SCORECARD

Not a dry seat in the house

A glorious early-August evening brought a T20 fixture to be played against Whitehall Wanderers at Barnt Green. They have the ground was looking splendid in preparation for a big T20 event at the weekend (indeed, the seating had just been freshly painted and still sported “wet paint” signs). The glossy finish didn’t put off the spectators, who turned out in their several: Families of Jobeses and Nutts were seen supporting the visitors, along with a pair of lesser-spotted Caesars. A black dog turned out in support of the home side.

As the stragglers straggled in at 6.10pm in readiness for a prompt 6pm start, stand-in skipper Nutt headed to a spot near the boundary rope for the toss. A retoss was required after the first coin landed on its edge, supported by a tuft of grass. The second came down heads, and the home side elected to bat. Their opener was off to a blinder, retiring on 26no after facing only eight balls. Geraint took a fair bit of that in his first over, but responded excellently with a maiden – the only maiden of the match – in his second. With the score at 67-0 after six overs, it was important to keep control in the middle overs; Taz, Ash, Bal, and Nutt Jr all sent down spells at around a run-a-ball, and Mo was particularly parsimonious in conceding only 8 runs from his two overs. Bal picked up a couple of wickets – first their number 3 (well caught by Greg, nobly fielding alternate overs at long off and long on) and then their number 6, bowled without scoring.

Marcus likes bowling on this ground, and added two wickets to the three-for-six that he bagged in this fixture last year. Nutter recovered from a generous first over, and Greg bowled fast and straight to pluck out the wicket of the home captain at the end, as they finished on 152-5.

This was a good batting track, and a target of 153 was considered gettable. Mo and Geraint were sent out to open, and provided an excellent foundation: Geraint hit two lusty sixes in his 17 off 10, and Mo played effortlessly for his 25no off 13. Greg (who, it turns out, is not unknown to the Wanderers) and Taz kept things moving along, both passing 25 at better than a run-a-ball. Marcus hit some attractive strokes for his 9no, and was there at the end with Rob Nutt as the target was reached (confusingly, off a wide with a bye) with 17 balls to spare.

Thanks to the oppo for a warm welcome as usual, to Tuckerrrrr for scorrrrring, and to the young umpires who not only signalled their no-balls and short runs with aplomb, but were also more than keen to help return the ball to the bowlers.