Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Footscray CC

And so it was to be another sunny day, plucked out of the gloom and rain of the summer of 2007.

The pitch looked as idyllic as ever although on closer inspection the outfield grass was a little long slowing the ball faster than most would like.

Footscray won the toss and chose to bat first, sending us into the field with Colin as our secret weapon as wicket keeper. This was a blatant attempt by the other bowlers to try to catch up on the wicket tally.

Opening the bowling was Richard and Ray. A good line and length from both bowlers kept the openers on their nerves and off the scoreboard. Ray's persistence won over Richard's aggression and death stares in the race for the first wicket.

The tight control from both bowlers brought swift reward and before they could consolidate they were 20-4.

As is always the case there are a couple of batsmen that prove a little more cautious / play a little better, get a slice of luck and manage to compile a decent partnership.

A couple of throw and miss run outs, dropped catches etc and the score was limping to a more respectable.

Ian Cressy finally received his just reward removing the mean Vidler Jnr and ended the short fight back. The other half of the partnership perished shortly after following the introduction of Pete into the attack.

Notable debut from Asjad Mir who bowled much better than his figures suggest. If it weren't for a couple of unfortunate 4s or a dropped catch then we'd all be a lot happier.

Once the end was nigh it took a while coming with a dogged innings from the equally mean Vidler Snr that, determined not to be outdone by his son. Colin, presumably irked by being unable to bowl managed to get his name onto the fielding figures with a sharp stumping and the rest of the team conspired to ensure that Snr Vidler did not overtake Jnr Vidler and fell on their swords once he had drawn level on 16 runs.

So with only 81 to chase we were feeling pretty confident, which is usually when things go wrong.

The opening pair of John and Colin started reasonably brightly but John's innings proved bright but short. The occasional flash of the blade from Colin helped our cause but after withstanding a huge barrage of dot balls he had had enough. Mr Fisher Senior attempted to demonstrate how an innings should be built following his heroics against the Pilots. However Lady Luck was not smiling and duck followed shortly after. Matthew strolled out, determined to show how it was done, an even brighter but shorter innings was the result. With batsmen repeatedly going in and rapidly scoring less than 15 and then getting out, there were some worried faces.

Derek stood solidly building a steady innings but was undone, also before a major innings. Phil looked to be in his best form of the season (so not a tough target), and amassed 7 before being bowled off his pads.

Our saving factor at this point was simply that we only needed a single innings of over 20 to make the game safe. Holding back Pete to support the tail proved to be the calming platform the innings needed and when joined by Richard, also batting well below his position, at a point when the opposition must have thought they were in with an unlikely sniff, the game was put to the sword. Pete knocked a succession of quick 4s, as if to remind the rest of us how it is supposed to be done, and the 81 total was quickly overhauled.

All in all a decent game, that we made more of a game of than we should played in very pleasant surrounding against a competitive but well mannered opposition.

Reporting: Phil 'Tonker' Thompson