A welcome return to form for Elstow II saw them clinically dispatch Winslow Town in a one-sided game at The Warren. Rani Thiarra and Ed Wisson will reap the plaudits for their second wicket century stand, but the win was underpinned by the bowling efforts earlier.
Winslow finished on 141-6 from 44, this was a good collective showing from Elstow’s pace attack. James Gurney, another find from the YFC Garden Cricket Board collective, finished with 3-24 from his overs and was well backed up by the brothers Southwell, Hani Thiarra and Rob Tebbutt. Sam Southwell, who recorded his first five-for for the club at Winslow last year, picked up a couple of wickets and Hani the remaining one. Pleasingly the extras column wasn’t as full as previous matches and this was a huge feature, along with the committed fielding, in reducing the away side to their total.
Winslow started their defence well enough with Michael Dickson departing in the first over, but this was as good as it got as Thiarra and Wisson put their attack to the sword. Thiarra’s innings contained one huge hooked six and a smorgasbord of fours; his signature wristy stroke-play to the fore in his first half century of the season. He departed to a return catch prior to completing the job, which left the honours to Rex Hedges and Wisson. Wisson’s maiden 50 of 2011 was well made despite surviving an early caught-behind chance. Looking strong off the front foot as always, his driving looked authorative and he was good value for his runs.
The honour of hitting the winning runs went to his YFC mucker who finished on 12 not out as Elstow wrapped up the eight wicket win in 22 overs.
M-o-M: Rani Thiarra; a classy, classy knock. Done well.
D-o-D: Rob Tebbutt; a litany of fielding discrepancies was compounded by a dropped cup in the tea interval. Doh!
