Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs OD CUACO CC

With not a great weather forecast on the cards the Eltham team arrived for a fixture in new surroundings for most of us Vs OD (Old Dunstonians) CUACO.

The toss was lost by Matt (allegedly), and Eltham were asked to bat on a wicket that had been covered most of the morning (we're moving up in the world.) The innings started in light rain as Pete Fish and Will strolled to the middle. With rain in the air, it looked from the sidelines like both opening bowlers were getting a bit of movement. Then a ball which keep low and took the inside edge of Pete's bat bowled him. Matt then joined Will at the crease and both set about setting up a big score, using the pull shot to hit a number of boundaries (one of Matt's caught on camera by Imran using a lens bigger than himself.)

Both players saw the total pass 100 and Will quickly moved beyond 50. With the partnership on 109 Matt chipped one to mid-wicket which was taken very well on the run by the fielder.

Asjad (fresh from a photography masterclass with Imran and Tanveer) came in and with Will kept the scoreboard ticking. Then, with Will still going nicely a couple of shots did not sound good off the bat (he's not nicknamed "Splinters" for nothing you know), the skipper ran out with a couple of replacement bats and brought Will's back to show us a big crack on the back! The change of bat did not help Will who was soon bowled for a great inns of 73.

Asjad followed soon after, bowled by the spinner who then bowled Gary who got a ball which kept so low it disturbed a sleeping mole. Pete did not really get going but surely one CUACO fielder did not realise how hard The Tasmanator can hit a ball when he tried to control it with his foot instead of going for catch - he was lucky not to break his ankle. A couple of big blows from Colin got us up to good score of 193/7.

On Eltham taking to the field the heavens opened and the covers were swiftly put back on. After a delay of roughly half an hour, Eltham were able to go out and defend their total. Tan and Pete Swain opened the bowling with no luck with the left hand opener playing off his legs and clipping balls away for 4s and a big 6. With CUACO racing along at around 6 an over it looked like we could have been heading for defeat but the skip made a double change bringing Colin and himself on. Colin struck first trapping the opener LBW before then taking a super return catch off his own bowling. The skipper not to be outdone then take four wickets which included a stunning catch by Pete Swain in the deep - particularly impressive when you realised he'd slipped over big style before pouching the ball. Buckets.

CUACO had collopsed from 88 for 0 to 110/6, and the mood in the field had changed dramatically! Worse was then to come for CUACO when Colin claimed three wickets in an over (including a caught and bowled which he didn't bother to see until it hit his hands) and won the race to the 5-fer with the Skipper. With at least 10 overs left it looked as if we would snatch victory, but it was not to be as the last pair batted out the overs to end on 164/9. Colin ending with 5/27 and Matt 4/34. It was Colin and Matt who lead the team off and into the bar to enjoy Colin's jug of lager for his five wickets, a great way to end an enjoyable game.

Reporting:Gary Bill