V Lichfield Nomads (23/07/17)

Walsall Health 188-3 (40 overs) beat Lichfield Nomads 84-9 (40 overs) by 104 runs.

Before we begin…it was a win not a ‘winning draw’. Let’s put a stop to those thoughts once and for all.

The Elf played away this week to Lichfield Nomads who inflicted one of only two losses the Elf have been on the receiving end of so far this season.
Looking to exert revenge captain Hewlitt won the toss and elected to bat first on a ‘damp’ wicket.
Dave Preece and Chuckie opened up, Dave fresh off his ton earlier on in the season slapped a few boundaries on his way to 20 before generously walking off after a caught behind shout. Dave’s average this season is still a record high of 144….

Fitzpatrick, waiting for his call up to the NBA.

Gary Fitzpatrick was in at three sporting a rather over sized non cricket top with the NBA logo on it (see the picture to decide if it’s village or not….) but unfortunately for Fitz his new bat wasn’t put to good use when he was trapped in front for a quack.

Rob Hewlitt was in at four and similar to Dave Preece got a start and got out when he was caught at square leg off Cartwright and the Elf went into drinks at 61-3 hoping to set 140 or so on a wicket that was cutting more that a Conservative government.

Rich Fell was in at five and Trig give Dan Dunn the ultimate pad rash (get some Sudocrem on those shins kid) as Trig & Chuck put on a magnificent 127 run partnership for the fourth wicket with a few big sixes along the way.
In amongst the carnage, Chuck surpassed 700 runs for the season. The man from South Africa is beating his own record with every run he scores this season and eventually ended up with a superb 89 not out which given the context on that deck was worth at least 120.
Trig backed up his 47 from a few weeks ago with a boundary laden 49 not out to send his average for the season over 50 despite not reaching the landmark.
There was a landmark that the Elf legend broke this week though; 2,000 runs. Only a select few swordsman have broken through that barrier and Trig has become the latest one. BIG HAND.

The Elf set 189 for victory and dived into the teas (see tea review) and set about defending their large total in the late afternoon sun.
Teenagers Armstrong and Dunn opened the bowling and produced one of the finest opening stints in Elf history; with Dunn finishing with figures only reserved for 18+ magazines 8-6-3-2….WOW. As Andy Gray would say ‘take a bow son….TAKE A BOW’. Dunn’s wickets were the1st and 3rd of the day when Gardiner was out caught by ‘The Hangover’ Greg Phillpott and the third was Heslington who nicked off to Fitz.
In between that the dangerous looking George was ran out by a superb piece of fielding from Dave Preece who made ‘2 become 1’ in a bit of Spice Girls fielding at square leg.

1st change was a familiar affair; C.Hall & T.Davies. Davies backed up Dunn’s stint when he bowled three maidens to begin his spell, two of those with a wicket after both Trig and mid on and Chall at short 3rd man took sublime catches to see Davies get his 20th wicket of the season.

Dan Dunn then showed his fielding prowess when he ran out Terry for 29 and Tom Davies got to his 69th wicket in Elf colours when Rolfe nicked off to Chuck at slip.

With the victory all but sewn up, Chall got a wicket when Dunn again made light work of some fielding

JP, enjoying a bit too much of the ‘puff’

and took a good catch. The ninth wicket was something straight out of Dai’s garden in the early 2000s: Preece to Preece when Hoddy chipped JP to Dave and Nomads were 9 down.

However, a lot like the previous week the Elf could not take the final wicket. Pickering and Cartwright had a final wicket stand of 22 and the Elf were left licking their wounds a little despite the victory which takes them to a record equalling tenth win of the season and it’s not even August!

Drinks review

Drinks served in American ‘frat party’ red cups this week was a real treat. 8/10

Tea review

STRONG tea this week, probably the best away tea the lads have had this season. Loads of sandwiches on a variety of breads, mini samosas and mini sausages/rolls. Topped off with some excellent cakes and a fruit salad to energise athletes Fitz & Chall. Only gets a 9 though because there weren’t any olives. 9/10

Love Island update

Sad scenes today when the lads found out Love Island comes to its dramatic conclusion this week. Male favourite Camilla is still there but apparently Marcel shouldn’t win? In a side story Nicka Dunn dropped Love Island into a tale to a bouncer on his night out in Worcester on Friday. Nicka had one too many ciders in student frequenter ‘Bushwackers’ when he undid the buttons on his shirt, only to be told to put the hair chest away by the doorman. Nicka’s response will live in Elf history, the man from Rushall told the bouncers he was ‘filming for Love Island’ and had to keep the buttons open, which the doorman believed and walked off. Brilliant.

Shower Club update

Only two showers in the Whittington changing room with a wall in between to the lads’ disappointment. Decent water flow and heat but get rid of the wall, we’re all friends here! Trig entered legendary status when he had a two stop strategy under the water today showering after his knock and after the game. Superb. 7/10

Tales from the travelator

One end on the park track had a few similarities to the travelator at Rushall, Chall and padwan Dan Armstrong bowled to remarkably close figures, both men going for 23 and 22 runs respectively. Still better than bowling with a bar of Cussons Pearley Chall?

Written by Tom Davies

Batting		Runs
Preece, D	c ? b Hutton	20
Chuck, I	not out	89
Fitzpatrick, G	lbw Fearon	0
Hewlitt, R	c ? b Cartwright	19
Fell, R	not out	49
Dunn, D	dnb
Armstrong, D	dnb
Hall, C	dnb
Phillpott, G	dnb
Davies, T	dnb
Preece, J	dnb
Extras		11
Walsall Health		188