SCORECARD

Fit Men Thwacked at Five Ways

“Oh the joys of amassing a Fit XI”........with various regulars unable to play due to injuries (2 with heel issues.....one Fit Man rumoured to have sustained his injury on the dance floor of the Cuban Embassy in Moseley in the early hours of Sunday morning strutting his stuff to the beat of a Flamenco in the arms of a Latin Lady from Chelmsley Wood and going over on his Cuban heels!)........others committed to deadlines and domesticity. So it was with great relief that young Feraz offered his hand of help at the 11th hour......producing two cricketers (one he claimed was called Javed Miandad the other Imran Khan). Closer questioning mutated these gentleman into Javid and Nasser!

With all Fit Men assembled and ready to roll! (Apart from Feraz and his two mates, due to satellite navigation issues) on a delightful evening, the wicket accompanied by the outfield looking impeccable. The game commenced with the Fit Men having been inserted to have a thrash first up!

First to go was Hall, undone by some fast accurate bowling! At the other end “Biffer Bice” was getting into his stride....tucking into anything remotely full and feasting on anything slightly wide....and all this with a self diagnosed “broken toe”......ooooh matron! Sam Moore was our number 3, and having played for the oppo a number of years ago, hit a cracking back foot drive before being bowled for 4! Skipper Howarth was next in and scampered and edged a few before making way for Mark “the Marmaliser” to take centre stage! What a fantastic innings from Tucker ensued, being well supported by Jones “The Steam” using his long leavers to great effect driving straight with aplomb! Whilst Tucker took a particular liking to “Marmalising” over square leg! Eventually falling for a splendid 73 off 30 odd balls with 11 fours and 2 mighty sixes. Whilst Jonesy finished on 18 not out at 100% strike rate with Chas not out at the other end......and a total being posted of 157./>

Edwardians kicked off their innings with a right/left combo.....and with Jonesy steaming in soon removed the right side of the partnership. Caught behind by fast hands Bice. Rightie was obviously a league player as he smacked the cover off the ball and departed only at the umpires intervention. (Unlike the 11 Gilchrists in our team!). Jonesy was soon bagging his second and it looked like we were in with a shout. Chas was keeping it very tight at the other end, varying his pace and deserved a wicket for his efforts. First change was Feraz , who was very unlucky to have 2 straight forward catches shelled.....one straight to the skipper.....both off the leftie who was now getting into his stride and punishing anything on the leg sides. Rotating the bowlers was a theory then introduced by skipper, however this just proved to rotate the oppo batsman.....off strike.....it was very clear by now that the oppo had a number of 1st teamers in their 11. Moore (Snr), Javid and Tucker all tried to remove the oppo without luck as the game came to a premature end!

The oppo seemed a nice bunch and the game was played in a good spirit in perfect weather conditions. The Fit Men retired to the bar and out onto the balcony to lick their wounds and reflect on how we are going to beat the oppo next year!