Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Belhus CC

Eltham's new Skipper, Gary bill, speaks - and his loyal team listen!

A hectic lead up to the first game of the season began early in the week with Eltham only having 8 players. By Thursday this had increased to 10 with Eliott set to play alongside his dad again and Colin bringing a friend. By Firday afternoon we had a full 11 with Al also bringing a friend.

So a pre-season meal on the Friday night at the Reku-Zen in Orpington was a very enjoyable night, but on his arrival Pete dropped the bombshell that Eliott now had a school game and we were back to 10. Not for long, however, as up stood Henry with his arms open wide saying "I'm in" much to Lesley's amazement as H was also playing bowls on the Sunday!!!

So game day and when Pete Fisher picked up Gary there came more team news, with Matt Bulpitt having called around 11am to say his plans had changed and he was now available and would H mind stepping down? A phone call to H and Matt confirmed H was fine and he was now playing, a quick visit to H by Pete and Gary brought the words from H "I'm fine about it, I'm going to put my feet up and watch the football, but make sure Matt gets the runs and wickets I would have got!"

So we arrived at the ground and talking about the fixture the year before Pete Swain informed us that he had already spotted the guy who took 7 for 7 the year before, a smile returned to Pete's face though when he informed us he was not playing due to a fractured wrist.

Gary went to do his first toss as skipper and although he called incorrectly got what he wanted when the oppo skipper opted to bat first.

So the Eltham team hit the field with Brad making his debut and Stuart and Ollie stepping in as guests for the day.

Tan bowled the first ball of our new season and was getting bounce and movement straight away whilst at the other end Pete Swain was not getting as much bounce but good movement off a fuller length.

Pete and Tan were bowling well and runs were hard to come by so when Gohil went for a big shot across the line and was bowled by Tan, Eltham had their breakthrough. Tan bowled an excellent opening 5 over spell before being replaced by Colin and his medium pace, but it was Pete who took the next wicket with a full Yorker that bowled Randell.

Colin at his end was keeping things very tight and after Pete had bowled through his 8 overs taking 1/15 Gary came on and was bowling a good length and keeping the runs down. Everybody in the field was keeping things tight and putting pressure on the batsmen, pressure that finally got Colin his first wicket with Stu (Colin's Best Man) taking the catch at point. Pete Swain was quick to point out to Stu that had he dropped the chance, it was a long walk back to Maidstone as Colin wouldn't have let him in his car!

Eltham keep plugging away and wickets keep coming, Gary getting one to turn through the gate first ball after drinks whilst Colin also picked up another. Stu then replaced Gary and even though he only bowled 2 overs picked up a wicket taking the edge of Stonham's bat, Andy taking a good low catch going forward.

Col finished his spell picking up another wicket, Pete Swain taking the catch at short fine leg to see Col finishing with great figures of 3/13 off his 8 overs.

Matt Bulpitt replaced Colin and had a good rhythm straight away bowling with good pace. So it was no surprise when he soon had a wicket, but then came Matt's new slower ball which came out all wrong to which Matt shouted out "that's my Dernbach ball!" Let's just say that like Jade's in the recent T20's it needs to be worked on ;-)

Al was bowling at the other end and apart from a couple of wides was bowling a good line and then made sure every bowler had a wicket when his friend Ollie took a smart catch at slip. Matt switched ends and managed to take the final wicket to complete an excellent day in the field, Belhus 74 all out.

A lovely tea was had which included a few bowls of pasta and even a curry!!!

So 75 to win and out went Pete Fish and Matt to set about the target. Some good bowling and still not a easy pitch to score on meant a slow start then Matt trying to up the tempo top edged on to his upper arm and the ball looped to gully where a low catch was taken.

Brad came out for his first innings and a couple of shots to square leg went straight to fielders which meant he could not get off the mark before he edged to the keeper meaning he got to meet "Amelia" later that day.

Ollie manged to edge a ball through the slips for 4 before he gloved a ball to the keeper leaving us 16/3. A partnership was needed and Colin and Pete set about doing this, both ticking it over with ones and twos with a few boundaries in there as well.

With the finish line in sight though both fell quickly, Pete to a great catch at mid-wicket for 23 and Colin to a juggling catch at the 3rd attempt on the boundary for 27.

Fortunately Pete Swain and Al saw us home with the winning run being a wide. A 5 wicket win and a good all round team performance.

Finally special thanks to Stu and Ollie for stepping in to play (let us know if you fancy playing again!) and congrats again to Brad on his debut.

Reporter: Gary "The Friar" Bill