SCORECARD

Fit Men Bounce Back In Bucolic Bellbroughton

The Fit Men chartered for the evening by skipper Howarth headed into “Gods County” for what is possibly the away T20 fixture of the season. Some late withdrawals: Juma (remembering that he has to do his weekly food shop on a Thursday), Rob Green (Mrs gone down with COVID), replaced by the masters of cunning and guile (Lockyer and Billal), lost the toss and were inserted. On a sun drenched evening and with only 8 present (Timmsy en route from Shropshire, Rob Nutt having trouble with the shutters of his Comedy Emporium and Billal). Skipper Howarth would have been happy to bat 1st up. A new opening midweek combo of Tom Caesar and Harry Eames got stuck into the Belbroughton bowlers. Tom with his ‘new wand’ purchased from Hawk (bat maker Mike Hawk was present at the clubhouse) playing second fiddle to Harry. “Eamsy” is very pleasing to the eye, as he unleashed a number of majestic cover drives and resplendent in club cap and collars turned up, cuts a dash from a bygone era. Harry retired on 26, with Tom falling short having played some lovely shots for 17 caught at deep mid on. Sam Moore, in imperious form this T20 season (as well as the longer format), stamped his class on the Belbroughton bowlers going through the gears to soon retire on 25. Sam managed to nicely get under a couple of balls and send them straight over the long off boundary along with lovely languid back foot straight drives. Enter Jonsey, who carried on the momentum as he crashed a few lovely boundaries before retiring. It must be mentioned though that his batting partner Tony, who was giving the strike effectively to Jonesy was sacrificed going for a questionable single. Time for Nutt (brother Rob) Whose super quick fire 20 not out off a dozen balls gave the latter overs of the innings much needed impetus. Pumelling anything short by going deep in his crease and pulling off the back foot accompanied by Billal at the end closed the innings on creditable 143.

A quick turn around, preceeded by the arrival of the pop up food venue for the night (a rather natty converted horsebox) focussed the “Fit” mind…horse meat korma? Timmsy opened the bowling bottom end and delivered in parsimonious wicket taking style….with a very nice reflex caught and bowled. With Jonesy steaming in down hill bowling a good line and length for 3 overs. The opening two giving way to mssrs Lockyer and Billal. The former it must be mentioned, taking one for the club! A blow to his bowling ankle the previous over from Timsey. With the ball deflecting from said anke positioned at mid off to skipper at mid on…..ouch! (No runs taken). Words of encouragement were issued to Lockyer, who buoyed by the support of his team mates soon had the wind bellowing through his sails again. As he glided in from the bottom end , producing a wizardly spell and snaring 2, whilst being on a hat trick, with the batsman jamming down on a vicious yorker last ball of his 4 over spell.

Billal meanwhile bowling expertly downhill, snared a couple. Including a breath taking piece of fielding resulting in a direct hit, run out! Hitting the stumps side in from some distance! With skipper Howarth (who is no Carol Vorderman), insisting on bringing Billal off after 3 overs in spite of Billal excitedly claiming he had bowled 4 (calculation backed up by Jonesy) more of that later brought Kev Cuthbert on to bowl with Rob Nutt at the other end. Kev bowled really well hitting line and length immediately and with Rob doing the same the other end the run rate was up to 10 per over. Billal then came on for the last over at the bottom and got another wicket! The Fit Men finishing up in the winning side by 22 runs, retired to the pavilion to drink Enville (other branded beverages are an option too) and feed on chicken korma, rice, popadom and cheesecake with coulis for desert! Billal then pronounced having looked at oppo scorebook that he had bowled 5 overs! Never take the word of a skipper! (Oppo didn’t mention it either). A few ales were sunk as Fit Men basked in late evening sunshine prior to their return to the big smoke! A cracking evening was had by all!