Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Petts Wood Tudor CC

A very enjoyable match against Petts Wood Tudor, who Eltham have played against for many years.

I've offered to put together a couple of paragraphs to complete our set of reports. However the match was a while ago so I hope any inaccuracies will be overlooked.

A very windy day as I remember but bright and dry. Eltham CC arrived at The Willett Ground upbeat and hopeful, despite failing to take their winning streak to 10 matches, we were still unbeaten, and hungry for more success.

A match against old foes awaited.

Batting first, Eltham forced the pace, despite the loss off Mir to a misjudged swat at a wide ball. Fisher and Bulpitt regularly finding the boundary to establish a good platform.

*** SPECIAL NOTE FOR PETTS WOOD VISITORS TO THE ELTHAM WEBSITE ***

The bowling at his point from Barnes and Lockett was steady and quite tidy. However the fielding was a little slipshod, particularly from Lockett who was unable at one point to decide to which end to throw the ball and so threw it towards the boundary. Of course no run was taken, that's not the Eltham way, (also everyone was too busy laughing!!)

At 60 for 1 things were looking rosy in the Eltham camp. However, fate was yet to play its cards, and 5 minutes later after 2 innocuous grubber balls, the score had turned to 71 for 3. Batsmen then continued to come and go at regular intervals, with only Page really threatening the bowling, ending on a creditable 45 (his highest score for the club??), having run out of partners.

Tea was taken with Eltham having reached a rather shaky 166 all out. Still after jelly and cakes and a visit to the roof of the pavilion to retrieve lost balls, (** Note: not cricket balls we hadn't batted that well! **) we took the field with enthusiasm. With no Redman or Cohen in the side, a different keeper was called upon and Mir took the gloves (*Did Colin start keeping ???)

Lively opening spells from both Tanveer and Swain kept the score down. Yet the total was always seemingly within reach as the Petts Wood middle order got going. Pick of the Eltham bowlers was Wouldham, who in taking 3 for 19 swung the game back towards an Eltham victory. Webber picked up the wicket of the dangerous Lockett, who was now sending the ball to the boundary for the right reasons!!

Eventually with the sting taken out of the Petts Wood batting, it was a case of whether we could winkle out the last couple of batsmen. Hucknall, unfortunately, was hit in the mouth and had to leave the field and so the last pair stood between Eltham and the start of another winning run.

DeMarzo Snr, playing without any fuss or bother, kept up his average (it must be infinite as I'm sure he never gets out!) and, with Webb, saw off the remaining overs.

All in all the draw was a fair reflection of the game and was deserved by both sides. It was good to be playing old friends again.

Reported by Peter Fisher