SCORECARD

Fitmen make a big splash against Mermaids.

After last Wednesdays wet and wilds whimsy against our landlords, it was a return to proper Summer T20 cricket at the Graveyards as the Fitmen put in an all-round performance against the Mermaids.

Selection issues for the skipper ahead of the game with 15 (yes that right 15) Fitmen eager to commence battle. The Skipper went for a first come first serve selection policy. Although late pull-out from Tuckerrrr not knowing that you couldn't play cricket 3 hours after an operation on his hobbit toe meant that a like for like replacement was needed and Chaz was jettisoned into the starting XI.

It was an all-round balance performance of yin and yang from the Fitmen. Gloriously personified by the times we all turned up to play. Gavlar turning up 3 hours before the scheduled start time and 'warmed up' in the Covered Wagon was balance by usual suspects DDH, Faraz and Brother Nut caught up in road works on the A4040 and drifting in between 6 and 7pm.

Toss took place on time and Mermaid skipper (sadly not Daryl Hannah) called Tails quite rightly and choose to Bat.

Fitmen currently had 7 players in situ so time was taken carrying out the usual pre fielding prep of tieing shoelaces, finishing Carlings and one last Silk Cut before partaking the field. Thankfully Mermaids let us a fielder and SMould found a friend or cover for the belated fitmen. With Tuckerrr late withdrawal a wicketkeeper was needed, Gavlarrr stepped forward but was asked to step back as he had already dropped a Chicken Tika Wrap in the Covered Wagon an hour earlier. Harris was awarded the gloves.

After a prematch deep heat self-massage of his side, (a sight to see) Ade opened the bowling from the golf course end, bowling straight through his allotted overs with total control and guile.
A run out in the very first over occurred when Moore Moore Moore (MMM) deflecting a fine stop in the covers towards Chaz to throw to Harris behind the stumps and saw the Mermaids number 2 batsman out for a diamond duck. It was New York Yankees stuff; great stop by Moore, fine throw from Chaz, Harris took all the credit!. Anyway, Ade bowled a fine spell going a 3 an over including 1 maiden and deserve a wicket.

The belated duo of Faraz and DDH bowled early on. DDH with a new found zen made the most of his bounce and let his bowling do the talking taking a couple of wickets, one being a hostile ball dragged back on to stumps. Lovely stuff. S Mould could not recreate the highs of last weeks 4for but still popped up with a wicket and tight economy rate.

Shariff bowled a couple of Sharif overs, Chaz turned the arm over for 6 balls, great value at a £ a ball. Captain Jones pop in to bowl "the Martin Overs" with 2 with two cheap filthy wickets toward the end.

We even had a D-Day inspired fly passed from the Geese from the Golf Course and Mermaids finished with 103-9 off their 20.

Confidence was high at the break. So high that after seeing the batting order, DDH got changed and went shopping!

The opening partnership of Gavlar and MMM saunter to the wicket, Galvlar confident to give it "smash it about a bit" and MMM just hoping to do better than the golden against the Undertakers. But between downing, his last slip of surely his 5 pint of Carling and getting to the crease Geoferry Boycott Quantum Leaped in the body of Galvar and subsequently dug in till the close.

Moore Moore Moore found some form and the middle of the bat hitting 25 of 28 until he was caught in the deep trying a lofted drive. This led to the injection of Harris and an innings so violence and brutal you would have to show the highlights after the watershed. Sir Gavlars Boycotts strike rate was 54.55, Harris strike rate 323.08. It was like playing stick cricket in an innings of 4 fours and 4 sixes.

The 6 to win the game went (according to the perpetrator of the blow) 100 meters. Although if that is 100 meters Usain Bolt spent his carrier running 30odd meters too far. The game was wrapped up with 5 overs to spare and both teams shook hands and shared a Doombar to two over to celebrate a good game of cricket played in the right spirit.

Special mentions should go to Brother Nut for his fielding displays and Tucker for umpiring on one leg.