SCORECARD

They thought it was all over last weekend…………well it is now.
Four Oaks Saints 207
Old Mo 187
Saints win by 20 runs

Directions including ‘aim for the gap next to Granny’s Pantry’ brought The Fitmen to the outskirts of The Royal Borough of Sutton Coldfield.

We all know Sutton is really just another suburb of Birmingham though it does have the edge over that other suburb who also hate the idea of a ‘B’ postcode (Solihull) since it isn’t populated by the region’s most miserable people ….see: www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/solihull-people-most-miserable-west-7837908

One short (for a variety of reasons/excuses) but for those making the trip to Clarence Road there was plenty to play for.

Could Tom pip Bicemeister to go top of the batting aggregates for the season?
Could there be further re-jigging of the roll of honour for runs garnered?
Last chance to boost/damage your averages before the winter?
……..and the highly competitive bowling award with Nutterrr, Sharrif & Pat all in striking distance of Taz’s 20 wickets.

For others it was just a rude wakeup call after an early morning out at The Hare & Hounds. ‘Oh Si, Do I have to play’? 

So onto the action on a sloping pitch with a delightful backdrop of a ‘pop up fly tip’ (turned out to be early preparations for Bonfire Night from which they make a healthy income each year), a wooded copse that square leg reckoned was full of Stan Collymore types and an impressive 270 metre transmitting tower (see postscript) melting into the background.

However more alarmingly was the firmly shuttered clubhouse bar …………memories of Leamington came flooding back. Still, we were fielding anyway (heads called, tails was the correct call) so the prohibition was a problem for later and optimistically “it would be open soon”.

35 overs a side for some reason and the pace attack for The Old Mo was…………..well, it was Chairman (7-1-24-0) and Pat (7-2-38-1) who both fooled the hung-over wicket minder that they were turning it. The 1:10 slope was clearly obvious to everyone else.

A decent enough start kept the runs under control and despite a couple of early edges the track looked docile. A moment of fielding brilliance from Ginger Nell broke the deadlock and saw the hosts’ number 2 back in the hutch with a diamond duck.

First change was still in Balsall Heath so the opening pair had to run through their full allocation of 7 and Saints started to get into their stride as the bowlers tired …..but not before Pat’s charge towards the goal of 20 wickets.
Nutter (6-0-56-0) and Sharif (just arrived to ensure he completed his 100th over of the season - 7-0-48-1) then reeled of their allocation as the home batters grew in confidence and by the time the skipper cast his eye round for who could be trusted with the final 7 they were threatening a big total.

Cometh the hour, cometh Bal (4-0-17-1) & Tuckerrrr (4-0-26-1)……….. 8 between them at the end kept the target within sight.
Double catches from Tuckerrrr including one that (through the smoke from the burning tyre in the neighbouring breakers yard) looked like something out of strictly and a well taken skier on the boundary by Sharif, along with a further pair of sharp run-outs kept the lid on things.

Our thanks to the Saints opener who made up for thraping us for 80 odd by repeating his trick of running out his partner as young Alex (who kindly has fielded for Sharif before his eventual arrival) was his next victim. This time down to Pat’s throw.

So – a challenging but probably do-able target of 207 was set.

Tea (shutters on the bar still down) included too many Granny’s Pantry Limericks and the main topic of conversation was thirst related. Fortunately it was Saturday and Sutton (as opposed to Sunday and the temperance town of Leamington) so Cellar Door Drinks came to rescue. See http://cellardoordrinks.co.uk

As Tom (83) and Si (35) completed the ‘formalities’ of another (3rd) century opening partnership, growlers of Blonde Backyard (no Granny euphemisms intended) Brewhouse appeared complete with elegant glasses. The late order batsmen (i.e. all the rest) then cheered up.

An unusual piece of fine gamesmanship highlighted the batting innings as ‘Trigger’ gave Si LBW only for the home skipper to invite him back in since he hit it first. At last Si has found a good use for his big edged bat.

After a solid effort from Si to overtake George Dawes in the aggregates, in came Tuckerrrr fresh from his fielding and bowling antics. Peaking as October approached indicated a fine match winning innings was on the cards and it looked that way for a while (9 balls actually) as he kept Tom company to sneak past Bicey to the top run scorer position for the season. Vacating his position for the centurion, Sharif looked in control as the Fitmen looked to up the tempo towards the target.

Tragically most of the rest figured we were playing 40 overs as opposed to 35 and creeping towards 12 an over with 5 left was a big ask. Tom hung around for a bit (his highest strike rate of the season 2 @ 33) and saw Bal play the shortest possible innings followed by Nutterrr who was tied down effectively. By the time the last wicket pair were at the crease the rate was up to 20 an over.

Too much and one swish too many saw the last man fall despite a valiant attempt to at least get close to the target.

Off to the bar…………which was now open and a delightful little hostelry it was too. Excellent company from the hosts rounded off another season. A delightful club to visit and hopes of returning next season.

Next events:
1 Christmas Awards Dinner…………..venue tbc on Saturday 6th December.
2 Possible ‘Golf Day’ at Canon Hill Park - www.goldenputter.co.uk
3 Ninja Trials (by invitation only apparently……and ageist)

Post Script
The Sutton Coldfield transmitting station has broadcast terrestrial television signals every day since 1949 and is thus the oldest working television transmitting station in the world. Powered at 200 kilowatts ERP for digital television and 250 kW for FM radio, the coverage extends as far south as Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire and as far north as Stoke-on-Trent.

In case anyone was wondering, ‘growlers’ are 3 pint flagons and in this case were filled with Backyard Brewhouse Platinum Blonde bitter. Citrus and pine nose, with a dry, crisp and hoppy taste.