SCORECARD

A game of three halves

Fitmen won by 126 runs
Old Mo 249-6.
The Village 123 all out

After biblical rain on Friday, and regular rain on Saturday, Sunday turned out to be perfect for the Moseley Open Gardens afternoon.
A brace of Caesars were denied the pleasure of casing local joints in B13 after late late call ups……………from behind the bar in actual fact just minutes before a fine toss by Raj meant first go at a ‘batsmen friendly’ wicket.

After 10 overs and a mere 16 on the board you’d think we’d been transported to Headingley at its most demonic as the ball swung both ways, got up and finally stayed low to see off Tom (8@25).

Lord F faired a little better initially but, on realising Rick wasn’t mysteriously going to appear at the Golf course end, moved majestically on to 26 (@54) before departure. Suddenly the pitch decided to behave itself generally and respectable contributions from the middle order indicated a target (albeit modest) to bowl at. Without the dark cloud normally cast on Si by his nemesis, he and Vice looked comfortable (37@69 and 16@70) but not as comfortable as the Tiger & Dragon……….

Ade’s knock (T15 - D12 @144) was brutal but ‘correct’ and generally watched with admiration from Geraint (19@76) at the other end - but both contributed to the match winning partnership. The only near death experience in George’s innings was when the square leg umpire assumed his runner was present for the express purpose of engaging in conversation.

The other big contributor was the extras column (76) which assisted in what looked like an unachievable 249.

Stowford Press was a welcome addition to the recovery process, along with the usual high calibre pakora and (rumour has it) a second in a lifetime achievement of cheese sarnie production by Geraint of Caerphilly. Delightful chocolate tea cakes (not Tunnocks) complimented the cheesecakes and all was well with the world.

Guy (6-0-14-3) was spotted having a net-ette (6 week layoff – probably rehearsing for the imminent teacher hols) before the reply got underway from The Village and it seemed to work and a hostile opening spell ably supported by skipper Raj (14-019-1) restricted the response and by the time The chairman completed his 8 (8-0-24-2) and Pat Fly weighed in with 7-1-26-1 it was pretty much beyond the visitors.

Vice and Geraint joined in with impressively tight spells meaning all six bowlers used claimed a wicket. Catch of the day was the rocket to mid-off where the varifoculs seemed to enhance the bulging pupils of Si……but Raj, Pat, Geraint and Tom C also joined in the catching fun.

Another good display behind the stumps from Tom H including a 50 metre dash to the 3rd man boundary to cover for the invalids at slip and gully.

The scorebook shows it was straightforward - which it was in the end. But the early period of the Fitmen batting had hinted at a severe challenge ahead……..and a stubborn last wicket resistance showed what could have happened earlier in The Village reply. That neither of the above prevented a comprehensive home win was pretty much due to a good all round team effort and outstanding fielding. No drop catches (and five taken) and possibly no fielding errors – or did the Aspalls cloud the memories?

No doubt The Village will be gunning for revenge on Thursday………….will their skipper make a glorious return?