Walsall Healthc CC 228-5 (40 overs) beat. Old Doms CC 152 All Out (38.3 overs) by 76 runs

The Elf were away this week making the relatively short trip down the M5 to Bromsgrove cricket club to face Old Doms.

The Elf were surprisingly asked to bat by the home side who had two players, apparently doctors arriving at 4.30 which seemed bizarre having a 1pm start, something the Elf lads relished.

Andy Gorton and Ian Chuck opened up for the Elf, Gort fresh from his 49 not out from last week was unfortunately triggered by JP for two and was the first man back in the hutch.
Gary Fitzpatrick was in at three, another man who scored runs the previous Sunday was out sooner than he’d like when he spooned a catch to leg slip and the Elf were 27-2.
In came, the man the myth…the legend on his 2017 debut Rich ‘Trig’ Fell and he acted as if he’d never been away. Smashed his first scoring stroke to the boundary and produced a fine partnership with Chuckie, both men 35 not out at drinks to build a solid platform for the Elf.
Chuck made his way past the half century mark but Trig unfortunately chipped  a catch to a man on the rope and was gone three short of what would have been an excellent return to Elf colours.

The middle order of Rob Hewlitt and Greg Phillpott added 10 between them to the total before Nathan Martin joined Chuck at the crease in the 31st over with the game delicately poised on 169-5.
However, the man from Friar Park produced an excellent partnership with Chuck to see the Elf post 228 from their allotted overs, Martin finishing 15 not out.
A word must be said here for Chuck who brought his ton up in the last over in a flurry of boundaries. The man from South Africa now owns the record for most tons made for the Elf – five! BIG HAND.

With the well prepared tea demolished, the Elf set about the defence of their total in the late afternoon sun.
Dan ‘two plates’ Armstrong and Nath Martin opened up for the Elf and limited the home side to minimal scoring options but neither man could break through in their opening spells.
The first wicket came after an excellent fielding change by skipper Hewlitt, saw Gary Fitzpatrick swoop on the ball at mid-on and run out the opening bat who was well out of his ground for a direct hit.
Hall & Davies came on at 1st change and did what they do best, take wickets. Hall picking up the number 3 batsman after Rich Fell took a top drawer catch running in at mid-on to grab Chorley his first of the day.
Tom Davies picked up the third wicket with a stereotypical LBW appeal and it was LOUD. Davies was backpeddling with both arms aloft screaming ‘HOWZAT?’ at the umpire who eventually was scared into raising the finger in fear of what Davies might do if he shook his head.

Greg Phillpott and Jonny Preece came on at a time when the Doms had to go for it and got a bit of tap but not before JP got the number five batsman stumped by Gort with the score edging towards the 70s.
With the score past 100 after a good fifth wicket partnership and the Doms giving themselves an outside sniff of a win, Rob Hewlitt produced the run out of the season. A mix up between the batsman saw Hewlitt swoop on the ball at mid wicket and fire a direct hit straight at the stumps at the bowler’s end, top fielding.

With the Old Doms’ opener looking unflustered and eventually making his way past 50, the other end could not keep up their end of the bargain with Dan Armstrong and Nath Martin picking up a wicket each, both bowled.
Davies and Hall returned to complete full Janitor roles of mopping up at the end by getting the eighth, ninth and tenth wickets between them. Chall finishing with 3 for and Davies with a two for.

The Elf are in seriously good knick so this season having only been bowled out once so far this campaign they are really in good form going into facing always competitive Sportsman CC next week at Rushall.

Drinks review

Drinks this week were in unwashed small plastic cups with warm squash. Village. 3/10.

Tea review

As average as the drinks were, the teas certainly were not. An array of sandwiches and savouries especially the Brie & Pickle numbers going down particularly well. The only thing that stopped a 10 was the rice had no cutlery so the lads had to go back to pre-historic times and eat with their hands. 9/10.

Love Island Update

Usual watchers Fitzy and Dan gave an update: apparently Jess has been voted out and pied a fella off by sleeping with someone else an hour after she left? Doesn’t sound like the girl you want to bring home to your mama. Chall has also admitted he ‘caught a bit of it’ translated – ‘I watched an episode and am hooked’

Shower Club.

Well, after the lads made it up to the main clubhouse they were not disappointed by the showering facilities.
Four showers with more than adequate space between them, each shower head on a wall fixture so each showering Elf could take off and rinse in peace. Every shower had its own temperature gauge too. Sublime.
There was even some excellent shower gels on offer and some conditioner passed around by Gary Fitzpatrick. Bliss. 9/10.

 

Written by Tom Davies

Batting		Runs
Gorton, A	lbw b Bhanji	2
Chuck, I	not out	116
Fitzpatrick, G	c Morris b Bhanji	6
Fell, R	c Laught b Amir	47
Hewlitt, R	b Amir	7
Phillpott, G	b Brass	3
Martin, N	not out	15
Hall, C	dnb
Davies, T	dnb
Preece, J	dnb
Armstrong, D	dnb
Extras		32
Walsall Health		228

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Martin, N	8	2	22	1
Armstrong, D	8	2	26	1
Hall, C	7.3	0	22	3
Davies, T	8	2	16	2
Phillpott, G	4	0	30	0
Preece, J	3	0	24	1