SCORECARD

15 x 8 - Red Ball + White Ball = Fit Men Winning Formula.

The final T20 Thrash of the season took the Fit Men to the lovely Barnt Green CC and a game against the evenings hosts Whitehall Wanderers. With a 5.30pm start agreed it came as no surprise that we started at 5.45pm with the hosts team arriving in parts......a verbally agreed toss resulting in the Fit Men taking the field (Skipper Howarth having bartered down a proposed 16 x 8 ball game to a 15 x 8 ball game). The outfield was a verdant green and the wicket looked a veritable bowlers paradise. Speedmeister Ralphie opened the bowling at the top end and speed in he did....ignoring the advice from the home umpires that the wicket looked a little slippery in the least.......resulting in Crash, Bang, Wallop.....Crash: Bat hitting ball, Bang: Ball thudding into car park for 6, Wallop Ralphie slipping up on the deck and pulling up with a strain......bowling the next 2 as spinning wides before declaring himself unfit to bowl (returning 1 over later 2 field).......who else to call up in a crisis than Geraint......muttering "Thanx Si" with just a hint of irony in the tone! The rest is history as the Welsh Wizard hit the "G Spot" 1st ball (2nd legitimate ball of the 1st over) cartwheeling the batters middle pole! G finished with 1 for 13 off 2, whilst Sharif at the bottom end ties things nicely with 0-11. Ollie returning to the "Field of Dreams" for the first time in 4 years then bowled 2 very decent overs of slow spin for 11 runs taking 2 wickets ably assisted by a well judged catch by Vice Captain Green and a caught behind by Tom. Green then bowled 0-11 at the bottom end followed by Mr Bice, hamstrung, 0-16 from the top end for the team! Enter bottom end Howarth 1 for 7, followed by Marcus taking 1 for 18 off 2, Nutt 1 for 11 off 2 (including a stumping for Tom) with Greg coming in off a sensible run up to finish off the innings with 2 for 19. Keeper Tom finishing with 2 caught and 1 stumped, and a good all round fielding display too boot!

So with 131 to chase the Fit Men opening pair of Ralphie and Geraint got off to a flier......Ralphie hitting the 1st ball he faced for 6 (there is always a wonderful symmetry to cricket)......whilst Geraint resplendent with new willow found the gaps well putting on 21 for the 1st wicket before Ralphie got bowled between his legs (more of that type of dismissal to follow shortly). Enter VC Green fresh from a 17 ball duck......finishing with 16 off 18 before being bowled (declaring later to those in earshot "in all the years i've played here I've never been out before!). Enter Captain Howarth who partnered 1st Geraint briefly as G retired on a very accomplished 25 off 20, and then Greg who retired blasting 28 off 13....hitting the red and white ball to all corners. Next in Sharif who put together 16 off 15 before being the second bowled between legs victim of the evening. This left Howarth and Jobes to finish off with 13 balls to spare......Jobes 4 off 8 and Howarth 18 off 17.

So to the bar we did retire to drink and eat in the enjoyable company of our hosts and then onto the balcony for some gentle bonhomie! A great end to the T20 season, thanx to all!