BACON COMPLETES CENTURY BEFORE THE RAIN ARRIVES AT KIMBERLEY

KIMBERLEY INSTITUTE V ATTENBOROUGH
NOTTS CRICKET BOARD PREMIER @ 2BM GROUND
29 MAY 2017 --- 12 NOON

KIMBERLEY INSTITUTE CC AND THE TOWN

For the second day running a well appointed century was the order of the home sides innings, following Jordan Lemons for Morton yesterday, today it was Kimberley's former Notts CCC player George Bacon who set his side well on the way to a commanding score before the rain arrived and called a halt to proceedings with the score at 237 for 2.
Bank Holiday arrived and as ever the weather forecast had gradually deteriorated over the proceeding days to the darkest of murky days with of course plenty of the damp stuff, indeed in the area around the ground people were discussing last night thunder storms.  So the blog set off with little hope of any play I envisaged this premier league fixture would suffer with at least 'bad light'.

COME ON UMPIRES LETS GIVE IT A GO

Heavy rain on the initial bus to Alfreton left little hope as the change of bus was made but as Eastwood was passed by it became a little and I mean a little lighter but positively the rain had stopped.  By the time the Rainsbow 1 service was pulling up the hill into Kimberley I had convinced myself to get off and take a look at the ground whatever. 
While the blog always tries to cover over sports the main chance of this is in the close season for football and it generally features rugby league and cricket and this weekend would give both sports a highlight with todays ground having remained a hidden gem for too long.  As I wandered up the delicately name Newdigate St hoping for play very shortly the right was taken that had a tight driveway leading to an opening 100 yards later that shows this beauty of a ground.

TOWARDS THE CLUBHOUSE

Its quite amazing that I had never discovered The 2bm set up before but I guess most of my cricket watching had taken in Derbyshire sides in this short hiatus before non league football starts again.  Today the weather for photos was really poor and it does not show this ground of to its best but I hope to cover Kimberley again this season on a lovely day and get the full experience in north west Nottinghamshire.  Having arrived the covers were of course on but positively the umpires were hovering and the players changed and chomping at the bit.  Having completed a circuit for some photos I don't know where to start with a ground descriptor well may be the entrance, coming across the small parking area to the left is and angled old style clubhouse and pavilion changing rooms, all very comfortable and practical.  As with many rugby league grounds the stats and history of cricket clubs are often proudly displayed on the walls and Kimberley Institute CC is no different a wide collection of memorabilia is on show, even though I only spent a short time in the club house it was great to see a former poster for a Harold Larwood testimonial game held at the ground in the mid 30's with admission a 4d!  Moving back outside the hanging baskets were readying for bloom on the exterior and a wide selection of dedicated seats were in place for spectators next and in a separated viewing hut a separate area for the scorers.

LONG WAY BACK TO AVOID THE HILL

So far I have missed describing the playing area because it is the most difficult to do justice too, Morton Colliery CC has a very undulating outfield all around and there is a consistency too it but here at Kimberley its wonderfully idiosyncratic and matches up the pure eccentricities of the game.  Delayed enough here goes from the wickets the walk back to the pavilion involves an climb up first a sharp probably 5 foot incline before the outfield plateaus out onto a steady rise towards the boundary, indeed the fast bowlers run up takes him down the incline before flattening off on his last few strides to approach the umpire.  Back to the cover boundary and this offers a constant high rise towards the pavilion side boundary.  Moving around the boundary edge drifts In and out of small inlets towards the terrace houses of Noel St that back onto the ground and yes and the boundary is liberally scattered with white moulded seats often accompanied by neatly trimmed trees, believe me a cricket lovers joy!  The opposite cover boundary features a large smart remotely controlled scoreboard and the boundary edge once again meanders back and forth as it dips away.

THE SECRET GATE

Here is another little gem with a full size gate that had I approached from Victoria St offers and secret garden entrance into the ground.  The ground offers views of the former Methodist Church and on the hill side the church building associated with the hillside cemetery.  By the time the circuit was near completion the covers were coming off and we were about to get underway with Kimberley batting, oh yes and I forgot to mention don't come here hungry, why?  Well as I discovered when watching at the nearby Stag Ground if you arrive at the of a shift the Hovis bread factory on Main Rd emits its smell of fresh baking bread over the town and its sports grounds another positive bonus making Kimberley worth a visit is there any nicer smell than baking bread?

GEORGE BACON ON HIS WAY TO A TON

To the cricket the rain had stopped but it was still very murky and you feared it may be a difficult time to bat but it wasn't to be Kimberley moved gently onto 31 before the first wicket fell and then 71 for 2 with Bacon building his total all the time.

TOM ROWE ON HIS WAY TO A QUICK FIRE 25

He was now joined at the crease by Sam Johnson and how he made it move with a danger at varying stages of him catching up the opening batsman Bacon.  Johnson went to his 50 in the 37th over with the 50 overs reduced by 2 due to a small delay at the start we were now very much entering the business end and by the time the rain saw the sides off at around 3.15pm we had seen 41.5 overs and Kimberley had amassed 237 for 2.

BACON STILL ACCUMULATING THE RUNS

It was Johnson who secured a very exciting 78 from 70 balls including 12 x4's and 1 x 6.  But lets look at Bacon who was the builder in this innings with some equally exciting shots he finished on 122 with 13 x 4's, 2 x 6's.

GEORGE BACON ADDING TO HIS TOTAL

With the rain falling sharply and a check on the weather for the rest of the day I made the decision to depart it proved the correct one with no more play possible and an abandoned result being the unfortunate outcome.  Its always disappointing not to see a full result but this enjoyable ground and club is one I hope to cover again soon but on a nice day to enjoy its full benefits.