SCORECARD

Will Caesar ever bowl Another Maiden over??? Et tu, Skipperrrrrr
Fitmen 139-6, just lost to Wavis, 140-5, by 5 wickets

The Fitmen returned to the scene of Bee (or wasp) v Beer (a la Ralphie, circa 2015, The Bee (or wasp) won...) on a day that was hotter than hell - knackers snugly stuck to inner thighs and no bar to speak of meant a BYO memo, to which Messrs Martin, Famile Caesar and friends including Steve and Kate (nice to have their support!!) duly supplied. Unfiltered lager when warm is one to avoid...

The fact that all XI Fitmen were there supping even before the oppo' scorer arrived tells you how much the cricket meant.....
No idea why a toss ensued, which took up 3 minutes of one’s life never to be returned, but we got what we wanted and had a bat.

Oppo’ skipper declining 10 overs from an end to speed things up, but dictating 25 n retire, 2 overs each, 2 runs for illegals with no extra ball .....dee dah dee dah....
On observing the bowling offered up though, it was quickly decided that facing rapid stuff would be preferred – the dilemma you were faced with was:
(a) do you go waltzing down the track, inevitable stumping doom awaits????, or
(b) leave it to dribble past the fifth wicket to your left....???
Sad that only 2 runs were to be added with no extra ball to make amends - surely one for VAR…

A new-look Evian powered Gaverlaaa and freshly oiled-up (with soon to be dripping in the eyes sun-cream, that is) Stevie Nicks opened for the Fitties.
Everyone had a game - bit of a bat n bowl, with retirees Si H and James Hendry setting a platform for Kankle Man Gout-ster Martin and Will Caesar to batter a few quick runs at the end.
After being made to run one too many doubles, an oedema riddled Ade simply walked down the wicket to one and made absolutely no attempt to i) play a shot or ii) get back in the crease, and was therefore duly stumped.
Can't have Will showing off in front of the girlfriend, so Skipper ran him out 2nd last ball to cause mild panic for Nutt, I........we are still uncertain if the umpire's finger for the run-out was one of dismissal, or merely intended to be pointing at Will saying "there he is - two yards past me, so how can he be run-out???"
We will never know, and I don't think the ump will, either...

139 just about right on a fairly big outfield?

Sensing that scoring was tricky off the slowies when batting, four of the more pedestrian bowlers opened up...Dave Moore was God like in the eyes of our newest spectator, Grandson Harry....Harry Mooooorrre; whilst Nutterrrrr, Ian, prevailed from the Industrial Site End; James Hendry got 2 wickets in an over and then was immediately withdrawn (apologies), so when a sumptuous half-volley outside off stump is somehow mooed to deep long on (never seen that in any book) Ade and Raj were brought on to try and remove said moo-errr.
Pink balls swing - ours were still sticking to inner thighs (8 pm and still 28 degrees)...
Everyone had a damn good go and we did a fair job of keeping them short of the target. We also learned mid-opening pair that there were no LBWs…..
Some excellent fielding and catching, so with only 5 needed off 3 overs, it was the turn of Caesar, Will, to have a go......first ball absolute beauty of an away swinger to nibble off stump.... followed by 5 dots!! Wicket Maiden - over to you Ade. No idea why Will had been left to bowl the 18th – apologies again!!!!!
Sadly, a chip over the inner ring did for things, but after looking like they would race to their target, a spirited effort by all Fitmen made them wait a while longer.
Another memorable-ish night at Municipal, looking forward to next instalment.