Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Gravesend CC

After two away games to get the season underway it was back to our home ground of FRC for a fixture v Gravesend. The team news saw Gary making his first appearance of the season and George making his Eltham debut (welcome to ECC George.)

The forecast for the day was not great and the sight to greet us was grey skies with showers expected, this weather seeing Gary turn up in his beanie hat!!!! (A fine sight indeed - Ed)

Pete won the toss and we batted. Pete Fish and Matt Bulpitt opened the innings and both were quickly into their stride with cuts, pulls and many other good shots getting the scoreboard ticking along nicely.

About 45 mins into our innings came the showers we were promised. Ricky ran to his car and came back with 2 golf umbrellas much to the joy of Andy who was protecting the scorebook with the Paddy Power umbrella. We must say it was fair play to Gravesend, Pete and Matt to stay out in the field for which 10-15 mins were very very heavy rain.

With both Pete and Matt still enjoying the bowling their partnership moved past 100 with Matt first to his 50. Matt then upped the pace and brought up 150, before playing on to his stumps for 84 and unfortunately missing out on another Cup Final day 100. Colin was due in at number 3 but after waiting an hour and half for a wicket picked this time to go to the toilet.

So the skipper went in and together with Pete continued to score freely and Pete moved towards three figures only to see him playing a tired shot on 96 and being caught at slip, missing out on a deserved ton. Colin got his chance to go in for the final couple of overs and with Pete Swain got our total up to 234 for 2 , Pete Swain 27* and Colin 4*.

A wonderful tea was then had made by Mr Bulpitt (We don't think Matt actually made it between innings! - Ed) which also including smoked salmon rolls and also some very nice individually wrapped banana cakes.

So out we all went to field looking for the 10 wickets for our first win of season. Pad and Ricky opened the bowling and both started really well, Pad taking the opening wicket. After good tight opening spells both were replaced by Ash and Gary who both carried on keeping it tight and between them got the 2nd wicket via a run out.

Greg and George replaced Ash and Gary and went in search of further wickets but both were unsuccessful, so on came Colin with his leg spin and with us inside the final 20 overs and time beginning to run out, he struck with Matt taking a stunning catch on the deep mid wicket boundary. We had the breakthrough and had opened up an end, and skipper Swain then started an amazing run of bowling changes at one end. First Pad came back on and took 2 wickets, then Ricky took his first, then Ash also got in on the act to get Gravesend 8 down.

With only 4 overs left in the match the skipper came on and to continue with the changes trend took a wicket in his first over 9 down!! Gary replaced Colin at the other end and with his 5th ball was driven through mid-on, the shout of catch it from Gary was academic as everyone was around the bat, so off set Gary to field the ball and only to throw the ball in with a one-bounce direct hit from all of 40 yards, the cry of howzat went up as did the umpires finger. With Pad and Matt Bulpitt steaming towards him Gary set off with a catch-me-if-you-can celebration only to run out of steam and be jumped on by Pad and Matt (We wouldn't wish that fate on anybody - Ed)

So Gravesend were all out for 111 with 13 balls left and a win of 123 runs with a good all round team performance.

Reporter: Gary 'The Friar' Bill