SCORECARD

Rushall Ruffians bring home the W

I know it’s over the top, but trying to cram 20 odd Smiths song titles into a Fitman match report, well I wonder if it can be done?
Another tricky week getting xi assembled, but as we know these things take time. Special mention to Fixture sec, pulling out all the stops despite a tough week health wise. Massive respect. However, so it was that a Fit12 somehow managed to find the green gates to arrive pretty much on time and then it poured down with rain. No panic, game reduced to 35 overs, Heads wins the toss well North of Brum and we are having a bat.

Great to see Dr Green back in the fold as he opened up with the super talented Fadhil. The covers had been on during the downpour, but what difference does it make? The pitch was a green hued, erratically bouncing viper pit. Low shooters and off a length nose ticklers were the order of the day. Girl afraid? Never with this pair at the crease.

Rob going nowhere fast, got a snorter and was out caught. Skipper came in sporting yet another bat with which he was un-happy. 10 off 22 would send any one asleep and skipping down the track like a vicar in a tutu, trying to crack on was out caught. Enter now debutant Krish, this charming man will be a superb addition to the ranks. His 2 step shimmy launching good length balls to the boundary was a glory to behold. Spot of hilarity when a booming shot down to deep mid on, was initially brilliantly caught, but the fielder misjudged the boundary edge, I know it’s over and fell into the netting for a wicket to be turn into a 6.

Fadhil at the other end pretty much won us the match. Ask anyone who witnessed this innings of 103 retired on a very tricky surface and they will agree. Incredibly impressive off his legs. Sweeping ankle high shooters then glorious off side drives. What a player. 103 off 89 with 3 maximums.

Krish out stumped for an excellent 46 off 37 for a solid debut 100+ SR. Waseem again stumped by the impressive Walsall Health ‘keeper for 10, it was down to Raj to get us to a competitive score. Is it really so strange to see Raj pummelling the ball through the covers? No. But hitting to Mid-on and through mid wicket for an unbeaten 25? Wow. 227 for 6 off 35 overs was 40 more that the 180 par score expected.

Stop me if you think you’ve heard this one before, rattling on about bringing our own tea not being the same, but apparently the Walsall Tea lady was off on her Jolly’s, so a paltry bag of monster munch (beef), onion and cheese sarnies and an array of pop didn’t quite hit the mark.

A mix-up/lack of communication meant that the Fit ranks had swollen from 10 to 12 in a couple of hours, with Fadhil’s talented brother joining the ranks. Skipper Martin very graciously (gratefully) offered to stretch out and wait and watch from the sidelines.
Well, I wonder if the batsmen were expecting Waseem and Timmsy to open the bowling, but they did so and with great accuracy and some success, with Rob Green bagging a decent catch in the slips to remove the opener off the bowling of Timms. The fact that he dropped a sharp chance in the 1st over will be glossed over.

Next in, to the match report writer's delight, came a batsman wearing a single batting pad, no gloves, and we didn’t ask about a box. Rubber ring? Who knows? Now facing Waseem on a bouncy track, personally, with my fingers, I keep mine hidden. Hand in glove is a given. Is this batsman some sort of superhero? No, just a nutter. Fingers and inside leg missed by fractions, we were all relieved when he was finally out, hit on his only pad out LBW.

Walsall Health were keeping up with the run rate with the dangerous opener hitting the gaps, but 1st change, in-form, leading wicket taker Bal Singh decided to put a stop to that. Bal seeking more silverware, with only mid-week bowler award not in the heaving cabinet (I want the one I can’t have), continuing the form trapped said opener LBW.

High/Lowlight of the day came when a certain ex-Fitman hobbled out to the crease. A deserter who left his team-mates in the lurch with only 8 players in few seasons past. Last heard living in London? But no. Now found at his new club in North Birmingham. Contrite you’d think? No chance….”I don’t owe you anything”

Well PC, You’ve got everything now. A chance at redemption. The trap had been set. Up steps Bal, a swing and a miss…”lucky” apparently and back to the very small changing rooms for a long hard luck in the grubby mirror. A 3rd W for Bal.
There was still a glimmer of hope, but a quite superb 5 overs from young Nihal Singh, son of Raj, the old king of swing slammed the door shut. Wow, this lad has got a delightful action, pitches it up and against 2 set bats who both hit 40 and 50 odd, neither could play Nihal with any confidence. Unlucky to remain wicketless, a lovely spell to bring the game home. Timmsy grabbed a good caught and bowled and Walsall Health were 46 runs short.

Always a good game played in the right spirit. We’ll see you at the cemetery gates (Graveyard) in a couple of Sundays’ time.

Will we see the deserter I wonder. Will Bigmouth strike again?