Another bold middle order batting performance saw Elstow 1st XI record a resounding six wicket victory over Eggington Forresters at The Warren.
The visitors left Elstow on the starting blocks early on as a lacklustre bowling performance on a slow wicket was met by Zahid Khan’s vicious onslaught as he amassed 75 in double-quick time. It was the spinners that brought the home side back into the game as Dan Course and Rob Leddy picked up wickets freely with a mixture of ripping deliveries, good hands in the outfield and poor shot selection. Eggington folded after Course’s removal of Khan and, after the returning student picked up his fifth wicket in his final over, Hani Thiarra and Rob Tebbutt blasted out the final two batsmen, Elstow set a challenging 178.
The task was made trickier when Dan Wisson and Phil Johnson departed early in the chase as the opening bowlers made the ball talk. However, Dave Riddle and the inform Aussie Leddy came together and soon found their feet in typical counter-attacking style, plundering fours and sixes at will as the Eggington attack floundered in response. Both fell after recording excellent half centuries, leaving Pete Burraway and Geoff Couling to finish the win with eleven overs to spare.
Horner Shearing Man of Substance of the Day: Dan Course, turning the ball prodigiously on his return from university, he turned Elstow’s fortunes around in the field. Quality stuff.
Clag Nut of the Day: Henry ‘Two Teas’ Wisson. Don’t attempt the complicated business of sorting out the season’s Teas Rota when seven beers and a couple of ropey home brew ciders into your cousin’s Stag Do. Learn from this.
Johnno
