SCORECARD

Old Mo and Heath is Late Summer Tie

We took the short trip up the A4040 for a 5:30 PM start. The captain was running really late because even Billy was already there. Vice skipper Stevie Nicks step in for Jonesy and lost the toss, the Heath decided to bat. The Fitmen started pretty slowly and seemed to be dozing off in the field until 6 PM, when everyone finally woke up.

Fitmen's bowling attack heavily relied on spinners, which would have been great for a dust bowl in Dhaku better than B14. But a worn strip which turn out to be quite slow with a bit of variable bounce was a welcome surprise. It really favoured Bal's skills, who opened the bowling. He had a tidy first spell of 3 overs with some great guile and spin. Hari was a bit expensive early on and was taken off after 2 overs.

As the Fitmen searched for their first wicket, more slow bowling came into play with Nokia and Dave. The first wicket came in the weirdest way possible when Dave tried to stop a straight drive with his outstretched foot, clipped the heel, and ran out their dangerous opening bat at the non-striker's end.

The second wicket fell soon after with Nutter brought into the attack. The old Dr Nut three-card trick first off. Ball 1 - wide, Ball 2 - lovely loopy stuff, Batter plays 5 shots and then decides on a forward defence. Ball 3 - batters's eyes light up and slogs to the leg-side boundary only to be beautifully caught by Brother Nutt (safest hands in the club).

Billy was brought into the attack early and found more control tying down an end. He was the pick of the bowlers on the night and finished 4 1/15.

The Heath finished on a run a ball 120.

During the Fitmen chase, the innings could be divided into two halves. Jonesy and Stevie started the batting and gave us a strong start with an opening partnership of 52 runs off 44 balls. However, as is typical of the Fitmen, we made the game more interesting. The Heath bowled well to their fields and used lines and lengths that suited the dimensions of the field, making it difficult for us to score. Paul scored 9 runs, Brother Nut scored 5 runs, and Billy scored 5 runs. Jonesy was initially not out, but he walked after a stumping effort in the 19th over, scoring 49 runs off 45 balls.

T20 Fitmen Cricket every ball counts, just like in a hundred, but with less crisps. On the 119th ball of the innings, Timmys was caught for 10 runs off 6 balls, leaving the score at 118. With only one ball left, the Fitmen needed 3 runs to win or 2 runs to tie.

At this crucial moment, we needed a hero, and that hero who just 4 hours before the game had no socks. A hero who only 72 hours ago was subject to a Q&A with the doyen of English cricket journalism George Dobell.

That hero was Sam Lockyer.

In he walked to face the last ball of the game, "I got this lads". The ball was short of a length, and he hit/smashed/battered/destroyed a pull shot into the leg side. Sam and Harri ran for one. "Two, two, two, came the shout from the boundary. Lockyer found another gear. You could even call it a sprint! Diving to cross the crease just the wickets were broken and tying the game.

The game was enjoyable for everyone involved. The opposing team played well and we appreciate their efforts. Special thanks to the Fitmen's own Rachel Rielly; Tucker from the Fitmen for keeping a ball by ball scoreboard during the close run chase.

After the game, a small group of Fitmen went to the bar and enjoyed drinks: HPA, Butty Bach, and Mardi, while snacking on pork scratchings.