Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Mottingham CC

After three, nearly four months of pre season nets the season opener came around. For the first time in our full format of the game we were to play our fellow FRC tenants - Mottingham CC.

The week leading up to the game saw the best weather of the year so far, this prompted yours truly to check the Sunday forecast and naively state on the club website that the weather for Sunday was to follow suit. The chorus of replies was unanimous in stating that anything other than this prediction would result in me having to change my name by deed poll to Mud. Not only had I put my fellow team members for the day on edge, but now Mrs Page was a little concerned about the pending new surname.

On to match day......

We awoke to a cloud covered morning, but this was no different to other mornings in the week so I was not concerned. Mrs Page convinced me it would be a good idea to take our mind off the weather and pending new surname by looking around the local boot sale for some new junk to clutter up the house and loft before chucking it out a few months later.Needless to say, whilst wandering around all the clutter the heavens opened and we got drenched.

By now there were serious concerns in the Page household, these were compounded further when driving back past the venue for today's game only to see it surrounded by police cars and the entrance taped off due to an incident having occurred there. The police were unable to confirm if the venue would open later that day.

Fortunately the venue was opened and as requested by the skipper the team began to assemble shortly after twelve to help with the set up of the pitch. The majority of the team were roused by the skippers call to arms, with Mr Redman aka Hannibal (more on that later) typically first to arrive.

Come ten minutes to start time we were still a couple short and needless to say they were the two opening bowlers for the day - Tan and Khurram.

This I suppose was typical given that Tan has a bit of previous on turning up at the last minute and sods law given that I had just won the toss and elected to have a bowl first. Fortunately Tan arrived with a few moments to spare and was able to take the ball for the first over, but with no sign of the debutant Khurram, a last minute change of plan was required. Matt (Monica) Bulpitt had been warming up since breakfast so was ready to step into the breach and opened the bowling from 'the other pitch' end.

Tan started off with decent pace but was struggling to find his line with the ball swinging about a fair bit. Monica on the other hand found his line and length almost immediately and was making it difficult for the Mottingham openers to score freely. A quick side note here as to this new name for Mr Bulpitt. Whilst bowling Monica seemed to develop a tennis style grunt upon releasing the ball. After consultation with Mr Fisher it was decided it resembled more Seles than Sharapova.

Tan soon started to find his rhythm and was hitting a good line with decent pace. The two opening bowlers were keeping things very tight, this coupled with some energetic and enthusiastic fielding, despite being a man short, meant that the opening batsmen were struggling to put many runs on the board. A few overs in and Khurram arrived, taking to the field to bring us back up to a full eleven. Almost as soon as he did, Monica sent a clear message to the stand in skipper for the day that he wasn't going to be taken off, by taking the first wicket of the new season by removing the Mottingham skipper. A decent ball that rose on the batsman who was caught playing on the up and holed out to Page at mid off.

The number three bat arrived at the crease for a brief stay, as Tan, not to be outdone by Monica promptly replied with a wicket of his own, clean bowling the batsman with a tidy in-swinger.

The Eltham players were feeling pretty confident at this point, bowlers well into their stride, few runs on the board and a couple of early wickets. The Mottingham number 4 batsman shelved any chances of complacency setting in as he quickly got after the bowling, hitting some fine boundaries. It must be noted though that he only narrowly survived a fine slower ball from Monica early in his innings.

After 7 fine overs Monica was replaced by Khurram from the ???other pitch??? end. Despite some fierce pace he was struggling to find his line and a wayward couple of overs followed. During this time Tan continued to try and search for the breakthrough from the other end to what was becoming a tidy partnership for Mottingham.That breakthrough finally came as Tan took the wicket of the troublesome number 4 batsman. After going for one big shot too many he played the ball on to his stumps. Tan ended with a couple of wickets and evidence that his fine form and consistency would continue this season.

The removal of the number 4 bat brought about a change in the bowling from both ends. Khurram was brought on to replace Tan from the New Eltham end and Rikki came on to replace Khurram. Khurram seemed far happier from this end and started to find a decent rhythm that more resembled what we had all seen in pre-season nets. Rikki wasted no time in finding his line and length. The batsmen were getting frustrated as Rikki continuously put the ball on the spot and dried up the flow runs. His breakthrough came when he put in a shorter ball which the batsman attempted to pull, only to top edge it to Tanveer who was fielding at short fine leg. Tan ended up on his backside, but fortunately he held the ball firm to claim a fine catch.

Rikki was soon in the wickets again as he took a carbon copy wicket to that of Monica's as the batsman hit the ball on the up for a comfortable catch to Page at Mid off.

It was now Khurram's turn to get in on the act and grab a brace for himself, twice in fact in one over, as he clean bowled both batmen with fast accurate deliveries that they never got close to. Khurram had one more over and was then replaced with the Coach from the New Eltham road. His brief simple - unleash the leggies and "clean em up". This change in bowling also brought about Mr Redman's alter ego - "Hannibal". Andy was to stand up to the stumps for the coach, but after a few times in previous seasons having been caught in the face with the ball and spilling claret (or should I say Chianti) over the pitch, he has purchased a baseball style face mask that resembles Hannibal Lecter.

Sure enough, the coach's first over saw him make an impact. Immediately Derek found his line and length, but it was his one slightly shorter ball which the batsman swung furiously at that got him his wicket. The batsman unleashed a huge swing and caught the ball well, only to see a flying Monica at mid-wicket snare his first catch of the season.

Next it was Mr Chairman's turn to get in on the act. Derek had been moved from slip to short fine leg. The next ball from Rikki, the batsman edged to slip and a fine quick reaction one handed catch was taken by Henry.

One wicket to go with both Derek and Rikki seeking it.

Derek came close in his next over as a diving Wouldham and a diving chairman couldn't quite reach an outside edge as the ball fell agonisingly between them. Rikki then completed a fine bowling display to pick up his fourth wicket of the innings as he clean bowled their remaining batsman.

Rikki led the team off the field of play for an early tea. Mottingham had posted 103 runs.

Pete Fisher and Colin opened the batting in our run chase. The pair wasted no time in getting under way and putting some runs on the board. They started to despatch the opening bowlers to all corners as the runs stacked up. This brought about a couple of early bowling changes as the opposition skipper tried in vain to freshen things up and get the breakthrough they were after. At this rate it was looking increasingly likely that we may open the season with a convincing ten wicket win. Both Fisher and Wouldham were looking extremely comfortable with everything that was getting thrown at them. They soon went past the 50 mark to much pleasure and appreciation of the Eltham players viewing form the boundary edge.

Wouldham was rather unfortunate in his dismissal as he eventually played on to a fine delivery by the Mottingham left arm leg spinner. Wouldham got to the pitch but caught a bottom edge only for the ball to roll on to the wickets and dislodge the bails. A decent 19 from Mr Wouldham and some very good signs for the coming season.

Mr Bevan went in at 3. Matt has been in fine form in pre season nets and wasted no time in carrying this over to a match situation. His left handed stance nullified the effectiveness of the spinner who had taken the wicket of Colin and both Fisher and Bevan continued to rack up the runs. With the end in sight Fisher was closing in on his 50. However Bevan was also knocking the ball to all corners. It was touch and go as to whether we would run out of runs to chase before Fisher reached his 50. Fortunately Fisher hit the winning runs with a hooked 4 taking him to his 50. Bevan finished with a brisk 26 not out.

A fine start to the new season. A convincing 9 wicket win, some decent fielding, excellent bowling with Rikki deserving a special mention for his 4 for 12. And of course a solid showing with the bat with a special mention to Mr Fisher for his 50 not out.

Richard 'Bambi' Page reporting......