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Fixtures and Results | Match Reports

Date Against H/A Link Result Captain/Score
Sun 26 / 4 / 2015 Highcroft and Great Barr Home Won by 6 wickets. Oppo 218 Old Mo 219-4.

SCORECARD


Highcroft and Great Barr 218 all out, 219-4.
Fitmen win by 6 wickets

Normal FitService resumed

After two ‘pre-season friendlies’ on the road examined the Fitmen’s resolve, it was a pleasure and a relief to be back on familiar turf.............and plenty of it there was. The combination of early preparation and overnight sweating under the sheeting produced a green top that brought tears to the eyes of the FitSwingers who’d take the new ball.

A further bonus was a call of tails from the oppo allowing Skipper Raj to elect to bowl in a match that for long periods could have gone either way.

Sunny (7-0-29-3) is hitting the straps early this season and has been the outstanding bowler to date. He again produced an impressive spell of hostile and accurate quick bowling. Swing and the right length caused early trouble for the Highcroft opener who elected to retaliate by hitting hard – and sending a fizzer to gully............the Chairman’s first catch for 14 months. What a start!

This set the standard for the day as fielding was (with a few notable exceptions!) excellent. 5 catches and a stumping meant that the visitors would have to work hard for their runs.

There were a few ‘moments’ for the fielding side as various bowlers got ‘some tap’. The BiceDriver lurked on the 3rd fairway (472 yards off the white tees with a stroke index of 3) dodging the odd hook, but generally retrieving the ball well from the semi rough. His ‘up close’ view of the golfers came in handy when batting later but before then very nearly took the catch of the century before Ian sucked in a strong uppish cover drive.

Mr T, making his season debut, showed great versatility in his newly found reverse gear at cow corner.
Si stopped everything along the ground but was struck by vertigo for the aerial stuff, whilst George Dawes had some kind of magnetic attraction for the ball in his boundary patrol.

Raj (5.3-0-35-1) also got a decent line and length and perhaps his figures didn’t flatter. Meanwhile The Fantasy Blade from the top end rolled back the years with 8-3-17-2 challenging Sunny for the bowling performance of the day. Sharif did what he always does and kept the batters honest (8-1-37-1) as did the Nuttmeister whose 6-0-63-1 was slightly misleading as an over too many damaged the figures and disguised the important middle order wicket he snared.

The chairman returned pretty much the same figures as the last two weeks (5-1-22-2) though conceding 22 took 5 times longer than the previous week – and had the added bonus of a keeper with all body parts working whipping off the bails for a smart stumping.

A sub 200 target was on the cards until the hard hitting number 9 changed all that and allowed the visitors to put up a challenging 218.
Tea ..............ahh.............back to the staple. Raj’s Pakora and Sunny’s secret recipe chicken wings were as always the centre piece.

Surrounded by Asda’s basics pork pie ‘with a bit of pickle in the middle’ and alarming coloured fairy cakes. The bar was once again well stocked with Hooky Gold and Stowford Press leading the sales charts. Our thanks once again to Steve & Kate for generously giving their time to keep order (bar/drinks/tea).

Now for the reply.

Previous reports have highlighted a reasonable dependable opening partnership – and once again Tom (21@50) & Si (27@ 69) put on 50 for the first wicket against some challenging quick bowling. Tom fell for a loose cover drive in the air whilst Si saw the bails fly soon after.

Enter Mr T (fresh from taking it easy in the field) and MoM Tuckerrrrr. The omens were good having spotted the No 4 (76 @ 117) undertaking his usual pre-innings ritual and the No 3 (47@107) studiously taking no notice of the activities in the middle before his time came.

Highlights included clearing the clubhouse but the real statement of intent was a straight drive onto the 3rd fairway for another maximum – 1 of 4 in his knock. The clever money wouldn’t have been on this pairing running a 3 - yet they did ....three times. After tipping the game in favour of the home side the inevitable run out made way for Rich who brought out his wedge, had 4 air shots and retired.

There was still work to do though when the grunting gurner (28@ 107) entered the fray and did what he does best. Sharif along with (last week’s) Captain Fantastic saw the game home with a couple of overs to spare.

Other notable performances include Rob Green who didn’t come down for a beer and a watch as he had only nipped out for t’diesel. Bal, who was a close 2nd to man of the match as he turned up, ran the scoreboard (early difficulties with construction and counting), umpired for 10 overs, paid his subs, organised a tour to Iceland (Kings Heath presumably?) and gifted some bar profits.

The day would have been complete if the carpentry fairies had fixed the sight screen at the houses end.

Fantasy Update
MoM Tuckerrrr .............91 fantasy points with a stumping and 75 runs
Runner up – chairman with 2 wickets and three 3 catches for 75 points

Don’t forget!
Friday (1st May) 7:30pm at Al Faisals. All welcome, £15 for two courses and listen to Paul Smith! MACC dinner. Booking not required. http://alfaisal.co.uk/