A dull encounter at The Warren saw Elstow’s bowlers do their averages the power of good and give their team’s survival chances a huge boost by underpinning the efforts of a much needed seven wicket win for the Seconds. The pace battery of Phil ‘Bear’ Southwell (10-1-27-0), Hikmat Waqar (10-3-32-1), Steve Russell (10-3-30-1) and Will Wisson (9-2-22-1) supported by Nick Lewis all were instrumental in keeping their visitors under 150 runs on a decent batting track. Milton Bryan simply never got going and Elstow’s bowlers began to notch up the maidens and apply the pressure as a result.
The fielding at times didn’t match the intensity of the bowling and the consensus was that the total flattered the visitors a little. The steadfast Woodhouse (23 ret’d hurt) looked in decent touch until he was yorked out of action by Bear, his gammy toe meaning an early end to his afternoon. Stillman lived up to his name as he patiently accrued his 48 before being run out by Waqar with two overs remaining- a deserved half century would have rewarded his stoicism.
Michael Dickson was alacrity personified and made a polished 37 at the top of the order, Will (31) similarly got amongst the bowling and his dim-witted demise when well set triggered a mini collapse that threatened to enliven proceedings. Ed Wisson dollied up a catch from a leading edge to midwicket for a paltry three then Dicko nicko-ed behind and heartbeats began to murmur, slightly.
Pete Burraway took over from where he left off in the earlier match between the two teams by panning the bowlers to all parts, while Nigel Ryalls took the opportunity to reacquiant himself with the middle of his bat as he provided classy support to Buzz’s bombast. The victory target of 143 was achieved just after the drinks interval; Burraway, appropriately, hitting the winning runs and with it nicely setting up the Relegation Thirty-Pointer at Winslow Town next week.
M-o-M: Both openers and all bowlers did well but the irrepressible Burraway scoops the honour with his crusade to finish this forgettable fixture as briskly as possible.
D-o-D: The Wisson brothers. Will for running himself out when he should’ve gone on to make a big score, Ed for similar crimes against batting and me for being the most haplessly inept scorer since Des Walker in the 1991 FA Cup Final.
