Walsall Health 103-7 (35 overs) def. Darley Abbey 101 all out (34.4 overs) by 3 wickets

The Elf made the long journey East to Derbyshire this week for their final game of the season away at Darley Abbey.

The Elf were fielding first and had to borrow two players from the home side for the first couple of overs whilst Tom Davies and Greg Philpott trundled their way up the A38 and also got lost in Darley village finding the ground. One word……#VILLAGE

The opening partnership of Jack Portsmouth and Dan Armstrong (both on loan from Rushall CC) bowled an exceptional first ten overs between them, giving the opposition absolutely nothing to hit and in his 5th over Dan ‘Stretch’ Armstrong bowled U Scotton for 12 with a well disguised slower ball. A big hand here to Portsmouth whose 5 overs went for just 6 runs to really turn the screw.
Sam Stephens and father Dave came on at first change and it was Stephens junior who got the second wicket thanks to a smart grab by Nathan Reeves at point.
Stephens was ruing his wicket in the next couple of overs after his impressive figures took a hammering when Goyal cut and drove Stephens to a well made 18 before Dave managed to trap him plumb in front.

The next wicket was the most vital of the innings. The home side’s number 3 I.Scotton who had made 25 before he hit the ball through the covers and Ian Chuck was on the prowl. The Kolpak player wasn’t even looking the correct way but he swooped on the ball and even ushered ‘Don’t even try it’ to the batsman before throwing to Gort and Scotton was run out.

Dave Stephens then picked up the fifth wicket of the innings, bowling Dobson  for a quack. On at second change was Chris Hall, he picked up the wicket of Billings in a wicket maiden after a catch from Portsmouth.
Dave Stephens then picked up his third wicket of the day to overtake the yet to bowl Davies in the season’s list when Harrison was sent packing, stumps shattered.

Davies came on with 10 overs to go and managed to pick up a wicket with this third ball of his spell when Andy ‘the guillotine’ Gorton was razor sharp behind the sticks and stumped Hodgson for eleven.
Davies was then on the end of another LBW decision when he appealed for a shout that cannoned into the pads, scaring the teenage umpire into raising the finger but the away side rightly called back the batsman after he has middled it into his pad. Much to the chagrin of Davies who must wish that the LBW rule was no longer enforced in cricket.

Chris Hall got Steel out for his second of the day and after a bit of tap bowling at full pelt and on full tilt Davies got his 23rd nut of the season after a good catch from travel partner Philpott at point.

After a good munch in the sun, The Elf set about chasing their low total in the afternoon heat.

Andy Gorton and Alex Nunns opened the innings but Nunns had a rare failure with the bat and was caught at slip for three.

Record setting Chuck then played on for the same score before Nathan Reeves was caught and bowled for one by Scotton before the score had reached 20.

Greg Philpott entered the fray and settled the batting side’s nerves with a good partnership, whilst also facing a lot of balls to steady the ship before being stumped with the score on 35.

Sam Stephens came in against his old side and played a really good knock with Andy Gorton who over 20 overs put on an extremely good 50 run partnership. In doing so Andy Gorton became only second man in Elf history to reach 5,000 runs for the club. What an achievement by a man who encapsulates everything The Elf is about showing his class by getting to the milestone where only one man has been before. BIG HAND/EVERYTHING DANGLING.

Gort left the fray with the score on 87 and Jack Portsmouth scored 7 before his was out with the score on 100. A mini collapse ensued and Dan Armstrong who had taken his pads off before the end (VILLAGE) went in and was out for a quack and Dave Stephens had to see the side home in the 35th over.

A good win for The Elf against a strong side to finish the season which has been up and down for the lads but they have finished the season with two wins to have some momentum going into new season.

Everyone has played their part in getting games/teas on and even grounds open in Nicka’s case. A big thank you to everyone involved in this season and everyone who has donned a shirt to play for this ever growing club. The Spirit of the Elf well and truly lives on.

 

 

 

Batting		Runs
Gorton, A	Stumped b Hodgson	35
Nunns, A	c slip b Scotton	3
Chuck, I	b Goyal	3
Reeves, N	cb Scotton	1
Phillpott, G	Stumped I Scotton	6
Stephens, S	not out	28
Portsmouth, J	b Hodgson	7
Armstrong, D	c b A Scotton	0
Stephens, D	not out	1
Extras		19
Walsall Health		103

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Portsmouth, J	5	1	6	0
Armstrong, D	6	1	8	1
Stephens, S	7	0	26	1
Stephens, D	8	1	28	3
Hall, C	5	3	12	2
Davies, T	24	0	19	2