SCORECARD

Dictionary definition - Thrash (verb and noun)
1. (intr) of a ship - make way against the wind or tide.
2. (intr) move or fling the limbs about violently in panic.
3. (tr) beat severely, especially with a stick.

On a wonderful warm and sunny evening at Wast Hills the assembled masses were treated to an exhibition of cricketing skills with both bat and ball. Upon losing the toss (tails does fail occasionally) and given the honour of bowling on a baked, dry wicket (still no bounce!) the 2 Jon's, Howes and Ashton began superbly. Howes almost unplayable at times picked up an early wicket, and Ashton in his 3rd over bolwed his classic 'shooter' followed by one hitting the top of off stump to claim 2 memorable scalps.
The game turned in the Fitmen's favour with some excellent fielding, resulting in run outs from Ash and a ridiculous 'oh I've middled it -RUN!' debacle, calmly claimed by Jack.

Ian Nutt bowling savage looping leg breaks broke the stumps on his first ball but alas this was given as a no-ball. Lesser men may have crumbled at this point but fired on 'Nutter' bowled a selection on googlies, wrong 'uns, chinamen, flippers and wides to claim 2-23 off 4, with 2 excellent stumpings claimed by Tom. Supported admirably by Sunny who after being dropped from my fantasy side has bowled like a man possessed, deserved more but returned 1-17 off 4.

In order to prolong the game, ridiculous run out man was allowed back to the crease, but was soon sent back to the pavillion after Ash bowling at the death allowed just 2 runs from 2 overs rattled the timbers. New boy Darren Pickering running in off 14 paces bowling slow medium got his maiden wicket in the final over, with the Village posting 78 All Out.

The last thing the Village needed was two in form fitmen striding out into the evening sunshine, but that is exactly what they got. Rich Bice stuck on the M6 for most of the afternoon relieved his congestion frustration with some elegant and brutal strikes reaching 44 not out, and the born again run machine Simon Howarth punishing anything on his legs with glances, flicks and down right bludgeoning blows scorching to an unbeaten 29, and the required runs were garnered inside of 12 overs.

An excellent all round performance and a victory by 10 wickets left only 2 questions to answer.

1. What score would have been reached had tails not failed, and
2. Can we ensure the ball we were given to play with is returned to the History of Cricket Museum?

A.Martin