Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Natwest CC

Expectations were high around the Eltham dressing room as they prepared to take on Nat West on hot sunny afternoon in what turned out to be a 10 a side match with Eltham being led for the first time by George (Skippy) Power, who incidentally scored a 100 in the corresponding fixture last year and after the game was presented with a copy of the scorecard from the previous fixture. I'm not sure whether we gave him the name of Skippy because he was skipper for the day or because he runs like a bush kangaroo.

George, sorry Skippy, made a good start by losing the toss, with the opposition deciding to bat first. As the batsman were taking guard it was soon noted that the two sets of stumps were not aligned and that the wicket was a yard or two short of the regulatory 22 yards. Despite these drawbacks Mike opened the bowling with a maiden to smiles and applause from his team-mates, only for the smiles to quickly change to looks of consternation, horror even, as Skippy took Ian Cressy, a fine fast bowler of years gone by, off the shelf and dust him down before getting him to bowl the second over. We should have had more faith in both of them as Ian bowled an admirable line and length to return frugal figures of 5 overs for only 7 runs.

Mike bowled a fiery opening spell but with very little luck having two difficult chances put down. The first, a skier that ballooned up over the wicketkeeper's (Colin's) head which he did well to get a glove on after having to perform a pirouette or two to get near it; the second, an outside edge off a very quick deliver that Derek couldn't quite hang onto at first slip.

The NatWest innings got off to a steady if not assured start, no doubt getting used to the length and line of the pitch, and it took a change of bowling to make a breakthrough - Peter Swain replacing Ian and taking a wicket in his 3rd over. Peter did manage to take a second wicket before he took himself off for bowling too many short balls. Skippy showed his attacking intention throughout the NatWest innings - does he know any other way to play the game? - keeping men close to the bat, and this was taken to be a new form of "power play".

With a second wicket going down, Mike was given a rest and Skippy turned to the spin of Edwin. This brought together Jones and Freeman, who through sound batting and the generosity of the Eltham fielders in not holding their catches, put on a stand of somewhere around a hundred before Freeman was out bowled by Chris Stewart for a fine 65.

Skippy then decided it was time to bring himself on to bowl and be bowled with venom and pace, but with no better luck than previous bowlers when a skier was dropped off him at long off. However, he did manage to get a breakthrough when he bowled Jones for a good 47. Then at last a catch was held, but at a price, with Edwin moving smartly to his left at point not only taking a catch but injuring himself in the process.

Chris Stewart had by this stage been introduced into the attack bowling a good line and length, picking up three wickets. The NatWest innings closed with the score at 197 for 5.

The Eltham innings was opened by Skippy and Peter Fisher who both looked in good nick before Peter was undone by a grubber with the score on 36. This brought Henry to the wicket who whilst looking secure was unable to force the pace and made Skippy's batting look like Pietersen to his Boycott (that's scoring rate not batting ability). However, he did manage to hit a couple of boundaries before playing all round a yorker from Gladwin.

Peter Swain was in next, hitting some mighty blows for four, and some even mightier misses, before being bowled for 11. After his efforts behind the stumps a tired looking Colin came out to bat but was soon back in the pavilion. This brought Derek (Mr Reliable) to the wicket who batted with confidence and gave admirable support to Skippy, putting on a stand of 65, before he was adjudged LBW by yours truly.

Edwin, with Colin as his runner, limped to the wicket and batted sensibly giving as much of the bowling as he could to Skippy. Whilst wickets had been falling at the other end, Skippy still carried the game to the opposition and looked like he would repeat his performance of last year by scoring a hundred. Alas, this was not to be when he holed out to long on with a tired looking shot when on 93, with the score now on 168. With the tail exposed would Skippy now go on the defensive and play for a draw? As you might expect, no such instructions were issued to the batsman as first Ian and then Chris kept the scoreboard ticking over whilst Edwin made sure that wickets did not fall at both ends. The Eltham innings finished with the score on 193 for 7, a tantalising 4 runs short of the finishing post, with both Chris and Edwin not out.

A draw was a fair result with some good individual performances from players from both teams. Will the return fixture be as good? We can hope, but Eltham players will have to quickly adapt to the wicket being 22 yards long and the stumps in alignment.

It was good to see Ian back in whites and turning his arm over again, if not with the speed I remember, with more guile and accuracy.

Long may the summer remain hot and the games as evenly contested and absorbing as this one was.

Reporting: Henry "The Chairman" Hicks