SCORECARD

Fitmen Fail in Tough Tasker Master – Class !

Well what an epic start to the season. After a 24 degree heatwave over Easter, it was just typical that Shefali predicted biblical downpours between 4 and 7PM and all concerned were nervously eyeing the weather App’s. Knowing Shefalis love of golden watersports, she’s always hoping for a good soaking. This reporters favoured Accuweather suggested we’d get away with it and so it was to be.
The Ashfield 1st XI wicket had been covered during the occasional afternoon downpours, but alas the Fitstrip alongside the astro turf had not…As a result, it was a bit of a sticky wicket which all batsmen bar one were to find difficult to bat on. Due to the sun setting at 8.21, a T16 was decided upon, with 8 overs being bowled from each end, so minimal field changes needed. Tails won the toss and Fitmen decided to bat first.

Mo and Gav opened up and with wides counting as 2 with no extra ball, 15 off the first two was an encouraging start. Mo in the 3rd over was out caught, driving a ball that didn’t come on to the bat. Bice, next in, struck some glorious shots advancing down the pitch with menance and along with Gavlar hitting the first Six of the season, these two put on 46 before Bice fell in the 9th over for an impressive 31. Scoring was never easy, with some excellent bowling and fielding from WMD and a score of 73-2 after 10 felt a little short of the required run rate. Jonesy was out plum LBW, missing one that plopped and looped onto his giant pads. “I was miles down the pitch” fell on deaf ears. With pads the size of the newly refurbished sight-screens (unused), it can be a tricky task for the umpire to see the ‘keeper, let alone the stumps.

Skippper in next with newly refurbished bat, after 16 weeks in the nets with the ball coming on nicely, looked like he’d never played cricket before. Heaving and swiping and mis-timing – Joy. Gavlar out Bowled for a super 29 off 25 brought Sharif in to deliver an imressive 15 off just 7, but with Dawes missing most and only scoring 15 off the last 2, a slightly below par 122-4 was posted.
The sun came out as the Fit X strode out. One man down in the field left the skipper the tricky task of hiding 4 x 50+ year olds and himself. A daunting task. Answer: Bowl yourself and hope for the best. 18 conceeded off the first 3 was a good start, but when Taskers 2nd over was dispatched to all parts by the (very) talented left handed opener, it was game on. I’ve put this opener in the scorebook as Virat Kohli. Classic cover drives and exceptional on the leg side with a devastating pull shot, he was purposefully hitting shots just short of the boundary to protect his team mates cars. Add to this, no one had timed the ball all night on either side and you see where I’m going. When speaking to the WMD fixture Sec after the game, “Oh, that’s his first ever game for us, he’s quite good isn’t he?”….Thanks a lot.

To be fair to WMD, they partnered him with someone who had never played cricket before, so despite Kohli smashing everyone, some restraint was applied when the strike rotated. Sharif got his first wicket of the season with a aubergine tinged full toss which Mo caught in the deep. Then when Ash and Fraz were brought into the attack, the game turned on it’s head. Ash 2-19 was after a warm up ball, back to his imperious best. If Mo had held onto a difficult chance to snag Kohli, it could have been a different game. Ash did finally get him out with a skier, well taken by ‘keeper Bice, after earlier getting the No.3 out. 107-4 after 13, left WMD needing 16 off 3 overs.

Fraz, had taken a bit of stick from his team mates earlier. A. For forgetting there was a game on. B. Turning up at 6.30. C. For providing zero desire to stop anything going through extra cover and D. For falling over keystone cops style when trying to get out of the way of another cover drive (mate – you need some cricket spikes). However, cometh the hour, cometh the Fraz! A brilliant 3 overs yielding only 9 runs was a standout performance. He swung the game back into the Fitmen’s hands.

Last over to be bowled by the skipper with WMD needing 8 to win. Dot, 3, Dot and now 5 off 3 needed, oh the excitement. Another single, 4 neded of the last 2. Easy now. Calm heads on, lets do this. Now of the assembled 10 Fitmen, there was perhaps only one that can throw a ball at pace and velocity. He had shown it all evening with some superb 50 yard throws from the deep. The issue seemed to be that the “throw-o-meter” of James Taskers arm has been permenantly stuck at Level 10. Thirty yards away….level 10 missle in. Forty yards away…”Arm of Thor” Level 10. Fifteen yards away fielding a quick single from WMD? You got it…….Power Rangers, Thundercats, By the Powers of Numbskull….suddenly one turns to three and the scores are tied with a solitary ball left.
Yet, the gods were having a right laugh tonight. Last ball flicked to leg side, who else should it roll to? Tasker with another Ultimate Power throw to tie the game??? Not to be.

This was a cracker of a game and congratulations to WMD for a memorable game and for all staying for a beer afterwards.
Bodes well for the season ahead…..