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Australia defeated in inaugural
Elstow Ashes
Over £2500 raised from an amazing weekend
A weekend full of entertainment, humour and drama culminated in Elstow lifting the coveted
urn in the inaugural Elstow Ashes.
Five minutes before the scheduled close of play on Sunday evening, Phil Johnson
hit the winning runs to gain victory by seven wickets after an enthralling see-saw match.
Friday mega-storms
had worried the masses and the pitch cover bore the brunt, but come Saturday morning the sun was beaming down on The Warren
and once 'The Real Aussie Dave' had arrived, the game commenced with Elstow skipper Tom Wisson inserting the visiting
convicts. It was to prove a difficult morning session for the Australians as Stuart Robson and Big Al Phillips tore through
their batting line up. Despite a vicious 35 from honorary Australian Shabz Hussain, they were left seven down at lunch and
staring down the barrel.
However, a mighty onslaught after lunch first from man mountain Steve 'Symo'
Reid and then Mick Newbury brought Australia up to 142. And their momentum continued as Hussain and Newbury produced quick,
hostile spells for the fired up visitors to push Elstow well and truly on the back foot at 50 for 7, the former snaffling
a dramatic hat trick. Out came young gun Hani Thiarra and with Paul Jackson he began to rebuild. The quicks were replaced
by spin and the ball sent to the stand and beyond. Despite the loss of Jacko, Thiarra, buoyed by the packed Douglas Jardine
Stand, marched to his maiden fifty and seemlessly onto 85 with a combination of big hits and carressed cover drives. He and
the supporting Tebbutt both eventually succumbed but only after Elstow had amazingly gained a 27 run lead to carry into the
second innings.
With the flurry of wickets throughout the day, there was still an hour's cricket scheduled
and instead of starting the second innings, the sides decided to entertain the packed crowd with a ten overs-a-side match.
The Australians batted first and plundered 84, Hussain profiting from a dropped catch from Johnson to make a belligerent 50.
Thiarra carried on from where he left off, this time promoted to open, as he hit a quickfire 28 with two sixes to
propel the Pilgrims ahead of the run rate. Riddle and skipper Wisson both hit sixes in a frenetic finish, which all boiled
down to Elstow needing 8 to win from the final over, bowled by Shabz Hussain. Unsurprisingly it was dramatic, and needing
two from the final ball, Hussain stopped a Riddle straight drive and ran out the advancing Wisson to win the game for the
Australians by one run.
A celebratory mood carried long into the night as the masses packed the Elstow hall
for the charity auction, disco and one or two liquid refreshments...
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Click Here for the match scorecard
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| Click here for more Ashes photos |
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The morning after the night before and the players were prepared for
their huge Ashes battle. Elstow made one change in their squad, Vishal Thanki making his debut in place of Tebbutt, while
Australia made four changes, Christian Byrne, Mark Robinson, Justin Shields and Michael Tait coming in.
Trying
to overturn their deficit and post a challenging total for their hosts, Australia started well, Byrne playing fluently and
Will Wisson resolutely to scrub out Elstow's lead. Byrne departed to a Stu Robson yorker and skipper Jake Nichols was
deceived by Riddle's flight, but Hussain counter-attacked with three fours before being bowled round his legs by Tom Wisson
just before lunch.
Will Wisson stood firm after lunch and with Dave Ross mounted a superb recovery partnership
to take Australia to 125 for 3. But the tables once again turned, Ross departing for a well made 33, Robinson for a duck and
Will Wisson for a well-timed 41 from 97 balls.
Steve 'Symo' Reid could not repeat his heroics of the first
innings, Shields departed soon after and despite two lusty blows, number 10 Tait gave Jimmy Tanswell his first wicket to leave
the visitors well adrift on 154 for 9. Up stepped Mick Newbury to bludgeon two sixes and three fours and keep the game well
and truly alive, finishing 28 not out as Australia's last wicket fell at 189, a lead of 162.
With one and a
half sessions to chase down the target, all three results were still a realistic possibility, but Stevens and debutant Thanki
started solidly, notching up the fifty partnership before the former was bowled through the gate for 24. Riddle joined Thanki
but was caught superbly by Bailey at point with nearly 100 still needed. The skipper stepped out to the crease with intent,
took a deep breath and calmed the nerves in supporting the unstoppable Thanki to within touching distance of the target and
a place in history. With just two needed, the debutant opener was bowled trying to finish in style, ending with a magnificent
84 from 105 deliveries, as Johnson pushed the two required through the covers to the delight of the crowd and his captain
who finished 27 not out.
Nine months efforts culminated in a wonderful weekend, one that raised over £2500
for Cancer Research UK and Elstow CC's burgeoning youth section.
Thank you all for your help and support.
PJ
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