Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Mottingham CC

Finally, the day had dawned. The much-awaited, inaugural Eltham CC Twenty20 competition was upon us. For the first-time ever, or at least in living memory, Eltham CC were playing, and praying, for silverware.

Tournament organiser Matt Bulpitt had clearly been busy and had everything under control, including the weather, as the home team began to arrive. He had post-it notes galore to remind him of all the little things that needed doing. However, it was Miss S. Bulpitt that made the first impression of the day. Having watched for a short while the antics of the Swain boys in the nets, she casually strolled over to have a bowl herself. Much to the disgust of Master E. Swain, she took only a couple of deliveries to kiss the top of the middle stump as is the Bulpitt way, and send the young batsman packing.

With the anticipation of a good day rising, both pitches were set up, and the hosts awaited the start. Soon Bulpitt and Swain were reading the rules to the captains of Mottingham, Old Colfeians and Dulwich Wanderers and making the draw for the Semi-Finals.

Some of the home team were keen to be pitted against Dulwich in the first game so that Will Bisley could take on his father and brother straight away. Some were opting for the more romantic idea of facing them in the final. Others just wanted to get on with it regardless of the opposition. As it turned out Eltham were to take on Mottingham on Pitch 1, whilst Old Colfeians would play Dulwich Wanderers on Pitch 2. Fingers crossed that both Bisley teams would win (or lose I suppose !!) to allow the rivalry to unfold.

Captain Swain won an important toss and decided to field, knowing that Eltham were good chasers of a total. He threw the ball to Tanveer and the game began. A comfortable opening couple of overs from Tan and Pete himself didn't allow the opposition a flying start and kept the scoring to a minimum. However the first wicket was secured by a run out and the Eltham team were on their way. A tidy first eight overs had kept the score down and when Fisher P and Ricky Webber started their spells the opposition were already struggling to post a decent total.

At this point, Mrs Wouldham decided to get involved to liven things up. She marched onto the pitch to declare that a Maggie May ringtone kept going off in the home team's valuables bag. Instantly, Matt Bevan knew that good friend Ray was calling ~ an individual, personal ringtone no less ~ and that it was not important. Mystery solved!

With wickets falling regularly and none of the batsmen really able to get going at all, Wouldham and Bisley were brought on to close out the innings. A low total was all Mottingham could manage, despite the fielders trying their best to help out: Bisley breakdancing in his attempt to pick up and throw to the bowlers end; Bevan diving full length (not far admittedly) in another attempted run-out only for the ball to trickle towards the stumps; Bulpitt leaving his 'handbrake' on when trying to take a catch in the deep; Bisley picking up another nickname ~ Vaseline ~ as the ball sped through his hands towards the boundary. 82 was their final total, surely a target easily within Eltham's reach.

Asjad and Bevan were sent out to begin the run chase and it was soon evident that slow and steady progress towards the target was the aim. Bevan making tip and run his preferred style whilst Asjad tended to be a little more stylish. Unsurprisingly it was Bevan who perished first, bowled by a good straight one - perhaps the side screen should have been rolled across into place! Bulpitt followed and after a couple of hefty blows perished for 12. Seeds came in and steadied the ship as Eltham closed in on victory. Asjad survived an interesting appeal for LBW which umpire Bulpitt seemed to give and then retract, claiming he was only pointing to where the ball was going down the leg side. Soon after victory was sealed with Asjad finishing unbeaten on 48 and Derek Seeds on 11. Eltham had won at a canter and eagerly looked forward to the final. Everything was going to plan.

Both teams strolled down to Pitch 2 to take a look at their opposition. Unfortunately for the Bisleys things weren't looking good, Old Colfeians had posted an impressive 155 and Dulwich were about 85 for 5 with 8 overs remaining (please correct any factual inaccuracies.)

As the spectator numbers grew, the Dulwich batsmen fought valiantly and edged towards the total that still looked out of reach. Soon the final over had arrived and hasty calls were made to the boundary to agree the rules regarding both teams scoring the same total as a tie would not suffice in this competition. It was decided that the team having lost fewer wickets would prevail and so 11 was needed from the final 6 balls. Unfortunately/fortunately, depending on your point of view, the young Colfeian spin bowler seemed to wilt under the pressure and two huge sixes later, the game was over. Dulwich would play Eltham in the final.

A fine tea was taken by all and hopes were high as the 3rd Place playoff and Final commenced.