Numerically challenged Flyford make a game of it

Report by Joe Chapman

A depleted but spirited Flyford side were on the end of a defeat against a good-natured Bushley outfit in picturesque surroundings on a very pleasant day in Gloucestershire on Sunday.

Fly lost by seven wickets having only been able to field seven players and set their opponents a very gettable 82, but with the help of the hosts, who generously volunteered to provide extra fielders in order to fulfil the game, the afternoon was enjoyed by all players and a smattering of spectators.

Joey Poole and his skinnier team than normal elected to bat first. The captain began in good fashion with a lovely, straight drive for four in the very first over, but the pitch proved to be rather slow, with little bounce and carry and progress for Joey P and Benny Ware at the top of the innings proved difficult.

When Joey was trapped in front and the finger of ump Aaron Monk went up, the Flav were 9/1 from the opening six overs. That quickly 10/2 when Mark Davy helped the ball back to the bowler for a duck - and was required to have a photo with *the shirt* post-match as a consequence, before Benny departed to in bizarre circumstances - 16/3.
When Scritty Clarke strode to the crease, Fly needed a little stabilising and were able to call on two of their more senior heads of the club in order to do so. Walks began to build his innings in his customary fashion, punishing anything wide of the stumps while respecting any delivery on them. Scritty was then rather unfortunately bowled for six, having played one lovely stroke for a boundary, but by this point we'd bumped our total up to 48.

Yours truly then joined Walks and hung around as he continued to push up towards something a little more respectable. When that partnership was broken, thanks to a blinding catch in the field, Aaron lasted just a couple of deliveries and the innings was ended prematurely.

Joey P opened up with spinner Scritty from one end and with Aaron - fresh from his return to action with the ball at Blakedown recently - at the other. Bushley set about putting an early dent in the total despite some tight stuff from our bunch with the ball and in the field. We did make the breakthrough, however, when Mark tempted one of the openers to deep square leg, where one of the borrowed Bushley lads was on hand to take the catch.

Joey P then clean bowled another with a delivery which beat the bat all ends up, and Benny joined Mark in taking a rare wicket when another batter holed out to his teammate, who obliged in the deep. For Benny, that was revenge for how his wicket fell - but we won't mentioned the opponent's age!

In all, the Flav came up short, but when only seven are able to play, that can often mean a game doesn't happen at all - a special thank you, then, to Bushley, who accommodated us and ensured the game could go ahead. A long-awaited home match at Cutnall now awaits on Tuesday.

AWARDS
MOTM - Walks, for his innings of 46*
Tit - Matt Stewart for saying yes to coming but not turning up!
Champagne Moment - Mark Davy's wicket
Thanks For Coming - The helpful Bushley fielders