SCORECARD

An historic victory for the Fitmen - more to follow on a cracking 5 'fer and yet another chanceless half-century for the luckiest Fitman going...

Fitmen overcome Highcroft (+ Warwickshire pair) with ease...

Fitmen 177-8, Beat Highcroft 176 All Out, by 2 Wickets

A very strong Fit XI rolled up to Highcroft Hospital to sample some Doombar and Thatchers Slush - walking into the bar we were met with 2 young Thomason twins, kitted out in Warwickshire gear - we heard the younger had taken 3 wickets in a 2 day friendly against Gloucestershire in the week before, and the elder was about to embark on a tour of South Africa as Keeper-Batsman in some sort of England youth capacity...
Imagine our releif then when Frank tells us the 85 mph 16 year old was not playing due to a bad back - only one of them to contend with then - the one who last year got 168...

So out to the middle for the toss - calling tails in Erdington is never a good thing, as it fell down heads. The immediate response from the opposing skipper was to query "How strong are you lot today?"...

Tuckerrr was reluctant to give anything away, and after a long (uncomfortable) pause, the oppo decided to have a bat. Oh Joy.

With promises of Brokeback Mountain'esque antics proffered to anyone who gets the wicket of the older Thomason cheaply, Guy and Sunny opened with a new cherry and mixed emotions...

Cue Guy third ball...Thomason the batsman takes a Middle and Off guard, blocks the first - walks down the track to the second only to completely miss and have his middle pole knocked back after a ricochet off the pads!! Massive Duck!! Eyes were expertly averted as the celebraions began!

Number 3 however soon dispatched the new ball into the surrounding woodland, while Sunny picked up the wicket of the other opener also cheaply. Guy took 2 wickets for 32 in his opening 5 overs, backed by Sunny's wicket for 23 runs, also in 5 overs.

A double change brought on the spin twins of Sharif and Nutter (I). Sharif bowled superbly, halting any run scoring against a short boundary, unlucky not to take a wicket but turging out 8 overs for only 23 runs. It is Nutterrr, I, however that takes all the plaudits, keeping it tight for 4 overs conceding only 27 runs, but it is the last memorable few overs that really turned the game. With a mixture of bowled, lbw, stumped and caught, Nutter took 4 quick wickets in no time, including 2 in 2 balls either side of the drinks break...all eyes turned to the pavilion, and the sight of Thomason Twin Jnr padding up brought grunts and groans from all concerned. This did not detract from Ian's focussed route to a famous 5-fer however, having the next wicket, in his final over, caught quite fittingly by Brother Rob, at short mid-wicket. A fantastic return of 5 for 7 (wicketless for the first 27 runs...), meant Ian finished with 8-0-34-5. Prepare for the jug celebrations!

With a fifth bowler to find, Harris and Rob Nutt continued the effort, and in strode the younger twin to pummel 47 quick fire runs. Guy replaced Rob and went for 17 in one over, before a quick single, taken to try and retain the strike, backfired as Rob Nutt expertly threw down the stumps.

177 all out was pretty good going by the Fitbowlers considering the talent on offer added to the short boundary.

Tea
Some classic biscuits made for the highlight, including Bourbons and Jammy Dodgers...

Fitmen Batting
Tom C and Si opened the Fitmen account, and both fell cheaply as Si got a seamer that nicked his off stump, and Tom got triggered to one that kept a little low. Harris scratched around accruing leg byes by the dozen, but fell bowled by Thomason Snr, who was chucking it down at a fair pace.
Bicemaster and Rob Green then began to rebuild, and with some sumptuous cover drives and imperious pull shots, Rich Bice was going nicely.
Rob Green's wagon wheel was described by some as "more of a Dairylea slice", as 4s were garnered between Third Man and Fine Leg in a nice 27. It is to the luck of Bice however that this reporter turns. One - a good length quick ball beats the bat, only to flick off stump. Bail dislodges from the stumps, and amazingly remains intact after falling back down, NOT in the groove. Ball races to the boundary for 4 byes.
Two - Bice hammers a skier - bowler takes the necessary steps to nicely post himself under the descending ball. Bice starts to walk off...bowler drops a screamer...Bice realises and starts to turn back to the crease in a haste...bowler surely only has to throw down the stumps for the simplest of run outs...misses - Result - one overthrow to Bice...not a bad way to get to 54.

The next skier however is held by the keeper, and the chase is left to Sharif and Rob Nutt. Both batted well and Rob particularly was punishing anything short or full. 15 and 21 respectively before both holed out. Sunny quickly departed for a duck, and it was now Nutt I and Tuckerrr who had the responsibility of leading the Fitmen home.

Ian kept out the first change pace bowler well, and with a few nurdled singles and a late cut, the Fitman reached their target of 177 for the loss of 8 wickets.

A very rewarding victory, played in good spirits, and defragmented on the decking afterwards with the help of Ian Nutt providing at least 2 rounds of beer. (Check the Finances please...)

Some irresistible quotes

"There's a black man who rides a horse in Wythall - I am surprised you haven't seen him" Sharif

"We Nutt's are the Thomason Twins of the Old Mo - Rob bats and I bowl". I.Nutt

"Rob's wagon wheel resembles more of a Dairylea slice". S.Howarth