SCORECARD

The Magnificent 9

There are any number of ways that a cricket team’s chances of success can be chronically hampered, playing at a soggy Britannic ground in early May being a prime example. However, playing a team packed full of youth players at an early(ish) hour on a baking hot Sunday morning, on the weekend of an Edgbaston Test match AND with only nine (9) players, has to be right up there in terms of being a major test of the Old Mo’s mettle.

It must be said that Dorridge CC had also experienced some serious selection headaches of their own right up until the 11th hour, with the lion’s share of their youth teams (from which they rely on to provide players for such friendly fixtures) resting in preparation for a cricket tour this week. As it was, by 11.20am Dorridge had a full complement of players warming up in the outfield with the Fitmen skipper and others still hurriedly trying to locate the remaining x2 stragglers, while at the same time potentially entice other Fitmen to come to our aid at the last minute. Right on cue, Jeets texted to say he was running late. But unfortunately it was all to no avail in the case of Eddie. He answered his phone promptly enough… the main issue being the location in which he had answered it from…. London. Perhaps he had mistaken Dorridge for Dulwich...? Easy mistake-a-to-make-a! No doubt all will be revealed the next time he ISN’T picked to play!?!

If the Fitmen player numbers were all going very wrong, then at the least there was some consolation as the toss went very right, and the Oppo were inserted into the field first. As the mercury continued to rise, Messrs Mould and Eames strode out to face the Dorridge music, factor 30 duly slathered and lids slowly boiling their heads. The standard of bowling started well and continued in the same vein, with the Dorridge youth consistently hitting a good line and length which meant very little was given away and hardly any extras conceded. The pressure began to tell, and Stuart was the first to fall, skying a top edge which was comfortably snaffled by the keeper. Enter Ralphy to join the skipper at the crease and despite the continued conveyor belt of naggingly accurate bowlers, the gaps began to be found in the field and a decent partnership built. After finding the boundary a few times to reach 34, the skipper was held at gully playing an uppish late cut and it was the turn of Stevie Nicks to keep the score ticking over. This was made a considerably trickier proposition once the Dorridge 1st XI overseas player from Sri Lanka entered the attack bowling off just 4 paces. Ralphy didn’t seem to be too fazed however, bludgeoning a big six over square leg and a couple more boundaries before holing out for a more-than-respectable 68 precious runs. Steve held the fort for the remainder of the Fitmen’s allotted 35 overs and was joined for brief cameos by Jeet and Tony T and ended up on 28 not out, a fine contribution.


Lunch/ very early tea taken, the Fitmen duly refreshed and raring to go, headed out onto the baking outfield, with Stu Mould given the new cherry to begin proceedings and Ralphy installed behind the stumps. After a couple of wayward looseners Stu began to find his mojo and hit a good line, consistently beating the outside edge on off stump. At the other end Jeet also kept the Dorridge openers in check, with scoring opportunities at a premium. Something had to give and both openers got their rewards tempting the opposition into driving the ball and edging two very sharp chances that were both snaffled superbly well by the keeper. The nine Fitmen’s tails were now up and thoughts of an highly improbable victory starting to creep into their minds… the belligerent Dorridge youth, however, had other ideas, and aside from a couple more wickets being taken courtesy of the wily spin duo of Bal and the honorary guest for the day Chris Talbot, the target of 164 was reached with 6 wickets to spare. Dorridge certainly knew they had been in a game and as post-match drinks were taken the magnificent 9 reflected on what could have been…