AP Martin at Lapworth

The magnificent margin of victory at the Memorial Ground, Lapworth, was all the more remarkable in that it was achieved by only nine players.

Forty Fitmen were contacted, but only 11 stepped forward, including some new faces and two debutants. One torn groin muscle and one massive hangover later, the teamsheet was depleted to nine. In spite of that, the mood in the dressing room was surprisingly positive: at least no one would have to bat 10 or 11.

Upon winning the toss, captain Martin decided to bat rather than set an attacking seven-man field. Despite losing Sharif early doors, bowled round his legs, Jack Caesar and Raj added 33 quick runs before a tall familiar-looking Lapworth bowler tickled Jack's stumps.

Martin joined Raj at the crease for a very strange all-run partnership of 28 off wides, byes, overthrows etc, before a strategic move of running out Raj (sorry mate) was instigated to bring Debutant Number One to the crease. Suspicions were first raised of the quality of Richard Harris when the three slips employed for all previous FitBatsmen sprinted to various positions on the boundary for his first ball. All became clear over the next hour in a 129 stand (Harris 94, Martin 50), during which Harris reverse swept and bludgeoned good length balls to every part of the ground.

When 200 came up at the end of the 30th over, it seemed a good time for others to get involved and enjoy the runfest. Thanks to a smart 20 off Will Caesar and able support from Sunny and Casey the nine Fitmen delivered 264/8. Harris, on his birthday, avoided purchasing a jug but his 94 was quite brilliant.

Following tea, with a reasonable target posted, an attacking field was placed. Matt Key's first three balls delivered two wickets, which was a decent start. Sunny bowled the number two in between wides (massive swing) and after 12 overs of high quality bowling Lapworth were a touch behind the run rate on 21/3.

Key finished with 2 for 4 off 6 overs, and if Lapworth thought that at last the chance to score had arrived, then the sight of a psyched up Sharif who had missed out on the runs, must have been a terrifying vision. Eight overs later, the batsmen had managed to get the ball off the square twice, and the scrooge like figures of 22/1 (including the wicket of the tall one) had strangled the life out of the game.

After an entertaining over from Debutant Number Two, Casey, wearing what can only be described as a pair of white pub shoes (but still got a wicket), enter stage left the hero of the Fitmen batting, Richard Harris who delivered his first five-wicket haul of his life 8-4-9-5, to wrap up the Lapworth innings 76 all out. A special mention must be made of Sunny's spectacular one-handed reaction slip catch, reminiscent of a young Vivian Richards...

A very good day at the office by a special group of nine 'gifted' Fitmen.