THE Fossils are celebrating 20 years since their formation by staging a match against the Midland Club Cricket Conference.

The game will be at Rushwick at 1.30pm on Thursday, August 13, with all current and past members invited.

Fossils were formed in 1995 by John Reynolds and the first fixture was at Rushwick against a Roy Booth XI.

The team allow veterans to continue playing with people of their own age while raising funds for the Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Over the years, the Fossils membership has grown to 50 regular players with a similar number of occasional members.

The team play twice a week through the season and enjoyed a successful tour of Somerset. For more details of the match, call Reynolds on 01905-427047.

On their 20th anniversary tour of Somerset, Fossils beat Congresbury by 35 runs and drew with Claverham and Failand. They declared on 195-4 from 43 overs against Claverham with Kevin Gilbert scoring 50 not out before their opponents replied with 173-9.

Colin Hobbs (47) shared in a opening stand with Gilbert, which produced 103 runs in the first 20 overs.

Dick Brown added 30, Derek Ebbage 12 and Chris Taylor 20no.

Claverham had 42 overs to get the runs but Fossils’ bowlers were on top, backed up by fine fielding.

Pete Tudge took 2-10 from eight overs and Martin Woodward claimed 2-29 but the final pair batted out the last two overs for a draw.

In the next match, Congresbury were restricted to 149 in reply to Fossils’ 184-2 from 36 overs, which was fired by Barry Briscoe’s 41.

Gilbert and Hobbs continued their form with 40 and 23 respectively, while Liz Dean smashed a quick 31 and Nigel Price added 21.

The reply started well for Congresbury but a clatter of wickets changed the game in Fossils’ favour.

Ebbage (3-25) and Dean (1-19) were the pick of the bowlers with the fielders again supporting well over 39 overs to clinch a 35-run success.

Fossils batted first again against Failand and scored 192-6 with the hosts managing 125-5.

Hobbs blasted 50no for the tourists after Woodward scored 34, Simon Hudson 27 and Dick Brown 33 in their 40 overs.

Fossils produced another fine bowling and fielding display but Failand batted out the overs for a draw.