Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Dartfordians CC

Coming into this game against the Dartfordians CC, Eltham CC had not tasted defeat since July 29th 2007 apart from their 1 run defeat against Sidcup (yes you read that correctly). Your reporter had the privilege of reporting on that game to make his debut in the world of club cricket reporting. This being only my second dip in the field of cricket reporting perhaps tells you how eager club cricketers can be to report when their team is having a good run.

Pre-match events were pretty much routine as most of team Eltham trickled in timely but couple of exceptions might be worth noting. Such is the standard set by your reporter that when he arrived, it prompted some to check their watches and enquire if the match was due to start at 1.30pm. Memorial ground was not the easiest to find for those who had not been there before or relied unequivocally on Satellite Navigation. Kashif apparently missed a turn and that caused him to see the rest of Kent. Initially he thought a few phone calls to the skipper will do, however, it was not long before he gave up, instead opted to look for skipper Matt (good choice mate) who very kindly lead him from the highway to the car park albeit after staying on the phone and guiding traffic for half an hour or so.

All set, skipper won the toss and decided 'TO BAT FIRST'. Perhaps it is important to note that prior to the game some players had suggested that recent games lacked competitiveness and were rather too easy and air was given to the notion that perhaps we are no more a weak-medium and should be listing ourselves as medium in future. Now our skipper, being a gentleman that he is, settled in his mind (whether consciously or otherwise - open to debate) to do something in order to make the games more competitive. Hence, the aforesaid decision, despite considerably overcast overhead conditions, green top pitch and a sparkling new cherry in the hands of opposition pace bowlers. Pete Fisher and Asjad were the openers to face up to the challenge. To their credit opening bowlers for Dartfordians were bowling with excellent line length and admirable pace but it was the pitch, which was casting all sorts of doubts in the minds of the batsmen. Some did not bounce at all while occasionally one or two jumped from a good length.

After seeing a few stay up and down, Pete received one full-length delivery, which he duly crashed but unfortunately only straight to the man in the covers. Well, that was really inauspicious - not only he got out but also missed a brilliant opportunity to have an average in excess of 200 for the season so far. As it stands he is still averaging more than 90 runs per innings, which for rest of us is stuff of dreams. Pete Swain was next in and though he started well with a cover drive for 2, unfortunately edged the next ball on to the stumps. Asjad followed soon almost in the same fashion - managed to keep a rising ball down but the ball somehow knew where the stumps were causing one of the bails to dribble off. This was some start for the Dartfordians and at 5 for 3 they were well and truly on top. Estimates of what would be a good score on this track ranged from a mere 100 to a massive 200 in Eltham dug-out. Another, view I suppose could be that first 3 batsmen did everything that can be imagined to ensure this particular game was not mundane (if such a thing exists) like the first few this season (again open for debate).

Despite a few worried faces in Eltham camp all was not lost yet and what followed, most of us would agree, can not be classed as one sided. Colin 'Man for a crisis' Wouldham and Kashif 'potential match winner' Ashfaq were out there and started rebuilding the innings in contrasting styles. Colin, seemed very clear on his strategy (defence was the best form of defence) and did very well to stem the fall of wickets and initially it looked like he had dropped the anchor and was not going anywhere. However, it was not long before he started edging for runs and before anyone noticed got into his stride. Kashif, on the other hand was not much perturbed by the match situation and demonstrated successfully that for him 'attack was the way forward'. He was not afraid to hit pitched up deliveries in the air to go with some delightfully timed strokes. Contrasting styles albeit equally effective and a partnership of 73 ensued at almost 4 runs per over. Kashif edged one to the keeper but by then he had scored 36 confident runs. This partnership was pure resilience in the face of adversity and provided Eltham with a launching pad for a big score.

Next it was skipper's turn to enjoy and return a feisty little innings to keep the momentum going and by now Colin was also hitting regularly over the top of fielders in the covers. Boundaries were being scored rather regularly and a big score was looking eminent. However, there was yet another turn when Colin (33 runs) and Matt (30 runs) fell in quick succession with the scoreboard reading 125 for 6. Another challenge was presented, step-up-and-set-a-target was what the situation demanded. Richard 'hard hitting' Page was the man who grabbed the opportunity with two hands but it has to be said, was ably supported by Derek 'Coach' Seeds and Andy 'wicket keeper' Redman. While Richard was at his usual brutal best, both Derek and Andy kept on rotating the strike and running between the wickets was superb.

It would probably befitting for Richard to stay not-out at the end but he very selflessly kept on going after the bowlers to hole out in the last over with only two balls to go. Tanveer 'the pure bowler' Aslam stepped out for the first time for team Eltham with a bat in his hand. Now he already has a bit of a reputation for forgetting his bits (I hear you say if I am talking about that infamous clothes incident). This time he did not disappoint either and merrily forgot to wear his gloves. Now you are probably okay when you are playing with a tennis ball but this cricket ball is such a predator as most of us know. Exposing your tender fingers to this lethal device would be too dangerous a thing to even think of. I am afraid, that was not a good idea TAN. Anyhow, 182 on the board and confidence that seemed to have eroded a little at the start of the innings had been restored. Now that tussle (cat and mouse stuff) that we all love - we certainly had it - in this innings.

Lovely tea (pizzas, pasta, sandwiches and what not) was enjoyed by all present, along with Eng v NZ live from Durham on a giant screen. After tea it was Dartfordians turn to bat and an interesting run chase was on the cards. It must be said that overhead conditions were pretty much the same as at the start of Eltham innings. Tanveer and Pete Swain opened the bowling for Eltham and both of them bowled marvellously. Despite the opening partnership for Dartfordians lasting a little longer than Eltham's, runs were being scored at a painfully slow rate. Soon wickets started falling and in 5 overs Tan had taken more wickets (3) than the runs he gave away (2). Tan was a little unlucky not to finish with 4 wickets as a catch of the last ball of his spell was dropped. Next it was Kashif who also kept it tidy and impressed with his pace in his 4 overs without taking any wickets though.

Ricky and Colin were called upon next. Ricky started his first over with a couple of wides and usually it would be considered a poor start but not on this occasion as the last two deliveries of this over turned into YORKERS at searing pace and the result was 2 in 2. Ricky continued to impress throughout his spell of 8 overs and finished with 3 wickets in the end. On the other end Colin had started with his leg spinners as he does these days. Batsmen had no clue most of the time and hardly any runs were being scored of him. But being economical is not what Colin was looking for - he clearly was after wickets. So he turned to his lively medium pacers. Perhaps to motivate Colin, Skipper shouted to Mr Page if he wanted to start from Colin's end in a couple of overs. Now that was all Colin needed and the result was 3 wickets in quick succession to wrap up a well-deserved victory and a callous bowling performance. It may seem an easy win but those who have played against Dartfordians in the past reckon it was a very clinical performance against a tough opposition and everyone headed home upbeat for the next weeks clash against Churchleigh CC.

Trivia

For the first time in the season 20 wickets fell in a game - 15 batsmen bowled - Dartfordians had their share in it (9 of their 10 batsmen were out bowled - 10th batsmen managed to hit one in the air of Pete Swain's bowling, but your reporter was ready for it to pluck a one handed catch running backwards at deep mid-on).

Reporting: Asjad Mir