Sir Richard Hadlee. Daniel Vettori. Geoff Couling. It must be something in the water down there. A terrific match from mid-Beds’ favourite Kiwi with bat and ball saw him inspire his teamates to an epic five run victory over fellow-title challengers Sharnbrook. His innings underpinned his team’s 130-5 then his bowling wrestled a hugely entertaining encounter Elstow’s way in the last over to claim the points and set up an intriguing end to the Indoor VI’s season.
Batting first, Elstow got off to a steady start. The welcome return of Nigel “SupaNige” Ryalls saw him paired at the top of the order with Rani Thiarra, the former farmed the strike while Thiarra showed further evidence of his credentials as opener, timing the ball and choosing his singles. Couling came in following the first of the game’s several run outs and bossed the situation with trademark maturity, singles were scampered and boundaries bludgeoned, before departing himself via an over-ambitious quick run. Will Wisson’s brief stay at the crease left last pair Jimmy Tanswell and Charlie Watson to see off the last few overs, shepherding Elstow to the morning’s highest total.
Wary of the opposition’s powerful batting line up and the need to limit extras and restrict boundaries, Will Wisson needed a spirited response from his troops and he wasn’t to be disappointed as Sharnbrook were made to work very hard for their runs. The Mr Hyde side of the mild-mannered Tanswell fist-pumping after every dot ball signalled Elstow’s intent here.
The skipper himself spearheaded the attack and was rewarded with the sight of his opposite number playing-on in his first over. Sharnbrook’s second opener then beat it as Thiarra took his first of two well judged catches off the wall, for Wisson’s second wicket in his spell. The experience of Tanswell and Couling were charged with keeping Sharnbrook out and after Tanswell’s metronomic accuracy affected a run out, Couling took an elastic catch off his own bowling to leave the game in the balance.
14 off six the requirement with eleven overs gone and the free hitting, precociously talented Hussain The Younger the one man capable of scuppering Elstow hopes. Boundary, scampered run, dot ball, dot ball. Miscued heave high into the offside. Thiarra underneath it. Elstow jubilant.
The last ball, a formality. The title run in, anything but.
M-o-M: Geoff Couling. The thinking man’s Jesse Ryder. Terrific match.
D-o-D: Play Cricket website. Stats for this game are there none. Oracle or orifice, dear reader, I ask you?
