SCORECARD

Fitmen v Five Ways Old Edwardians
Home @ The Graveyard (Yardley Wood Road)
Midweek Match T20 (T18)


Pre Match

In the build up to this midweek clash with Old Eds (who I was told prior to the match were a strong outfit) thus we needed a good team working at the top of their game, Gavlar decided that a Covered Wagon Chicken Tikka Wrap with all the sauce with a few pints was suitable preparation. This, I am assured, had no effect on his ability to bat.

Adrian with an ankle that looked like a snooker ball in a sock was taking all sorts of remedies washed down with a beautiful bottled beer to get ready but alerted the Captain, that 2 overs was the most he could muster – but here he was, missing a friends birthday party for the good of his teammates.

Jonesy, having discussed batting order offered the Captain a beer for allowing him to be above Adrian in the batting order. In the end, this this didn’t matter and no beer was exchanged, therefore no need to be recorded on a Gifts Register.

So to my plans, as Captain for the day were effectively thrown up in the air after being advised that not only were playing on Pitch 9 which is precariously close to the car park, we decided that to save time as we’ve reached that time of year where light is an issue (“we’re much closer to Christmas” which Sam Lockyer pointed out, thank you Sam), the following rules were implemented;

• Early start – 5.30, this was pushed back to 5.45 which was then pushed even further back to the standard 6pm start time.
• Reductions of 20 overs each to 18 – but forgot to reduce bowlers maximum overs to 3
• 9 overs from one end to then swap around
• 2 runs per wide, no extra ball apart from the last over where it went back to standard rules


Coin Toss

Oppo called Tails, and it landed on Heads

Another inspection of the light, the boundary and the VERY green top on the strip – Fitmen Bat.

To avoid disappointing Jonesy that he may have been demoted to below Adrian, a Top 6 were listed and after that, left alone for later discussion/argument/heartbreak.


Batting

Ok great, we’re sorted and after Gavlar could get in one last ciggie before batting, we were off, or I thought we were. Gavlar….. got…… 23….. runs which when broken down after the excellent digital scorebook that the opposition maintained, I can report that of the 33 balls that Gavlar faced, 25 were dot balls, three singles, a two and four boundaries (three 4s and one 6) = 24% of his 33 balls were on the bat, but a solid foundation.

His opening batting partner, Bice, after last weeks mid century showed form and possible frustration…. Of….. Gavlar, powered through to 36 (off 31 balls).

Gavlar bowled and Juma at 3 enters the fray looking for the first big score but was unlucky after a good length ball rolled back onto the stumps following a backward defensive shot. It is around the corner Juma, do not worry! Bice soon followed in the same over leaving fitmen 79/3 at the end of the 13th over – 5 overs left and 2 new batsmen at the crease

Sam who made an excellent 22 off 16 balls with a number of classy strokemakers shots, one of which found the opening in the club score box was brilliant to see, Not Out and well played.

SkipperChas at 5 started with a couple of dodgy shots, started to find the middle and put together 30 runs off 15 balls, Not Out and well played (I will not blow my own trumpet).

50 run partnership with a target of 133 to win the match.


Bowling

Did I mention that it was an 18 overs per side match with 9 on the trot at one end? Well, to try and protect our spinners against the short boundary, decisions on who were to bowl in the first half was decided amongst a Fitmen Committee.

Waseem 1 over, Sam Lockyer 2 (1 wicket), Adrian 2, Juma 2 (1 wicket) and Jonesy 2. 55/2 after 9, we’re in this! But then carnage in the shape of wicketkeeping leftie batsman, sorry 1st Teamer wicketkeeping leftie batsman came to the crease and middled everything and in particular found great fondness of Waseem with a flurry of boundaries in one over costing 26 and then subjected to a barrage from Tucker and Adrian to “calm down”, did it work – yes in Bal.

Bal got the key 1st Teamer out (45 runs off 21 balls) with the score at 111 with just under 4 overs to go and 22 to score.

Jones added with a wicket as did Juma getting another leaving the scores 127 – needing 6 to win off the last over, and for Jonesy to claim the victory but with the fielders in to stop the singles, a shot to the boundary over the top won the game for the oppo.

But a closely fought match in the end and the opposition stayed for a drink to chat, very nice bunch regardless of what Tucker and Adrian say.

Would like to thank all that played and those who helped me out while in the field.