Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Statics CC

Following a scorching couple of weeks Bexley Grammar School turned out a pitch more at home in the Australian outback - not a hint of green, with a true bounce and plenty of dust - a batsman's dream. In fact, the pitch was so solid that it even knocked Eltham skipper Matt Bulpitt out of his usual tactics, and Eltham chose to bat first.

The Statics did their best to slow down Eltham's early progress, by telling half of their team to turn up an hour late, but by 2pm Peter Fisher and Jon Killingley were out in the middle ready to go. A further delay ensued, as one of the latecomers disappeared into the school to brush his teeth! The first over was an early indicator of things to come, with leather hitting willow just once but a massive 9 runs coming from extras - poor discipline from the bowlers was a recurring theme during the innings, with a huge number of no balls being bowled.

The Statics openers didn't make life easy for Fisher & Killingley, and as the partnership looked to be making good progress the more dangerous of the two bowlers, Jit, got a little extra bounce and seam and Peter Fisher gloved to the wicket keeper for 14.

Killingley and the number 3, Colin Wouldham, then played out the openers and enjoyed a much faster scoring rate as the second string bowlers came on. Both benefitted from the super-fast outfield and static fielding... After a much-needed drinks break, the accurate Wasim trapped Killingley LBW for 41, and very quickly bowled John Fisher with a ball that turned from the edge of the strip to take Fisher's off stump. Unplayable.

Wouldham then continued to anchor the innings as big hitter Matt Bulpitt attempted to break all sorts of records for six-hitting. He managed three in a quickfire 30, before being caught bravely trying to hit the ball so high that it wouldn't come back down again. Enter Peter Swain, who grinned at the bowling as he came to the crease in the face of Bulpitt's sixes challenge.

Six sixes and some delightful strokeplay later, Swain reached his fifty, shortly followed by Wouldham, as the pair took the score well beyond 200. Not even Richard Mann's wiley leg breaks prevented Wouldham from reaching 50 yet again. Bulpitt declared at 237-4, a monumental total for the Statics to chase, but achievable on such a good surface.

Not even David Jones' home made cakes, which would have stopped even Test Match Special's Mike Gatting in his tracks, stopped the opening bowling attack of Ray Scriven and Jones. A confident Eltham were shattered by Wasim's brutal power on the second ball of the innings, but order was restored two balls later when he mishit the same shot and was caught comfortably by Bulpitt at mid off.

Two overs later Eltham struck again with a slightly fortuitous run out, Killingley scoring a direct hit from the long off boundary to dismiss Jit. As confidence increased with the Statics stationary at 25-2, Peter Swain produced the moment of the match. The dangerous Dilish drove David Jones high to mid off, and Swain ran a good 200 yards (that's what he'll tell you, anyway) and still managed a dive to take a wonderful catch.

The success in the field spurred on Eltham to continue the tidy fielding performance, and Jones bowled Horace with the next ball. No hat-trick though, as the experience of Symes held strong. With the result in no doubt, Eltham continued the rout, with 3 (yes, three) dismissals from wicketkeeper Mick Cohen, all catches off the bowling of Scriven, Derek Seed and Peter Fisher, who's figures of 4 overs, 4 maidens, 1 for 0 were quite remarkable. Having been told he was the third choice spinner, Colin Wouldham proved all his critics wrong and picked up a couple of wickets late on, including the prized capture of Richard Mann, who at number 11 looked formidible in defence, but like England had very little in attack. Swain took the final catch, and Eltham wrapped up the innings for just 57.

So, a win by 180 runs, the biggest of the season, and an excellent team performance from Eltham. Contributions came from everyone, which was very pleasing for wicketkeeper Mick Cohen, who after the game hailed his performance as "better than Geraint Jones" and called for Duncan Fletcher to visit BGS next week. Pity for him Eltham are playing away.

Reporting: Jon Killingley