SCORECARD

Very Old Mo dash youthful exuberance

This weeks away day, saw the electric Fit-bus carry a particularly gnarled and grizzled selection of Fitmen to the charming environs of Aldridge CC. Skippers car was heaving with a combined cricketing and life experience age of 224. How the miles just flew by with “I remember the days (insert any topic)….”

We were told that there was a Food festival to look forward to. We were told that Sam Moore was available. The Jerk chicken was bang average. Pizza, posh burgers and a Greek food stall all offering up £12+ delights. Not smacking his lips was Mr Moore who was to be found 200 miles away in deepest darkest Wales, so the Fitmen were down to 10 from the off.

Fair play to Alridge who leant us a fielder throughout. They were all teenagers to be fair bar 2, so had the energy we lacked. The coin toss was a shambles. Heads North of Brum would have worked a treat, had it not been for their skippers Labrador trying to eat the 50p. A rather slobbery coin showed that it had been moved to finish on a Tail and they would have a bat on a beautiful sunny afternoon.

Rana and Dee opened up with Eddie (69) in the slips, Sharif (60) at Square Leg and skipper (56) forced to field where the ball might actually be hit. Both struggled to find any rhythm but with some very generous umpiring of wides, the score was kept down on an April pitch showing the expected variable bounce. Rana 0-6 and Dee 0-15 did beat the bat a number of times, but with Quad issues was grudgingly replaced by Winter Net Bowler supremo, Nichols. Year after year, Steve Nicks bowls the meanest of lines at the Edgbaston indoor arena. Bowling next to Moeen Ali, watching Coftonian’s wanging it down at 80MPH in the adjacent net. Nothing puts him off from relentless accuracy and doggedness. Rare is the half volley or long hop. Put the lad outside? In the sunshine with the merest whiff of wind? Well, lets just say Bicey Bingo behind the stumps was a full House after just a couple of overs.

Even with such waywardness, 5-0-31-2 are still good figures. Throw in the normal superb ground fielding display along with 2 catches and a quite brilliant run-out, the MOM award was quietly pocketed before we even had a bat. The Aldridge youngsters were aided by a selection of heinous dropped catches. Back to back drops from the skipper, possibly the low light of the afternoon, but this didn’t stop Sharif rolling back the years with a vintage display of guile and cunning. 8-1-29-4 was a super effort from the oldest swinger in town. Grrrrrreat work our kid! Ian Nutt at the other end was himself on the end of some bang average Fit-Fielding, but kept plugging away for excellent leg-spin figures of 8-0-24-0. On other days he would have had a 5 fer.

Lovely to see Stuart Mould back from his worldwide tarmac inspection tour. Spent most of the afternoon on boundary patrolling duties, carried out admirably. When asked to bowl for the 1st time in 8 months, he delivered an incredible return of 3 for 13 off 19 balls to wrap up the Aldridge innings for a below par 130 All Out. Anything more than 160 would be difficult to chase with only 10 men, so the bowlers all played their part in delivering a win for the Fitmen.

As the Food festival DJ cranked up the BPM, home made sarnies along with Nutters samosas were dispatched at pace.
Jones and Martin trudged out and set a platform with 40 off 9 overs. Jonesy’s 1st ball of the season – a half volley outside off-stump, crunched through extra cover for 4. You could not wish to see a sweeter shot. 2nd ball beemer into the neck region again whacked for 4? This cricket malarky is like shelling peas.

Jonesy’s 50 was the batting highlight. The run chase was never really in doubt. Skip broke his bat. Bice was run out at the non-strikers end in bizarre fashion. Superb sportsmanship just walking off like that. Eddie showing remarkable speed between the stumps for quick singles. Rana whacked two huge sixes to go top of the 6-Ometer and Dee again showed great maturity to manoeuvre the Fitmen into a winning position, for the 2nd week in a row.

It was down to Mouldy to pummel winning runs with a boundary in the 33rd over. A tidy Fit victory by 4 wickets. Thanks to our ever gracious hosts for a good game, played in the right spirit. 2 wins on the spin? On to WMD for the Holy Grail shot of an un-beaten April !!