SCORECARD

Tails indeed fails @ Highcroft

Fitmen, 121-9, lost to Highcroft and Great Barrrr, 126-2, by 8 wickets

After an erroneous call of heads earlier in the season, hindsight and plenty of Carling Premier Smooth allowed for a remodelled call of tails - YES - we will have a bat - for a short while anyway.
Mo was joined by Si on a sticky dog, and it proved tough going. Si left one that came off the face of the Hawk - only to be dropped by their rather humble [sic] 'keeper - one of many of his drops throughout the day....Mo decided to shoulder arms to one that pitched on off - and took off - before Si was cleaned up by a beauty. Best cricketer in the family Rehman strode to the crease, and looked the part from the off. Skipper Tuckerrrr decided that at 17 for 2, the only option was to attack - Dot; (Streaky) Four; Six; Out....allowing NotSoDangerousDave Tandy to try and reproduce the Lapworth magic...not to be...also clean bowled...
Sharif survived the hat-trick ball, and also the next 14 (dots) whilst batting with Brother/Nephew/Son Rehman, before unleashing single after single in a total boosting 42 (9 x fours).

Rehman seemingly got bored and after a lovely run-a-ball 33 (5 x fours; 1 x six), chipped one back to the bowler. Comments coming back to the hutch however were of the oppo's liking for a verbal or two....

This weeks podium included Dave OneBall Tandy; Tom SilverBack Houlgate; and Tony Bronze Caesar.

Tom (Saturday Stayer) Houlgate could not reproduce the obdurate innings of the day before, falling caught by a (Peaky) Blinder in the gulley.

Tony Chairman Caesar was now selected as a batter (in at number 8!!!), following his recently acquired lucrative sponsorship deal with Gray Nicolls, after averaging a stat busting 63. He certainly made use of every inch of the Mighty KaBOOM willow, using the massive edges to guide one expertly to slip (another sharp catch) for a Bronze Duck.

Jonny H Jnr Howes kept The Sherif company for a while (12 overs) putting together a 52-run partnership (J H Jr 16; 2 x fours), before Sherif was also C'd & B'd, whilst Jonny got a triple grubber to be clean bowled.
Bal kept them there for a few more overs (31 overs batted) to post a not so bad (considering the start) 121.
Tea then....oh wait - the pasta needs at least another 20 overs before it'll be Al Dente...so a not-so-swift turnaround ensued.
A new Kookaburra was agreed and the openers wasted no time in going about the meagre target.
Chairman TC and Rehman tried valiantly to stem the flow; Jonny H Jnr put everything into his spike-less follow through; Sharif, after conceding 22, pleaded for another over to catch the tail of Ade Martin; Bal kept it tight; but with the opener retiring on a rapid 50, it was only a matter of time really. We managed to keep them out for 16 ish overs, with maximum after maximum being pummelled over the 20 yard boundary....

Departure to The Village (which won slightly more votes than the ever-appealing North Star) for analysis and shiny £2 coins, just in time to watch the demolition of Rooney's home team at the second best Old Trafford near Manchester.....Roonz had to beckon a taxi from the bench due to his impending court case.....bus pass now extended for a further two years....

FINAL FLING
Once more unto the breach - for our Final Hurrah, (now traditionally a Saturday) away at Four Oaks, followed by Curry & Beer at the Old Mo in Moseley, before the whites and spikes are condemned to a winter of moulding in dark storage areas around the Midlands...
The bowling title could go down to the wire...
24 wickets - Ade
23 wickets - Sharif
22 wickets - DDHealey
As Ade is skipper, I suggest you all buy him a few beers prior to the toss on Saturday...Rumour has it that DDH and Sharif will be opening.......THE BATTING!!
Good Luck!!