Goodbye, not quite farewell

As so onto September and the impending end of the season. This Roving Reporter doesn't mope but begins preparation for hibernation as soon as August bank holiday is done. By the time Last Night Of The Proms is reaching its climax the triple strength duvet is on standby, a lorry load of Custard Creams are at hand and the 2005 Ashes DVD is on loop until April.

Its always a genuine pleasure to see West Bridgford at Fleckney. Lovely people and fantastic attitude to the game. You almost want to forgive them for coming from Nottingham. Honestly, things you never thought the Roving Reporter would ever write.

Captain Scooter had intended to bowl first and got his wish. The skipper is usually a placid type of guy but after seeing his beloved Foxes get well and truly mashed the day before he had an extra bit of bite in his action. Unofficial reports suggest he fired one through at a speed perhaps topping 25 mph. Russell Martin, what did you do?

The visitors managed to score 235 in their allotted overs with Oswin and Malik reaching the agreed retirement figure of 50. We were also greeted by the simply fantastic sight of Fun Time Frankie Smith bowling to visiting veteran Mohammed Yasin. The combined age of those two would probably baffle even a Pentagon computer. I think its fair to say that the battle could be described a draw but you had better believe we are pumped for the rematch next year.

What wasn't a draw, and in fact possibly bordered on a 'Let's Print a T-Shirt in celebration' was how the Whitwick Werewolf got his wicket. Rob Marshall had clobbered one to deep midwicket and the diminutive figure of Adam Houghton tried desperately to get there. To get into the same postcode as the ball was an effort, to get hands on it was stupendous, but it tumble forward and grab it was worthy of both a pitch invasion and a standing ovation.

One other thing worthy of mention. Ollie Timms bowled really well. He got 2 wickets and was within a gnats finger nail of a third. This should have been a cause for celebration but those close to the action knew the truth. The Vice Captain had bet his Breaking Bad style Goatee that he wouldn't get three wickets on a Sunday this season. The team willed him on, the Vice Captains wife willed him on from a distance but it wasn't to be. Any complaints about the V.C.'s beard should therefore be Flip Flop HQ, No Need For A Shave Road, Fleckney.

In reply Fleckney crawled to 121 for 7 from 40 overs. Sam Hill played patiently and beautifully for a maiden 50 and we couldn't be more happy for him. Unbelieveably he was the only one to break double figures.

Yak drilled one to midwicket for 7, Naimesh deserves all the credit in the world for walking on the same score when no-one appealed and the skipper closed his Sunday season by running more determinedly than Leicester City had done the previous day but not in full co-operation with his partner and fell for a quacker.

Happily Anna batted for 8 overs for 3 not out which balanced out the sight of the former Fat Keeper seeing out the season with a forward defensive despite the cat calls coming the balcony imploring a death or glory swing.

There is still the rearranged Andy Standley match next weekend so this is not yet goodbye but it does seem right to thank everyone at this point for their efforts this season. To Jules and anyone else who does the ground, to Scoot for skippering the side, to everyone who has played and to those who come and support/ barrack when in the vicinity. It's been a pleasure.

Finally whist the identity of the Roving Reporter is a closely guarded secret I hope it is appropriate to wish the long suffering and ever lovely Mrs Roving Reporter a very happy 20th wedding anniversary for Wednesday. May she receive her reward in heaven but she sure as heck ain't getting it on Earth....