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

Crossbats v Clapham Nomads

Venue - Hampton wick

With the sun shining and the promise of a 1pm start beckoning, all 11 crossbats fronted at Hampton Wick for the match against the Clapham Nomads.Unfortunately, some of the Nomads were still adjusting to the unfathomable changes of daylight savings and turned up well over an hour late!

Without any further ado, the toss was won and Crossbats elected to bat first.Spiro was first to go, bowled by that straight one again - although, in fairness, it did stay a little low....

Tillson was next out in the very same fashion and Captain Dunbar fell shortly after to leave Crossbats wanting at 27/3.

Smith came to the crease with a focused look in his eye and set about the recovery mission. Wright deserted him after scratching around to compile a miserly 4.

Van Vuuren joined Smith at the crease and the pair began to steady the ship with some well directed dabbles through the slip cordon area and some lusty blows to the boundary.

Unfortunatley the resurection didn't last, with Smith(18) falling and shortly afterwards Van Vuuren(14), leaving the Crossbats tettering at 71/6.

A new addition spawned from the brother of our resident Australian war veteran joined the crossbats campand played with gay abandon, adding an entertaining 14.

Lawrence, Reeve, Jones and Older Gumbley all did their bit in pushing Crossbats through to a defendable totalof 112.

On the casual walk back to the pavilion for tea, the opposition vice captain, whom was of an undisclosed origin, began to amusingly poke fun at one of the larger members of his team, suggesting that if he was not so fat and slow he would be a much better bowler......thank goodness he wasn't in a position to comment on any crossbats physiques! Needless to say the rolly polly gentleman became disgruntled....

Tea was devoured and it was back to the pitch. Dunbar decided to stand in as wicket keeper due to injury of fellowplayers and the wealth of bowlers available to him.

Gumbley and Lawrence took the new ball and it wasn't long before Gumbley had the first wicket, a surprise catch to Dunbar behind the stumps. Lawrence pulled up lame after only four overs and was replaced by Van Vuuren.After one over he found his rhythm, firstly removing the increasingly confident Abdul for 21 and then, very next ball claiming the wicket of Hassan. Both wickets came by virtue of Tillsons clean pair of hands.

Wickets were beginning to tumble and Van Vuuren wanted more. He signalled the slower ball to Dunbar, who in turn crept up onto the stumps, just in time to claim a great caught behind as the batter edged into his gloves!

Another wicket shortly after left Van Vuuren with excellent figures of 4/11 off of his 7.Tillson chimed in with two of his own, first, a lovely bowled and second was another catch behind the stumps to the safe hands of Dunbar, leaving The Nomads in disseray at 62/7.

Crossbats sensed victory and as the rolly polly gentlemen came to the crease, there was just a feeling that something was going to happen...........and sure enough it did. Batting with his captain, RP was at the non strikers end. Their captain turned a ball just in front of squareand called yes to his partner..........fractionally before calling no! Unfortunately for RP, the sudden change in decision left some of his body heading to the strikers end and the other trying to coax it back to the safety of his crease.......

What resulted was RP losing his footing a crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust, hopelessly trying to propell himself back behind the white line........

A quick bit of thinking and the Crossbats had removed the bails and RP was adjudged Run Out.It was what followed that really sent us over the edge. Firstly, the throwing of the bat, followed by various amounts ofabuse to his fellow player, then some loud mutterings as he trudged from the pitch......

With one wicket remaining, Bob Jones got one to turn square, taking the bails of leg stump and leaving crossbats victors by 38 runs.

As we left the park and moved closer to the group of players it became evident the RP was yet to calm down, in fac the had seemingly become angrier and far more aggressive, threatening to knock the lights out of his captain and vowing that he would 'get him'. The captain, understandabley disturbed asked some of the Crossbats to escort him back to the changing room!

With RP safely locked in a car (with the window down just a little bit) we enjoyed a beer with the nomads and looked ahead to our next meeting.