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Fixtures and Results | Match Reports

Date Against H/A Link Result Captain/Score
Sun 16 / 9 / 2012 Barford Home (YW) Won by 84 runs. Old Mo 219-6. Oppo 135-6.

SCORECARD

By September we’ll have cracked it

Fitmen 219-6; Barford 135-6

Fitmen win by 84 runs.


So, almost at the end of a wet season losing 19 games to the seemingly incessant rain – but on the positive side we have completed 24 fixtures (and won 17 of them) with two more to go. Even more positive was that we seem to have ‘cracked it’ and worked out how to turn potentially exciting close run matches into something of a procession.

Who’d have thought that we’d be entering September by playing the game properly?!

Batting steadily early on to see off the new ball, gradually accelerate after 20 overs, step it up in the final quarter and larrup the last 5. But that’s exactly what happened with Si (31) and Butch (28) adding a new dimension to the word cautious (due credit to the Barford opening bowlers), Tahir (96 not out) mis-timing early on but then taking the attack apart in one of the finest innings most of us have witnessed in the Fitmen, Lord F steadying the mini collapse (17) and finally Ralphie (19 off 8) trying to stick it on the green of the 5th hole next door.

The result – a more than adequate 219-6 with ammo still left in the batting line up.

Barford opened up their reply with some confidence and appeared to be having a go but Ralphie’s (6-0-21-1) pace and Raj’s (8-2-21-2) ‘flight’ (yes!) and swing put paid to a close one. By the time the stand out bowler of the day Shah (8-1-18-1) had completed his eight it turned into a meek surrender but fine opponents and played in the spirit we all love. There was the usual multi-generational Caesar diving catch couple with customary meanness from the Chairman (6-0-13-1)and really it was only Nutterrrr that was disappointed. This wasn’t because he bowled poorly, quite the opposite, but the key part of the slow spinner’s game is to induce a rash shot – which Barford weren’t inclined to do. In fact they played Ian (8-1-35-0) well …………….in the context of a 4 day game………..offering little in the way of aggression.

The fielding was good (3 smart catches plus two Chiz special stumpings) and the job was completed in the first half. The final 15 overs in particular were simply a matter of getting through the overs quick enough to get back to the bar.

The usual acts of buffoonery interspersed what was a pretty clinical display………………Mr T pouching a smart catch at point whilst in the process of putting his jumper on, Ralphie with no-one closer than 50 metres shouting for people to keep away from his skier catch (which he took), Sharif cutting down his usual 2 step run up , Si falling into a hole caused by his previous fall into the hole, outstanding team effort in ignoring the drinks carrier to break the back of a packet of 10 and T (again) hoping the match had ended after 39 overs with him 7 short of a ton.

Outstanding tea featuring Mutter Ralph’s Egg sandwiches (voted best sandwiches involving egg that day), plate of Lord F’s finest free range Columbian Blacktail hard boilers, Maina Sharif’s delightful pakora, all accompanied by potato salad and green salad drizzled with a light dressing.

Of course the report wouldn’t be complete without "Congratulations" to Raj on the birth of his son………….he doesn’t appear inclined to adopt any of the suggested names for the lad including Uppish Coverdrive, George, Trigger……………….etc etc…………..

Usual thanks to the backroom team from Ashfield – always a pleasure – and to Barford for maintaining those (now rare) traditions of stopping after for a slurp and a natter. Proper cricket – and we won!