Eltham CC

Match Report

Match report Eltham CC Vs Ide Hill CC

It was a warm and sunny afternoon, the kind of weather perfect for a game of cricket. The air was filled with anticipation as we prepared for the match at the idyllic field known as Ide Hill. Everyone was chatting excitedly, enjoying the calm before the start, just as we always do before the coin toss.

 

The captains made their way out to the middle to decide who would bat or field first. Today, there was a new captain for the opposition team, and an unusual feeling lingered—something different about this game. Their usual leader was absent, and it made the atmosphere feel a bit odd.

 

He won the toss and decided to field first. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself—have I ever known us to bat first at Ide Hill? It was a rare sight. The opening batsmen were the Swains who stepped up confidently to face the opposition bowling attack.

First Innings

Elliott was eager to make an impact. His first four scoring shots went for 16 runs, a solid start to the innings. The crowd watched eagerly as he dispatched some bad balls with ease—either punishing them or missing for a dot ball. Things seemed promising until Pete, trying to hit one out of the park, hit a high ball straight up into the air. The catch was taken easily, and Pete was out for nothing. Charlie Boylan came in next, looking to steady the innings.

 

Charlie also seemed to be caught off guard by the unfamiliar bowling. He was off the mark with a single and was defending when needed. Then suddenly, he cracked two boundaries in quick succession—nice shots that rang out across the field. But on the next ball, he was bowled out cleanly. The innings wasn’t going as smoothly as we had hoped.

 

Andrew stepped in, fighting hard for his 15 runs before he was caught out, but he had helped build a crucial 50-run partnership with Elliott. Elliott was now the key player, steering the team’s efforts in the right direction.

 

Brad came in at number five, bringing a right-hand and left-hand combo that should have troubled the bowlers. After a couple of cheeky singles and a boundary, he was caught off some questionable bowling. Looking at the team sheet, we had a strong batting lineup, yet we found ourselves down on wickets. After getting a single we all clapped and cheered Elliot for he had reach a half century. It was short lived as he was caught on 55.

 

Next up was George Boylan, known for his versatility with both bat and ball. Unfortunately, George was out cheaply, scoring just 5 runs before being bowled by the same bowler who dismissed Charlie—another delivery that seemed to be just a pie, tossed down carelessly. It was clear most of the wickets so far had fallen to deliveries that weren’t exactly the best balls, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the day’s bowling.

Pad was the next player to fall after a solid innings, during which he scored a respectable 39 runs. His innings mainly featured boundary shots, with only seven singles, showcasing his ability to hit easy-on-the-eye shots. There was a moment of confusion when he called for a yes shot on a single that wasn’t there, only to be advised to stay in his crease by Colin. Colin himself contributed a useful 28 not out, helping to stabilize the innings.

 

A warm welcome was extended to Lyndsey, making his return after an injury last season. Everyone hoped he would deliver a strong finish to the Eltham innings. As the game approached its end, with only a few overs left before tea, Lyndsey played a high, slow, loopy ball bowled by Jon Pulley and hit a boundary. On the very next ball, the fielding team appealed for a caught-behind. The umpire did not raise the finger, but Lyndsey knew he had nicked the ball and walked off the field.

 

Clinton then came in to face the final few deliveries, adding 10 more runs to the total. With the innings concluded, the players headed off for brilliant tea that is always provided by Ide Hill.

 

Second Innings

 

The captain faced the important task of selecting his bowlers, knowing there was just an hour of play remaining plus 20 overs to bowl. He first discussed with Colin about keeping wicket for the initial hour, then swapping the gloves with Elliott, who might need to bowl later in the innings. Colin had a reputation for taking wickets later in games, making him the ideal choice for the later stages. After planning the strategy, the captain named George and Clinton as his opening bowlers.

 

George and Clinton took to the pitch, with George delivering a few gentle balls. The first over was slow, as the captain had emphasized the importance of controlling the run rate and slowing the ball coming back from the keeper to the bowler during this crucial hour. Clinton followed instructions, bowling a slow delivery that was slapped high in the air towards square leg. Andrew was stationed there, waiting with open palms, and he took a comfortable catch, claiming the first wicket of the game.

Their batsmen were being restricted and pressure was mounting. A few more dot balls followed and the opening partnership between George and Clinton was proving effective for the captain. Both bowlers bowled with tidy figures, and before long, the hour had passed.

 

During the break for drinks, the team decided to bring on the spinners, as the wicket was starting to offer some strange bounce. One previous ball pitched by Clinton on the popping crease bounced over the wicket from a straight delivery. The next spell was by Charlie and Lyndsey, renowned for their kings of spin bowling. Charlie had taken five wickets the previous weekend, and Lyndsey was returning for his first game, was he going to pick up from where he had left off last season before his injury. The bowlers faced many unlucky chances, with the batsmen just avoiding getting out. The captain commented, “Their batsman is like a cat—he’s got nine lives,” highlighting that lady luck was favouring the oppo. This was to soon run out for Jerrom, as they called for a quick single off what was going to go down as leg byes, Elliott sprung into action and chased down the ball, removing keepers’ glove, picking up the ball and hitting the stumps with a direct hit from a tight angel. Gone well short of the crease.

 

This run out proved a pivotal moment in the game as they were cruising towards a victory with the luck they had been having.

 

As the innings progressed, the captain made another change, bringing on himself and Colin. The game was nearing its climax when Pad struck twice in quick succession, both wickets caught superbly by Pete Swain in the slips. Colin then added a wicket to his tally as well. The game ended in a draw, leaving both teams satisfied with their efforts in a competitive match.

 

Over and out the Admiral