SCORECARD

Well – what an afternoon!

Playing our first home game of the season at our ‘new’ home venue (Ashfield’s 1st XI pitch at Yardley Wood Road) a fitting (geddit) result was eventually achieved, but not without considerable difficulty.

A couple of last minute withdrawals left the Fitmen light in both batting and bowling but still confident that they’d have too much for the Prince – even a Prince bolstered by FitVeterans Sapie and Jewitt. The confidence could well have been a result of a few pre-match Purities specially tapped for the occasion.

However……….batting first on a track moistened by 12 hours of drizzle the day before inevitably led to a few ‘moments’. Raj stood firm whilst havoc rained (sic?) at the other end resulting in the demise of Messrs Tucker (I’m going to put Neil back over his head……oops) and Howarth for a pair of ducks and minus 10 in the fantasy league. The Fantasy competition was rocked to its knees as shouts of ‘sell, sell’ spread panic through the markets.

Caesar J joined Raj and some respectability looked back on the cards but the pitch continued to take its toll.

Jack’s 22 proved to be the top score of the day as a fairly 'low skill batting' performance saw the Fitmen skittled for 84 leaving Ash high and dry …and looking in form to get a decent haul if only someone could stay with him.

There is some suspicion that the Chairman had bribed team members to seek revenge on the skipper for running him out last season as first Raj (unsuccessfully) then martin (successfully) called Frost for ridiculous runs.

Pick of the POW bowling was the tall fishmonger and Jack – a willow youth who specialised in Lemonade. Incidentally there was talk amongst the grandees of the home side that in the event of a hung result then this young lad’s ID would not be validated by The Portman Group and therefore the POW would have to forfeit the result!

The usual extended tea interval allowed the Fitmen to re-group, and whilst the POW batsmen need little encouragement to impair their vision the voluminous fluid intake gave the Fitmen fielders some encouragement and a small degree of optimism in getting something out of the game.

The opening FitAttack of Jonny H Jnr and Volcanic Ash gave warning to The Prince that it wasn’t going to be easy.

Two wickets went cheaply, and after 6 overs POW were behind the very modest required rate of 2.9 per over. However gritty (and sometimes fortuitous) batting saw the target being reeled in.

Top shout of the day went to Simon who bagged (with an involuntary curtsey) a tricky sky-er of the bowling of Adrian (sick note Martin) who pulled up lame. This proved to be the game changing moment as it forced the introduction of skipper Frost's express pace which immediately did for the middle stump of the POW no 4.

POW’s doughty opener was still there though and, joined by FitVeteran Jewitt, made steady if tortoise like progress towards the target. A chink of light appeared when the opener was finally bagged with a Tucker stumping having been bamboozled with a ball deliverd out of the back of Frost's hand and this was soon followed by a snappy Tucker stumping off Howarth’s first delivery. The ‘victim’, playing his debut sports event, claimed an unfair knowledge of the rules by the Fitmen since he was merely having a celebratory walkabout as the bails were viciously whipped off. In between Howarth take another fine catch to the delight of those who had selected him in their Fantasy team – oh ye of little faith who considered selling him after his batting performance!


The performance of the day (based on fantasy points) went to the skipper who hauled 56 points including a bowling performance and a catch. Full credit though should be shared between all the bowlers who had a pathetic target to defend and also the fielders who took everything in the air or on the ground.

With only 2 runs needed for victory, Jewitt looked to finish it in one cut shot and the final wicket was expertly pouched by Ash at backward point. Desperately close and certainly the most nail biting finish in the longish history of these two titans of pub cricket.

A re-match looks to be a must when The Prince will be under the illusion that they’ll gain their just deserts, whilst The Fitmen will be determined to put them in their rightful (?) place!