Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Kingston Lefthanders CC

Following frantic efforts from The Fish and The Coach, we now have an AWAY game in Surrey starting at 2pm.

The address is:

Victoria Recreation Ground
Balaclava Road
Surbiton
KT6 5JL

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As is becoming the norm this season, a last-minute scramble to find opposition left the fixture in doubt right up until the last minute, when Derek's tireless foraging secured a tie in far-off Surbiton, against Kingston Left Handers.

After some initial reservations, the team packed themselves into various-sized cars for the trip around the M25. Mercifully, the traffic was good and the ground fairly easy to find and park at. Being a council-maintained ground, the pitch and outfield themselves weren't exactly Test standard (a fact admitted to by KLHCC themselves, and the cause for their imminent relocation), but once the raised square, unhelpful divots and drain covers were taken into account, it was actually quite a fun pitch to play on, due to the shortish boundaries and potential for comedy mis-fields.

The match started in the perfect manner for ECC, as opening batsman Hogg was caught - almost apologetically - by Matt off the first ball of the innings for a diamond duck. A second, far more difficult catch was taken shortly after, the same combination of Matt at silly mid off catching from Pad's bowling.

Just as it looked like it would be a football score, the third wicket partnership of Jake and Wells put together a sizable total, at one point threatening to reach 200, before the introduction of Derek The Destroyer took apart the middle order. The last five overs of the innings yielded few runs for the home team, with Pete S and Asjad taking a wicket apiece, the latter with the last ball of the innings. Tan produced a fine but ultimately fruitless display with the ball on his return to the team, and Matt also had a creditable go but without reward. Stand-in wicket keeper Colin had a sterling game with the gloves, in between chatting with the umpires :)

Tea was a nice array of the usual fare, the stand-out being the mini pork pie quarters. A nameless pork pie enthusiast in the ECC ranks declared them amongst the best he'd tasted. High praise indeed. A few swigs of sugary squash later, and it was our turn to bat.

Asjad and Pete F opened, and after an inauspicious start, we settled into a rhythm. ECC always looked like reaching the target but batsmen 3, 4 and 5 (Kash, Matt, Adam) all managed to get themselves in and get themselves out, leaving Asjad at the other end worried that we'd run out of wickets before reaching our target of 159.

John was unfortunate with a duck, and this brought Colin to the crease with thoughts of stabilising the ship with his legendary patience at the crease. All seemed to be going well until the 30th over when a debatable lbw decision from debut umpire Adam sent him back to the pavilion.

By this time, the hard work had been mostly done, and it was left to Pad to partner Asjad to the end, a job completed with six overs to spare, and leaving ECC with a much needed victory following recent cancellations and the minor humbling at Beckenham.

A welcome trip to the rather splendid Wetherpoons in Surbiton town centre followed, where there was plenty of banter with the opposition, and a potential fixture for next season discussed.

In short, a fun, interesting and well needed game against some fun and interesting opponents. But next time, let's hope they come to FCR.