fell with the score in excess of 100. Lacking two regular bowlers(Goldie and Peter) Duncan, Tufnell and latterly Mark were left toiling to keep the total down. The brief emergence of Rodney before he was cut down by injury in his first over just failed to bring about the break through and as the total rose the fielding grew more and more lacklustre. Indeed when the innings closed on 221-4 the fielding side trudging off looked more like Napoleans army in the retreat from Moscow than a side confident of knocking off the required runs.
Kirkby teas are made of stern stuff though and by the time the interval had finished spirits were raised. Dujon acting as a pinch hitting opener for the first time this season strode purposefully out to the wicket and proceeded to smash the opening attack to all parts of the ground including 3 sixes in one over - just as it looked like the match would be finished inside 30 overs he holed out to square leg having made 46 off only 43 deliveries, 72-1. The respite for the Newby attack was short lived however with the big cheese at last hitting a rich vein of form assisted by Harford-Cross. The score kept ticking towards the required total until H-C (59) was trapped in front with 17 overs and 75 runs required. There was to be no Kirkby collapse this time however and a brief flurry from Iain(25) and then a final stand between the Cheese(60*) and Duncan(13*) saw Kirkby home with 7 balls to spare. This result ensured that KMCC must finish ahead of GWCC and sets the team rolling once again for a meeting with Galphay on the last day of the season.