Five Alive Fisher

Sun shining at Filkins Lane and the whiff of suncream in the air. Great day for a home game against Alderley Edge - often depleted early season and this proved to be the case as Dan Riley won the toss (again!) and batted. Mark Currie in the line up for the visitors so always a chance they could chase any score. Late team shuffles saw Tom Wyatt (very successfully) promoted to the first team so Tom Evans in to keep wicket.
The Metcalfs strolled to the middle to open proceedings: solid start required. They both looked confident in the face of a steady opening pair. Ian cut and pulled strongly and George played his own game of 'you bowl, I'll hit it to the fielders' which - infuriatingly - he was very good at with his usual mix of elegant drives. The first wicket fell at 41, George bowled for 16 but solid beginnings. Ian fell shortly after for a good 28. Dil (37) and Noah (28) continued to play carefully. Lots of dots but positive attacking and good running. Noah has made a start in all 3 games so far, showing his class, surely that big score is just around the corner. Dil unfurled an enormous 6 before departing allowing Reg and Eddie Roberts to continue the good work. They pushed the score along on a wicket which was proving trickier than it looked, slow bowling the key as Edge took the pace off. Reg unluckily run out in the end for 25 and then Tommy and Dan fell quickly after. With the score on 176 in the 46th over, 200 looked a long way off. Enter Robin Fisher. He and Eddie Roberts upped the rate enormously with Fish hitting 23 from only 9 balls including an excellent reverse-sweep and a fine flat 6 over long-on. Eddie was out for an excellent 37 but the damage had been done swinging the momentum firmly in the favour of Chester who finished on an above par 220.
Normal service resumed at tea with sandwiches etc on the tables and the hierarchical distribution of chips meaning the youngsters get what's left! Afternoon tea on the veranda in full swing left the bar a touch on the quiet side. Tea outside next week?
No opening bowler to partner Matt Brayne? Not so. Dil is a good all round cricketer and first ball he had Mark Currie caught at square-leg...hang on, Alan's finger still raised for more chips and a no ball. Would it be costly? Currie gave a masterclass last summer but tight bowling induced a false shot and a wicket. Bowled Brayne caught Vickery. The youngsters taking the key wicket. Dil bagged an LBW and then the pace came off. Dan and Fishy into their work. Both have made good starts to the season and despite the injury which was clearly hampering Fishy's normally gazelle like movements, he hit his straps immediately bowling young Davidson. Dan removed Campbell and then immediately removed himself from the attack to allow debutant Hari to bowl his leg spin. Fishy then made short work of the depleted line up. Dil and Noah both took great catches and nothing was given away in the field allowing Rob Fisher to finish with the remarkable figure of 8 overs 7 maidens 5 for 1. Marvellous return from Fish. Hari brought the curtains down by bowling number 11 (who was wearing Liam Yahathagoda's old pads) with a googly.
An excellent victory. Comprehensive and done in the best way with top order getting the runs and setting a platform for a late onslaught which came. Youngsters chipping in and learning again from the older heads. All the bowlers did well but Fish did the damage - excellent. Special mention to Tommy Evans for stepping in at the last minute to keep.

MotM - Fish
DotD - What Reg said stays in the changing room but Noah was convinced that D/L on the scoreboard cam up when Dil got a wicket.