SCORECARD

Fitmen fail Tudor Grange examination

With a distinct chill in the air, eleven players and travelling umpire made their way to the re-arranged venue. The delights of a quality track and open bar at Olton CC, were replaced by schoolboy changing rooms and suspect looking pitch with a hole on a driveable length for the left handers at one end, whilst the other had cracks wide enough for Tony Greig to lose his keys in. (see Tony GREIG Commentary Comedy - YouTube). Nice touch by Lockyer bringing along some team beers to raise spirits.

Skip Howarth delivered the most important contribution of the day, calling Tails of course, allowing the Fitmen to bat first and avoid a potential gubbing at the hands of a very talented Super Kings XI. With 10 overs from each end arranged, Harry and a slightly hung over Timmsy were ordered out to the middle from our dictatorial skip.

5 from the 1st over with that classical cut from our ‘Arry and the Fitship was off and cruising. 5 overs later with the score on 7 and the Fitship had well and truly run around. Shiver me timbers the opening bowlers were swinging it round corners with assistance also from the pitch. Play and miss was the order of the day combined with tight fielding. Timmsy in the 9th over out for 3 had suffered enough.
Tucker in at a ground he knew well struck some lusty blows with Harry cashing in now the bowling end had changed. It was still tough going, with constant appealing from the oppo’ should the ball have the temerity to hit the pads. With the score on 47, Bal had heard enough. Tucker out Thigh Pad somewhere near leg stump. A very slow walk back to the ropes. Oo arrr Jim lad, out for a promising 16. The Super King bowling really didn’t need any extra help.

Tight, cutting and swinging, just perfect conditions for Howarth to walk the plank.
Slow and sticky, a difficult combination at best. Si did well to last 19 balls at least late cutting one away for a boundary, mis-timed one to be out caught for 5. Martin trundled in hit 3 boundaries for a 22 ball 17, then played a horrid hoick to be out caught and the Fitmen were all at sea. Harry, as he has done all season, steadied the ship with a quite superb knock which wasn’t matched by anyone all day. Although you could never be fully “in” on that pitch, Harry hit 9 sumptuous boundaries in a classy 71 off 113 balls. Rock like. 500+ runs for the season, a super effort. Finally, out bowled by a low shooter.

Sharif has regained some of that old sparkle after a difficult start to the season. But even this old salty sea dog found conditions tough going. 16 off 28 at least pushing us towards a less embarrassing total. Billy smashed 2 boundaries and then dollied one up, Thaper Run out by Waz who managed an un-beaten 6. Lockyer in at 10 looking to push on with a couple of overs to go, went full Spaz Ball and delivered an immense display of power hitting, 1 off just 7 balls. Telling Waz to “go for it” on the last ball was stuff of legend. Fitmen probably 60 short of a good total 158-8.

Surely its time for Fit teas to be brought back? Covid restrictions to be lifted next season? This reporters Billesley bought New York Deli style sandwich and spicy Monster Munch were ok, but there was no free range cress and battery egg on bleached Wharburtons, nor hand cracked black pepper, lovingly sprinkled on Drift net caught Tuna to be seen in any of the Fitmen’s capacious lunch boxes. Don’t even get me started on the lack of inferno wings. FFS, what’s the point? Not all of us actually enjoy this ridiculous game, but at least we had a nice bit of Mrs Bicey’s cream sponge cake in the good old days to cheer up an otherwise wasted afternoon….

The oppo’ opening bats were out in the middle ready to get going for a good 10 minutes. Reckon they agreed with my no tea rant and couldn’t wait to get it all over with. To a man, we took our time and made them wait. Small victories. Waseem and Sharif opened up, bowling at the hole end to a left right combination. 9 boundaries and a maximum, they brought the 50 up in the 7th over and talk was of being in the pub by half four. Billy reached his quarter century of drops for the season with another cracker off the bowling of Sharif. Catching is a mental thing we all know, but a little give in zee elbows might also help!

Waseem unlucky as always not to grab a key wicket, but Sharif did manage to snag the opener with a well taken soft hands pouch by young Nokia who claimed his 9th catch of the season with very few drops of note. Good work.
With a change of ends after 10, Howarth expertly changed tact bringing on the twin titanic talents that are Nutterrr and Lockyer. The Worcestershire U19 player, who up until this point had looked utterly relaxed, suddenly looked like he was playing with his bat upside down. Nutter turned one literally at right angles possibly hitting Tuckers keys shoved in the cracks from earlier and with Lockyer toying with his prey from the other end, could the Fitmen defend a some a meagre total?

A smart stumping by Tuck’s off a perfectly flighted Nutball and a steepling catch by Sharif gave Ian a tidy 2 fer. Lockyer unlucky with mis-timed shots agonisingly falling into gaps. It all could have been very different had they been chasing 200+. As it was, the middle order was as good as the top order and the boundaries started to flow. There was time for Billal to take his 44th wicket of the season for a truly remarkable record busting return on his full season debut. 44 wickets @ an average of 19.14, SR of 23.32 and economy of 4.92 is a superb effort. Add to that 398 runs at a SR of 112 (and whisper it) the makings of yet another Fit All-rounder.
Timmsy already of ultimate all-rounder status put his hand up to bowl the last couple and the game was over at just after 5.30PM. Thank god we won the toss.

A truly record-breaking 2022 season. Sammy Moore with 1068, take a bow. Paul Thomas 201 breaking the long held highest score. Billy with his 25 dropped catches (and his 44 wickets). Lockyer with probably the one which will never be beaten…a 35 ball 1 (SR 2.75). Team highest score of 334. Most runs by the team in a season ever. Most opposition wickets taken in a season. Getting to play 8 games with my boy Monty won’t be forgotten anytime soon. The list goes on.

I’d like to thank all 43 players who have represented the OMAFCC, but I’d also like to thank all members of the committee for their behind the scenes work which keeps the club alive. Also, big shout as ever to Steve and Kate for running the bar whilst laughing at our antics.
Rest up. Social night out to be arranged very soon and awards dinner near Christmas!
Another season is over, but there’s another just round the corner…