SCORECARD

Joyous victory in Bucolic Belbroughton

It was one of those evenings that make you glad to be a Fitman. A 40-minute drive through our green and pleasant land whilst listening to TMS, with England thoroughly thrashing the Aussies. 20 degrees, the predicted rain non-existent and a trip to one of the nicest grounds on our fixture list. Lace curtains in the capacious changing rooms. The best scoring box on the circuit, getting the Nutter salivating. With promises of curried food post-match, a well-stocked bar opening at 6.30PM – it was decided that a chase might just be the ticket.

Now normally, a 40-minute drive x rush hour traffic/setting off too late = not enough present at allotted time, so we have to bat. A simple equation of Nutter picking Billy up at 4PM ensured that everyone was happy and early although Jonesy did arrive complaining of “sore ears”.
Billy didn’t know what to do with all the free time. Timmsy driving all the way from the Wirral even made it. Good work.

Oppo skipper sans coin picked up an old snail shell to decide upon the toss. A new one on me. Initially trying for a shell up/down technique didn’t work, but the old “which hands the snail in” did the trick. (For the record – left hand West of Brum)
It was a green top with a noticeable slope at one end. Waseem asked to open up found the slope difficult to negotiate to start with and was punished by the very talented opener with anything short. Said opener an ex-Belbroughton 1st teamer now in his 60’s, but as we know, you never lose class and his timing and clean hitting was a sight to behold. Harri S bowled really well in support and despite some aggressive hitting, these two kept things in check superbly. The 25 and retire rule helped out.

Fit fielding was good all evening saving numerous boundaries and only one dropped catch. Field placement was trickier however, with as we know all Fitmen being virtual Captains. Chuck in a left-handed batsmen into the mix and everyone basically stood wherever they wanted. Jonesy having a lovely natter with Tom Caesar on the boundary rope. Thank God we do rotational skippers.

Turning point of the game came with a lovely spell of bowling down hill from Paul Caines, ably supported by Billy. A wily, cunning fox, Paul bowled with great accuracy and changes of pace to finish with 4-0-17-1, quality figures in a T20 match. At pains to remind everyone, he actually can bat really well, Mr Caines joins the ever burgeoning “All-rounder” Fit ranks! Billy 1-20 continued the squeeze beating the bat on numerous occasions. Special mention for turning a simple run-out into a 3 stump smashing epic run-out….talk about overkill!

Death bowling can go one of two ways, Glory or destruction of economy rate. Timmsy’s struggled for rhythm in his opening over but followed up with an excellent 2nd grabbing a wicket and allowing only 6 off the penultimate over. Nutter relishes the pressure cooker at the death and floated up a tidy dozen balls grabbing a key wicket. 125 for 5 was a brilliant effort in this format.
The bar was open, the sun came out with a backdrop of rolling countryside. 126 needed. Perfeck.

First over maiden and the 10th ball finally turned for a single by Harry E and we were off. Jonesy in imperious form, doesn’t apparently look at the stats (389 runs @ 48.63, SR 108) was watchful to begin with but serenely went about his business. Harry bowled by a low un’ out for 14 brought Stevie Nicks in at 3. Now the clubs best fielder has been doing a good amount of navel gazing of late, questioning the cricketing gods about his undoubted talent. A rare dropped catch and a couple of precious metal ducks can shatter the confidence. God only knows what would have happened had that first scampered single resulted in a run-out Diamond duck (missed by inches), but the lad is back in the room with a run a ball 10 before being out caught.

There’s a bit of History with Tucker and Belbroughton/The Village/The Sportsmen/The Mermaids/Barford/Blackwood/Four Oaks etc etc etc….and tonight was to be no different. Every ball he faced was twatted to the boundary with 2 fielders having the temerity to stop a couple of them going for four. Then the loopiest of loopy bowlers sent another looping delivery down, Tucks strides forward and attempts to hit it out of the park. It was waist height. It should have gone for 6. But it was caught at long off. The last thing Fit Umpires need is to have to make a decision and Tucks was sent on his merry way with their ‘keeper/protagonist from last year chirping, “that’s the way to the clubhouse” Hilarity ensued. Nah not really, a storm in a Tea cup.

When Chirpy keeper then missed catching skip Martin off his first ball and then missed stumping same player a little while later, the volume levels dropped considerably. Jones retired with yet another red inker. Billy came in at 6 (you should have spun that coin Timmsy) and was circumspect from the off, respecting the good ball and then thumping 3 mighty 6’s to bring the game home. Martin and Bill both finishing on 24 not out. 126 for 3 off 15 overs.

With the game finishing early, there was a 30 minute wait on the Curry. With Enville on tap, the drivers for the night were left cursing their luck as the chosen few could sink as many as they wanted. The curry when it came was plentiful, ably supported by rice and naan’s. It could of perhaps done with a touch of seasoning, cumin, coriander, cardamon, chillis and garam masala, but whatever was in it Joe Tucker enjoyed it and many thanks to Tucks Jnr for scoring the Belbroughton innings and for taking video footage of Tucker Snr’s dismissal for post-match review. FTR, it did look like a no ball FFS !