SCORECARD

Defeat still leaves Fitmen with Golden Glow

The old adage, catches win matches, came to the fore in an enjoyable, competitive fixture against the Coftonians. A couple of late withdrawal's left skipper for the day Martin with only 9, however many thanks go to Dave Birman for dropping everything and coming to our aid and a new recruit, Ahmed, literally coming off the bench (on the boundary) to get us back to xi.

Upon winning the toss, Coftonians opted to bat and the openers, especially their skipper Khalid, started in a very positive mood. Raj and Ade opened up and both were dispatched to the boundary on numerous occasions without any success. The ball flashed through the slips and covers but none went to hand. 1st change, birthday boy Harris (39) bowled really well and claimed 2 quick wickets, bowling through his 8 overs finishing with 2-29. Nutterrrr came on and bowled with skill, guile and cunning to the elegant Coftonians number 4 who went on to make an excellent 50. With Khalid on 46 came the turning point of the game, hitting a waist height chance to Ade off the bowling of Nutt with some power, but it should have been taken. He was dropped another 3 times on his way to 100 (no jug purchased) and the Coftonians headed towards a big total.

New recruit Ahmed, fielded really well, bowled 4 excellent overs of leg spin and looks like a really good find. Rich Bice bowled an superb spell of 6 overs for only 20 runs to reign in the Coftonians, Frost came on to send down a selection of vegetable products interspersed with good un's and one of these did the desired job of finally removing the number 4 bat with a well taken caught and bowled. Raj finished off the innings taking 2 more wickets with good catches from Ahmed and Frost. 226 looked a competitive total but achievable if we got off to a quick start.

The new chips with tea trend continues to win over fans, especially if consumed with a selection of sarnies,pork product, cakes and lashings of Golden Glow ale.

Suitably filled and tanked up, openers Simon 'lord Barry of block' Howarth and Tom "I've just got a ton' Caesar waddled to the middle. Both found it hard going against good opening bowlers. With 6 an over needed and boundaries hard to come by with an accurate and a pacey attack, both ended up playing across the line to good balls to be out for 16 and 11. Harris was in determined mood looking for a birthday fifty and was joined by Birman who smote his 2nd ball the the boundary but was then out soon after.

In at number 5, Rear Admiral Frost entered the fray. Frost may be in the late summer of his cricketing career, but with 2 fifties in his last 3 innings he is seeing it like a beach ball. Coupled with the ability to cover 22 yards in under 3 seconds, Frost and Harris started to punish the first change bowlers who were again accurate and pacey. Single's were turned into 2's, Harris dispatched 9 balls to the boundary and the big total started to look achievable. When Harris was out bowled by a slower ball for a good 57 off 66 balls, Frost continued to keep the runs ticking along first with Bice (4) and then Martin (23 off 16). Horatio finally fell for an excellent 42 leaving Raj and Nutter to have a bash at bringing home the win. They had a good go, with Raj a run a ball 19 and Nutt 11 off just 9, but 226 was 12 too many.

As darkness fell, there was just enough time to polish off the remaining 30 odd pints of Golden Glow and discuss those dropped catches.......