Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs LESSA Aquila CC

On a bright sunny day a strong Eltham side, boosted by the return of Colin from holiday, arrived to play LESSA Aquila at Footscray Road. Whilst Matt was out losing the toss (a recurring theme this season) Colin pulled out a couple of bottles of cold French beer from his bag which a couple of members of the team managed to polish off quite quickly. Now that's the way to start a game!

Eltham were put in to the field in what was agreed as a forty over game. Richard Page opened proceedings, partnered by Pete Swain from the other end. It was Pete who struck first with a ball that moved a bit off the pitch and too off-stump. Both Richard and Pete bowled very tightly and with some outstanding fielding, runs were not flowing as LESSA would have liked. A beamer from Richard (not meant, of course, and for which he apologised immediately) saw the batsman understandably unsettled, and in Pete's next over he cut a ball straight to Pete Fisher at point - a smart catch again from our reliable pair of hands.

Richard then got in on the act with an outstanding inswinging Yorker taking out the batsman's leg stump. Before long both opening bowlers had bowled straight through their 8 over spells, and Colin was brought into the attack. With French sand dripping off him as he ran in (he had actually driven straight from the ferry port to get to the ground with fifteen minutes to spare) Colin's third ball induced an edge to Andy Redman behind the stumps, who had to move forward to take the chance.

Ian Cressy then came on at the other end and was on the money immediately but without much luck. A steady partnership developed for LESSA until Ian and Asjad, who had replaced Colin, managed to take a wicket apiece. With Ian then also dismissing the LESSA skipper with a superb slower ball a score below 100 was on the cards, but a few hefty blows from the younger members of the LESSA batting lineup took the score safely past the century mark. When Asjad took two more wickets with the help of catches from Colin and Derek Seeds, it was time for wily spin maestro Alan Horne to enter the fray. A target of not much more than 130 was looking possible, and with Alan bowling the batsmen thought they would be able to hit a few big shots, but Alan was in no mood to give away runs and only a couple of 1's and 2's were possible until the last ball, which was skied in the direction of Matt, who steamed in to take the catch. A fantastic fielding effort meant a target of 127 was needed.

As we went in for tea we were faced with the delights of mini Cornish pasties, roast potatoes and even Earl Grey tea. High living indeed, and very much enjoyed by the assembled Eltham masses (or the Eltham Massive, as Colin was called shortly after he had partaken of an extra potato...)

As the run chase was undertaken, Pete Fisher and Matt Bulpitt got us off to a good start and at a good rate. When the partnership went past 50 with no concerns it looked like it was going to be an early finish, but Matt skied a ball (a repeat of a shot he had played a couple of overs earlier which had been dropped) and was caught well in the deep. The runs continued to flow, however, but when Pete and then Asjad were both bowled, it was left to Colin and Pete Swain to continue the chase. Pete was rather lucky to escape a run out attempt, with the fielding team managing to mess up with Pete stranded mid-pitch. With the score moving past 100 with only 3 wickets down, Pete then got caught off another skier.

Enter yours truly, Gary Bill - but not for long, soon dismissed LBW decision which Alan Horne had no option but to give LESSA's way. Colin then hit a couple of blows down the pitch which saw us home, accompanied by Derek.

A good win with plenty of overs to spare. In the bar after the game the beer was going down nicely and as it was a bank holiday after most of us felt we could have stayed there all night, but all good things come to an end and we all made our ways home in the knowledge that we had just completed our fourth away win on the trot.

Reporting: Gary "Don't email, use the postal service!" Bill