The 2nd XI secured a winning draw to maintain title aspirations away to Milton Bryan, but the day belongs to one man, Pete “Buzz” Burraway. An inspirational 137 plus wickets in a guest bowling stint was without doubt the highlight of a protracted day at Milton Bryan.
Elstow were put into bat from the off and Dickson and Ryalls set the foundations of what would work out to be a mammoth total on a batsmen’s wicket. Dickson was dropped early by one of a number of youth prospects at Milton Bryan, but rallied and made 15.
Enter Pete Burraway, ball one, boundary one, and it got better. Leaving no wide or short ball untouched Pete smashed his way all over Milton Bryan, a total of 3 balls went missing on his one man crusade against a lacklustre bowling attack that had simply no answer. Burraway raced to 50 picking off wayward deliveries and proving a powerhouse with the bat, not before disturbing a horse in the field over from the ground due to one monster of a 6. As a couple of wickets fell around him Pete was still there, and soon 50 was a 100. At this point it is worth noting this could have been a distinctly different match report had his umpteenth boundary resulting in a century found a more solid connection on my car!
Clearly dealing in boundaries Pete hit five 6’s on his way to a whopping 137 before falling LBW. Having put Elstow in such a strong position, Pete led the way for the middle and tail to have a bit of fun with the bat before Elstow closed out the overs on 272.
Tea came and went and Elstow knew that 10 wickets would mean a priceless victory to pull away from the rest of the league and keep up with the chasing pack. It started well, Phil “The Bear” Southwell dislodging one of the openers before two Nigel Ryalls diving catches saw Elstow making steady progress. A couple of the senior batsmen had found their blocking shoes for a number of overs, not threatening the score but the over count as the game would draw more and more in favour of the bore draw. A contentious caught behind decision was given not out by the opposition umpire despite a clear sound from the bat, he would go on to fall just short of 50.
Michael Dickson got in on the act with a couple of quick wickets before Pete Burraway then took the ball in what was already an expensive afternoon for the centurion (2 Jugs). Naivety in the Milton Bryan middle order showed as Burraway took two youngsters who came out for a swing in quick succession.
In truth the game was heading for a draw for a while, but Elstow still hoped the collapse could happen, Charlie Watson added another wicket but Elstow were left needing 2 wickets from the final over. A draw, but a winning draw which could prove helpful towards the inevitable shake up at the end of the season.
M.O.M – There’s only one Pete Burraway. Caused chaos across the fields and cars of Milton Bryan
Reported by Sam “Bear Cub” Southwell – Elstow CC 2nd XI Twitter Analyst
