Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Ide Hill CC

Eltham continued their fine start to the season with a convincing win against a slightly under-strength Ide Hill. The start of the game saw Ricky with the great unveiling of the new scoreboard which was greeted with much oohing and aahing from the assembled throng. With Andy Redman turning up just to provide the new scorebook too, we were all set, although it was noted that Mr Bisley had not improved his taste in undergarments.

Skipper Bill won the toss and put Ide Hill in to bat on the basis that in a time game we always had the option to play for the draw if necessary. Tanveer bowled very economically, but his only success was in bowling the previously prolific Brown with an absolute peach of a delivery which left the batsman befudled as he walked back to the pavillion. As always Ricky was keeping things tight at the other end. The scoring was slow but wickets were looking hard to come by.

Bulpitt (after claiming Tanveer's wicket delivery was once again down to his coaching) was then brought into the action to put his money where his mouth was. With Pad looking pacey from the other end, the game continued mcu as it had before - slow scoring, not many wickets. Calthorpe continued to hold the Ide Hill innings together, and Eltham were well aware that he had previously scored a century against us. Pad was unlucky not to have a number of wickets again - the atmosphere being punctured by a scream of pain at one point following a play and miss which made your correspondent think that Pad had trodden on some sort of hidden spike in his delivery stride.

Wouldham and Bisley then came on and turned the tide in eltham's favour. For some reason Calthorpe tried to pull Colin's first ball but as always the ball skidded on and the batsman was on his way. Swain held on to a stinging drive at mid-off from the bowling of Bisley, and Tanveer also got in on the catches despite the antics of Asjad in front of him. Another couple of wickets from Colin and it was all over, Ide Hill only having nine players.

Following a nice tea from Ricklar, Asjad and Pete Fisher started off for Eltham in the traditional fashion, although Asjad being bowled by an outswinger for a duck in the first over was not in the script. Pradeep came in at 3 with ete's words - "play yourself in man!" ringing in his ears. Alas, he was then undone having a go at a straight one and at 4 for 2 Eltham were in a little trouble. That was as good as it got for Ide Hill, with both Petes looking untroubled. Fish got his second fifty in three innings, and Swainy got a nice 40 not out. Congratulations to Pete Fisher who, during this innings, became only the second Eltham player to pass 12,000 runs. Well batted from all of us at the club, Pete.

Another enjoyable game and a nice opposition. Well played all.