SCORECARD

Fitmen win at the fifth time of asking

There are any number of enigmas associated with Harvington CC that are destined to remain a mystery long after the latest visit of the OMAFCC. Why for example is the ground located on the apparently nautically inspired Anchor Lane in deepest, land-locked Worcestershire? And why in God’s name, do they have an fully equipped kitchen, gleaming tea urn and pristine, formica-clad serving hatch when there are still no cricket teas on offer?! One (perhaps not that shocking after all) mystery that I’m glad to report can finally be laid to rest however was the Fitmen win ratio, or rather the distinct lack of one…

With Fadil stepping in as a welcome last-minute addition to the team - more of which later - the weather was set fair for another Fitmen Sundae session. As with Barford CC, it always seems to be absolutely baking hot in WR11 whenever we pay a visit and being located about as far south of Birmingham as we ever play, tails was called and the toss duly lost, much to the evident dismay of the assembled team. Out into the field we went, with not even a few square feet of dappled shade on the boundary edge available to shelter from the beating sun and Waseem taking the new ball. Both he and Timmsy from the other end had the ball moving nicely in the air and off the green-ish topped pitch, and it must be said they also got some eye-opening assistance with some erratic pea-roll bounce at one end and tennis ball-on-a-trampoline bounce at the other that kept the batsmen on their toes! It didn’t exactly have yours truly licking his lips at the prospect of opening our batting reply, let’s put it that way!? Waseem got his just reward in the second over, bowling a fine delivery that caught the top of off stump. The other opener made a reasonable start, but after being let off the hook with a dropped catch driving to mid-off and cracking a few boundaries, was bowled by a fine delivery by Timmsy, which then brought Felix to the crease. An attritional period of fielding (aka watching the ball regularly sail to the boundary) in searing temperatures ensued and despite the best efforts of the wiley Bal and the ever agile and dogged Nutter at one end and Sharif at the other keeping the run rate in check, the sometime HCC skipper and Ashfield player just could not be dislodged. Cometh the 30 over drinks break, cometh the man…! with Timmsy taking the gloves for the final 10 overs, up stepped Ralphy and with his very first delivery had Felix fencing at the ball outside off stump and gloving a sharp catch to the spritely keeper… Result!! With his work now done, he retired to the square leg outfield where he was called into action on a few occasions as the skipper floated a selection of juicy full tosses Harvington’s way for a couple of overs. Not to be outdone for impact, Stevie ‘the sledgehammer’ Nicks was promptly called into action, and once again took a key wicket with his very first ball that brought Harvington’s momentum back under control again and eventually saw them drag themselves to 177 all out.

It was jolly lucky that the boot of Ade’s new e-motor was so big, as it had to cope with the additional weight of a pre-arranged load of Fit-tea offerings that were dished out on the clubhouse lounge tables along with a large pot of tea and even more offerings of the deliciously sweet variety brought along by Waseem. Appetites fully satiated, the skipper and Ralphy waddled out to open the innings and face the precociously talented Harvington youth. Happily, the haunting memory of a diamond duck last year were quickly extinguished by the skipper who managed to survive the first over, only to then see Ralphy fall second ball at the other end to an absolute jaffa of a delivery that swung and caught a thick outside edge that flew to 1st slip. The winning total on the scoreboard was suddenly starting to look ominously big as Ade came in at number 3 and after watchfully defending the first few balls, he fell to another superb delivery that seamed away and hit the top of his off stump. Fadil had responded to a last call for an 11th player and as it was to transpire, he responded extremely well to the potentially very sticky situation that we found ourselves in. Having seen off both the openers and assisted by an inexplicable over the shoulder miss-throw of the new ball into an adjacent cornfield by a Harvington fielder (had to be seen to be believed!?), it was once the 1st change bowlers came on that the floodgates really opened, and Fadil exhibited a full repertoire of well-timed shots. Aside from a very risky run out call to point, the scoreboard kept creeping ever upwards without any more wickets falling and as drinks were taken after 20 overs, 60 more runs were required for the win. The skipper survived a couple more overs after the break before going for 29 runs, padding away a straight delivery instead of using some willow on it and being given out LBW. Stevie Nicks then joined Fadil at the crease and added some useful runs before Fadil reached a very impressive century and retiring on 102*. It was just left for Waseem and Steve to club the remaining runs to the boundary and finally we had a long awaited and quite frankly well-deserved victory at (Hope &) Anchor Lane to celebrate with a few beers and left over sarnies, crisps and cakes.