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Fixtures and Results | Match Reports

Date Against H/A Link Result Captain/Score
Sun 22 / 5 / 2016 Leamington Lemmings Home (YW) Lost by 23 runs. Oppo 245-4. Old Mo 222-8.

SCORECARD

Ciderman (& Co.) Shows How He Likes His Apples

Lemmings 245-4 beat Fitmen 222-8 by 23 runs

A dry morning welcomed the Fitmen and Leamington Lemmings to the Graveyard following an afternoon of rain which curtailed Ashfield’s match before they had the chance to defend 200. The wicket had received a couple of hours of air but still looked a sticky prospect as Skipperrrr Tuckerrrr waltzed to the middle to lose the toss and be asked to bowl first. With a less than packed batting line up, there was relief at not having to set a total.

Guy (8-0-43-1), returning to improve upon his economy rate from the ‘Highcroft’ league team at the start of the season, opened the bowling with accuracy, exploited the conditions and the new ball, tempting the openers into some false shots before getting an early wicket, with a bloody rip-snorter. Sunny’s (8-0-50-1) first match of the season coincided with Man U winning a match for a change (or so I’ve been told), also finding swing from the golf course end.

Progress was steady at 4-ish per over before Dangerous Dave Healey (8-0-28-1) bowled the other opener for 33. As the rain came down at some point perhaps 15 overs in, the dark clouds on the horizon were drifting slowly overhead, looking very ominous indeed. However, despite the soggy outfield, everyone returned, tea towels in hand in an attempt to dry the sponge every time the skilled 3 and 4 batsman launched it into the outfield.

This Lemmings pair slowly started upping the rate as they got used to the sticky wicket and the soft ball, adding 120 for the third wicket, despite being put down a couple of times (I would like to point out that they were difficult chances). Some wild slashes at the end led the Lemmings to a very respectable 245 off 40 overs.

Tea was a classic, as always. It was a 1-2 with the return of Sunny’s chicken wings, paired with Mrs Singh’s pakora, top quality egg, cheese, tuna (and possibly something else) sandwiches and a vast array of cakes. Lucky we lost the toss really, as no one fancied fielding after that.

Turg Jr and Gav opened the Fitmen innings, with a required rate of 6 being a tough ask with a limited batting line up, but certainly still gettable as the outfield and wicket dried up with the evening sun. The Lemmings start was matched, the opening pair waiting for the bad deliveries and not taking any early chances, before Gav tried to launch the first change bowler, caught for 11.

In came man of the moment, Mark Tuckerrrr (77 @ 133), looking to increase his top of the stats table lead. Seeing the run rate creeping, skipper went on to let loose on the bad balls (and good balls) despatching them to all parts, adding 113 with Turg before giving himself out LBW to one that kept rather low. Batsmen came and went as Tom passed his 50, with the run rate increasing, before Caucasian Curtley strode to the wicket, blasting a quick fire 22.

Another grass cutter did for TC (58 @ 70) with 10 an over required for the last few. Despite boundary encouragement from Lord Howarth, Bal ‘Cough and Drop’ Singh and Mr Weed (still suffering post Sportsmen Stress Disorder), the Fitmen fell 20 runs short against accurate late bowling.

Despite the loss, it was an excellent day’s cricket all round, with 2 well matched (and well balanced) teams, all played in the right spirit (and a few drinks to finish the evening off). The return fixture in July is one to look out for.


More special thanks to barmaid Tina for her excellent skills throughout the afternoon.

Next match is away on Thursday v AMS (at Feckenham) where Habib of Torquay makes his captaincy debut.