SCORECARD

Inflated Batting Order Fall Down to Earth to a Strong Wavis Display

Fitmen returned to the welcoming Solihull Municipal for their annual outing of the friendliest most village version of T20.

After last months card game being too challenging for some, today's batting order was decided by the old art of balloon popping. This still challenged some delicate flowers.

Specialist boundary rider legend Rob Nutt kindly supplied the balloons. Perfectly arranged with a balloon inside a balloon with your batting order number. Arranged in colour order by Rob's work colleague to void any accusation of cheating. It will be hard to top this as a visual delight!

Having a party get down to One Stop Party Shop https://g.page/leamingtonparty?share (not that kind of party; Ade 😉 )

Anyway, batting order is decided.

Toss lost, and the tails from Wales finally fails for the first time this season! Wavis have a bat.

Without an elaborate system of props to juggle the bowling lineup, Captain entertains himself (not like that, Ade), with the joys of alliteration. 1st up Bill & Bal, 2nd up Nutt & Nicks, 3rd up Mould & Moore, Simon & Tony and then Kev and Jonesy. Okay, it ran out of wind towards the end.

Notable bowling notes,
• Profession stand-up comedian SMould taking a 2 with joke deliveries.
• Howarth and Dave taking the pace of the ball and bagging a wicket each.
• Kev, straight off of the dentist chair (the literal kind, not the Gazza kind), was the star of the bowling display, taking three death wickets for only 7 runs off his two overs top work. He did try and tell me all about it after, but a yam yam with a temporary lisp – no chance.

Stevie Nicks was showing, as he does every week his brilliant fielding skills in the covers, bagging two catches. It doesn't go unnoticed. If we want to start winning these close games next season, it might be worth others showing Stevie Nicks levels of effort and concentration in the field.

Wavis hit a very competitive 161-5.

Billy and Kev opening the innings. Billy 5 off 5 was caught in the deep. In at first drop, our professional stand-up comedian SMouldy was working on his mime act by allowing a straight one to go straight into his stumps. His 2nd golden duck at Solihull Municipal.

Kev 23, Rob 5 and Steve 16 gave it a good go, each getting starts and being caught out playing for the team with 100 strike rates. The chase looked on with the experienced pair of Howarth and Tucker at the wicket. Big-hitting northerner Tucker hit his first ball for 6, retiring on 25 off 14. Howarth looks like he is about to have a late-season flourish, finding form with a glorious 25. Pick of Howarth's innings was a vintage late cut threw gully.

The tale tried to wag or get out, with Tucker still with the pad on ready to go, but sadly it was not meant to be, and we ended 19 runs short.

Special mention to Tony Thapar, with a new blade in hand, his batting form is in Ruud health. Is Tony now a reinvented pinch hitter? Bashing 11 off 5 with the top strike rate of the innings - a savage 220 strike rate – I think so!

Anyway, Wavis are always a good crack and a good friendly game was had by all 21 sober players.

Ales washed down the kindly supplied chippy tea as the sun set over Arden.

One T20 game to go this season and all to play for in midweek batting and bowling awards.