SCORECARD

WMD + 3
With the promise of fair weather (thanks to Shefali Caesar) accompanied with a strong easterly wind and the covers secured on monday night (another thanks to all who turned up to help). All we needed now was for the oppo to pull out! True to script the phone call from the oppo came through on declaring 8 and then 7 available. A quick muster of available players was reviewed.......followed by 11 re-counts of those Horatio thought were in his team, which finally resulted in the "Fit Men" talent machine spitting out 3 of its finest to the oppo!........enter Dr. Butcher, Dr. Tucker and Dr. Berman..........

Jim conceeded the toss to the all too familiar WMD scenario "we only have 4".......and three of them are ours! Not to worry the wicket looked a verdant green and with our bowlers salivating at the prospect off we went. Ash bowled well in the opening salvo removing their opener bowled, with a cracking delivery ably assisted by Sunny (unably assisted by man in a new red cap dropping a swirling skier). Enter Dr. Berman, exit Dr. Berman (plus 1.....of theres he ran out), enter Dr. Butcher and Dr. Tucker.......exit Dr. Tucker (caught in the covers by Tahir......off Ade's bowling). Meanwhile Dr. Butcher was not reading his script and was giving our Premier spinner a thorough examination! (Walking down the wicket pre-delivery and swishing 3 maximums into the car park). Nutt had the last say in the matter when Butch went for one too many and perished caught by a stumbling backwards, well judged Martin special. A relieved Nutt clung to Ade's leg in sheer delight as pile on was shouted by Sunny! Meanwhile at the other end WMD's very own number 8 (really a number 3........but he arrived late) was blasting away merrily taking a particular liking to our "All Rounder" and Geraint for several maximums). Sharif bowled a tidy tight spell without his usual reward. In between the run acceleration Nutt combined with a fielder to affect a run out followed by Tahir and Nutt (off his own bowling) doing it by themselves. Sunny was brought back at the death and had immediate success with "Safe Hands Howarth" bagging 2 (Sunny pick of the bowlers with 2-23) and WMD finishing on a respectable 138.

Enter Bice and Howarth, with the former patting back the 1st over before accerlerating, whilst the latter aware of much greater talent to come swished once too often. Tahir came and went with a quick fire 5 (100% strike rate).
Jim got off the mark with a blistering leg glance he saw early and creamed through the covers! Whilst Bice went about his business in the manner we are now accustomed to! What was to follow was a truly professional dissection of WMD's bowling as Rich and Jim punished the oppo with a fine array of boundaries to all areas of the ground (3 to Jim, 9 to Rich), interspersed with some excellent running, quick singles (key oppo fielders picked out at will.......) and a finely timed partnership, resulting in Rich blasting the penultimate ball of the innings for 6 (his second maximum).........and finishing not out 81 off 58 (50 off 40 balls) and Jim not out 28 off 37 (more than a mere anchor.....).

A truely memorable game and a fine 1st win against the oppo.