SCORECARD

Big Data Beats Big Batting

Fitmen 130-7; Sportsman 131-4
Sportman win by 6 wickets

The selectors savagely wielded the axe after the Shropshire Shenanigans…….just three survived ‘the cull’.
And the crowd loved it………….50 for the first wicket in about 5 overs (ie just 3 less than the entire team made 2 days before in 30 odd overs!) and a big score was in the offing.

Mo (58 @ 118) anchored the innings along with George Dawes with 14 (or was it 18?) @ 82 (or was it 105?)who underlined his growing credentials as ‘all round of the year’ set the example.

There was the usual upper middle order wobble as Geraint hit 1 (out of 9 attempts) and debutant Greg got a low one – followed by profuse apologies from skipper and rest of the side as they desperately assured him that most venues have less dandelion cover and it was worth his while considering a 2nd game with us.

Taz (survivor) got a couple of big 6s in his 23 @ 164 and Tuckerrrr (survivor) got into double figures @ 111. Tony L looked dapper in his fawn ‘whites’ and Nutt Snr weighed in at the end which ensured a competitive 130.

After a shaky start to the bowling (chairman survivor pummelled), newbie Greg's pace and accuracy (4-1-13-1) dragged them back. Skipper had the figures of the evening with 4-0-18-3 and good spells in support from Nutt R and Geraint (restricting the batters to around 6 an over each) gave the visitors a chance.

At the death the Sportsman needed around 25 off the last 4 overs but after an in-flight software update to the iPad scoring system made it with 3 balls to spare.

Most obvious commercial plug of the evening:
From co-owner of joke shop in Leamington (who also bowled well) to umpire on not giving a run out 'You're having a larf'.

Dandelion report: 'high count - mainly frazzled but effective'
Best floral display: 8" Daisies on adjoining strip
Lost ball count: 3
Latest money making lager next door: Korev, Cornish Lager @ £4:35