SCORECARD

Cricket wins the day to wrap up May

What are the ingredients that make up a fantastic Fitman Sunday fixture?

A game of 426 runs, concluded on the penultimate ball?

A game played in exactly the right spirit, with some quality performances from both sides?

If it’s done right, every player (and I mean all 22) walk away thinking that was a fantastic use of a Sunday afternoon. No angst. No histrionics. No thoughts of work or stress. No rain! There are always if’s and but’s. Always a contentious decision and a horrid shooter or 2. But even if the cricket gods didn’t quite reward you on the day, the magnificent chip sandwich for tea painted over all the cracks whilst also nicely coating the arteries.

All players played their part with bat, ball, fielding excellence or a bit of banter. Massive thanks to Billy for scrambling an Ashfield xi together at short notice as the bloody students let us down again for the last time. Their loss.

Jonesy hit 5 of his first 11 balls faced for a boundary. Probably shot of our innings, a glorious length ball timed through extra cover losing the brand-new cherry. The bowling of Viraj and Musa was quick and accurate accounted for nosebleed in at 2 Ashton for 3 and the talented Raja for 5. The pitch was offering help but Waseem was in belligerent mood. His 47 off just 38 with 5 4’s and 3 maximums was hugely important in the context of the game. One monster shot nested just shy of the 3rd green. Two of his 6’s just missed his and my car for gods sake. Straighter please Was, or I’m parking at the Covered wagon from now on. Jonesy rotated strike nicely for a super impressive 70 stand before a shambolic runout after an easy shelled catch. Sharif and Stevie both then got vile low shooters, although I’m sure Mr. Ali and Riaz would suggest top spin/flipper was the reason!

When Rameez was out cheaply, the wheels were well and truly off at 119-6 at 22 overs. Jonesy’s MOM innings building partnerships with Rana (10) and (not so) infinity Dee (10) dragged the Fitmen back into contention. Jones finally out for 68, got handshakes all round which was a nice touch for the big lad. A genuine batting all-rounder now. When you’ve got Bicey in at 10, you know you have some tail. Enough for this reporter to head off to Hot-Spot for chips. So it was 20 minutes later, Nutter 2 off 12 and Rich 29 off 30 put together a 30 run 10th wicket stand which well and truly kept us in the game. Ashfield skipper Billy and Fit Bowler of the year x 2 finished with best figures 6-1-17-3, but that came as no surprise to anyone involved at this club for the last 5 years. 211 A/O, I reckon bang on par thanks to the Fit tail wagging.

The Cakes. The Chips. Heavily buttered bread of all hues! Sweet sweet nirvana. Lovely to see Rich Harris and Mr and Mrs Tucker making a welcome appearance at HQ along with WOTY Tringle. Good work guys.

I think we all had the pleasure in watching the next generation of talent that Billy had assembled to face a bunch of old gimmers in cricketing attire. There were a few performances with the surname Ali associated to Ashfield CC who I am sure we will continue to watch with eagerness in the next decade or so. The young ‘keeper was outstanding. I’d pay anything for that hand eye. But opener Zaman also produced a top notch innings, toughing it out through cramp for a fine 42.

A batting order packed with left handers had all the fit fielders groaning, having to change positions every single. Tin man Jonesy needing oiling every 5 overs. Rameez was as ever super 8-2-21-1, along with Nutter 1-24. Rana is proving himself a true all-rounder with 2-27, 2 catches, and run out and cataclysmic batting technique. Boom! Dee underused 0-18 and Raja getting us through to drinks at 74-3, behind the run rate but with wickets in hand.

Opening bat Jonny Ashton then cemented himself as (yet) another all-rounder 1-26, with Sharif showing the young un’s how to do it with a peerless 6-0-30-1, the overs were disappearing and the run rate creeping up to 8, the Fitfield spread and singles were garnered. When Billy slapped a looping plopper from Sharif to safe hands Nicks to be out caught, I think even he thought the game was done….but not so.
When a left hander saunters out and smashes league cricketer Waseem for 23 off one over with some off the cleanest, straightest hitting this reporter has seen in a long time, reminiscent of a certain R.Harris. Game on. 46 off just 23 deliveries was class. Perhaps not taking the singles and shouldering all the burden was a mistake? But it was equally down to Sharif and the returning Raja to vary the pace and length to disrupt him. Only 10 needed off the last over, but only 4 got before holing out to a stupendous full steam on the run catch from our very own MOM, Jonesy.

A quality afternoons entertainment played in exactly the right way.

I cannot believe 4 x LARGE chips is still NOT enough !!!!!

The Fit barge of week-end un-beateness careers ever onwards!!!