Elthorne match report

On a blustery day in Chiswick, Crossbats assembled for their match against Elthorne.
Elthorne had proved to be tough competitors in the past and today would be no different.

Elthorne won the toss and elected to field and the exciting crossbats opening pair of
Winch and Spiro took guard.

Little did the other Crossbats know that Spiro was in the mood to break a record or two. His first record came after facing only 28 balls................ 0 Not Out, what a master, what an effort. Winch chipped in with Spiro for the second record of the day...24 runs compiled after 10 overs - The scene was set for a blistering day of high intensity cricket.

The message was politely relayed to 'GET ON WITH IT'......and the message was taken on board as this pair began to dominate. At the half way stage, Spiro and Winch had managed to get the run rate up to near 4 and had set a good platform for the big hitters lower down the order.

The next record to tumble was one in a slightly more positive vein........the opening partnership. After almost 30 overs at the crease, Spiro and Winch had compiled an impressive 136 for the 1st wicket, before Spiro was run out for 32 trying to up the intensity.

Winch Followed shortly after for an excellent 86, when he was bowled by the part time spinner.

All the while, Captain Dunbar's mother, fresh off the boat from Australia and looking a little worse for wear, had been waiting patiently for her favourite son to make an appearance. She had toiled through the slow start and rejoiced at the increasing run rate and had also been privy to rumours that her young Shandy could hit a ball.

Now came his turn and he wanted to make an impression.

And he did just that with a first ball duck - thanks for coming mum.

Wright And Van Vuuren needed to get going but unfortunately neither of them succeeded to any great level, adding 9 and 6 respectively.

Fitch was in next and started putting bat to ball. Tillson at the other end also new what was required and began hitting out ferociously!

Fitch added a valuable 15 before being dismissed and Gourlay joined Tillson for the final onslaught. And what a quality onslaught it was with Tillson freeing the arms and hitting some wonderful boundaries and an excellent pull shot for six.

Gourlay chimed in with a boundary and a six of his own before falling. Barnes joined Tillson for the final over and a bit. Not known for his big hitting, Barnes surprised and impressed all with a first ball straight driven four, followed up by a quick single and affording Tillson the last few balls, of which he made the most of, bludgeoning boundaries and finishing on an unbeaten 34* and guiding crossbats through to 223 on the back of a very solid platform.

Tea was taken quickly as time was running short.

Previous thoughts that captain Dunbar entertained about wicket keeping were pushed aside as, in a last ditch attempt to impressive the old dear, he took the new ball, along with Van Vuuren.

And he had immediate success, sending the opener back to the hut on the last ball of the first over with a clever slower ball. Van vuuren toiled at the other end, keeping the pressure
on. Dunbar struck again in the second over with a well directed delivery that rocked middle stump backwards........and Van Vuuren continued to toil from the other end.
Dunbar's 3rd over saw yet another wicket off another slower ball, caught behind the wicket by the athletic Winch. Van Vuuren came close but just couldn't cash in.
And a fourth wicket was Dunbars when again the use of the slower ball bamboozled the batsmen......Unfortunately for Dunbar, his mother was fast asleep in his car and missed the
entire show!

The pair continued to pile on the pressure and at the end of their spells, Dunbar had claimed 4/21 and the unlucky Van vuuren no wicket for 24.

Tillson and Reeve continued and made immediate inroads. Reeve struck first with a beautiful bowled, reminiscent of his early season form.

The key wicket of Elthornes vice captain came via Tillson - Last year, this chap single handedly won Elthorne the match, but there was to be no repeat today when he holed out to James Gumbley for a dogged 28.

The rest was academic as Tillson continued his great day, claiming a further 3 scalps with some impressive bowling, finishing as Man of the Match with figures of 6 Overs, 1 Maiden, 4/14, to add to impressive showing with the bat.

Almost as if it were written in the script, Fitch came on to clean up the tail and he did so in spectacular fashion. He came steaming into the crease and delivered the ball with a very Fitch like accuracy. As Fitch's arms propelled him forward, the batsmen too came forward to meet the delivery, only to be surprised by it as it popped up off the track. He tried to defend it, but all he could do was spoon it in the direction of the flailing Fitch, who, on his way down to the ground managed to clasp onto the ball and claim a fantastic caught and bowled.

A fitting finish to an exciting days cricket.

It's Willesden next up and Crossbats will be looking to make it 3 on the bounce.

Scorecard