Today we drive to Birlingham. a village in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 325. It is situated on a loop in the River Avon, surrounded by it to the north, east and south. An interesting feature of the very picturesque cricket ground was a large Turkish oak situated about 10 meters inside the boundary at third man/long on. This and others like it around the ground were planted to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar.

Our opponents today will be The Fossils . The Fossils' story began with a single conversation at the West Malvern Cricket Club dinner in 1994. Concerned that the pressures of league cricket were cutting their careers short a few good men developed the idea of a friendly team for the over 50's. Under the guidance of John Reynolds, who remains the club's only officer even today, the Fossils entered their first season in 1995.   What once began as an idea to play 5-10 friendly matches a has grown into a full fixture list of over 50 games per season. With matches played firstly for enjoyment, secondly for the glorious teas and finally to win, the club now specialises in the limited over's draw.  It has an annual tour and is a regular fixture for the many touring sides that visit Worcestershire during the season. Just as important has been the club's contribution to the development of the Worcestershire County sides for over-50's, over-60's and most recently over-70's; almost all of the players in these county sides are also members of the Fossils team .

This game was played under the traditional Fossil “declaration rule” - a 70 over match where the team batting first needs to calculate how many of the 70 overs it uses to post a target but still leave enough overs to bowl out the side batting second.   John Reynolds, the Fossils Skipper, resplendent in his Fossils blazer and pith helmet, “won” the toss and consistent with the Fossil tradition sent the visitors in.

Making a return from injury and batting with a runner Bill Rowe (17) and partner Bob Phillips (14) opened the innings and batted soundly until a misunderstanding between Bill's runner and Bob saw Bob stranded and short of his crease. When another runner was found short going for a second, Bill was also run out. Peter Howes went on to make 23 before retired hurt with a hamstring twinge and the majority of the remaining batsman made a contribution, the best being Vince Bulger with 33no. Skipper Ron Axelby made the declaration at 8 for 170 after 32 overs leaving the Fossils 38 overs to reach the target .

While batting today I was involved in an unusual and unfortunate moment. Turning a ball off my legs through backward square I had completed the first run and called my partner, Paul Thomas, through for a second. He started to come then went back to his crease - I was still charging to his end yelling at him to get moving. Of course we ended up at the same end (I had made the second run easily) before Paul made a token effort to get to the bowlers end before they took the bails off. Drinks were called and before play resumed Tour Skipper Stirling came on to the ground and told me that in his - and others - opinion the umpire had it wrong and that I should have been the one given out. I disagreed since Paul had left his crease and we had crossed before the bails were removed at the other end. He then suggested that even though I was correct, Paul had had limited opportunities with the bat so far on tour and so I relinquished my wicket and Paul resumed batting.   Hopefully good karma will come to me later in the tour.

The Fossils run chase never really gathered momentum and when they lost their third wicket at 50 in the 14th over they started playing for their "honourable draw".   Two of their batsmen retired at 33 but no others made a serious effort to get the runs and the innings finished at 7/128.   We all felt a little deflated and thought the draw would have been a little more "honourable" had they made more of an effort at winning before putting up the shutters.

Another hearty dinner was put on by the local ladies, with the evening concluding with the usual round of speeches and presentations.   Off to Barnt Green tomorrow for the third of three-in-a-row.