Walsall Health CC 166-6 (40 overs) beat Lichfield Nomads 135-7 (40 overs) by 31 runs

The Elf made the 20 mile or so journey across the Midlands to Kings Bromley this week to play Lichfield Nomads on a baked pitch and in sweltering conditions.
Fortunately for Elf gingers Tom Davies and Alex Nunns skipper Hewlitt won the toss and batted first. Ian Chuck was heard miles away being appalled at the decision in such favourable batting conditions #chuckbowlsfirst

The Elf started extremely steadily on what looked a glorious deck but the Nomads bowlers Fearon, Taylor and Moss showed how it was done and at the first drinks break the elf were steady at 54-0.
It wasn’t until veteran John Hoddy came on to break the opening partnership of Andy Gorton and Dave Preece by trapping Gort in front of all three for 35.
Alex Nunns came and went for 6 (something about forgetting his sun cream) and then Dave Preece was bowled playing across the line for 31 and the Elf were wobbling at 99-3.
Rob Hewlitt and new found all rounder Dan Armstrong hit some quick runs but Rob went for 18 after looking in good nick.

Dan Dun entered the fray (fortunately not in his socks and sliders which are the most #village thing I’ve seen all year..) but was out for 7, as was Dave Stephens pushing for runs at the end. ‘Two Plates’/’No Shower’ Armstrong finished with a handy 41 not out giving his side a target to bowl at.

After tea was demolished, the Elf set about defending their total (finally, once the openers decided to show up).
Dave Stephens and Dan Dun took the old ball for the Elf and bowled very well first up. Dan Dunn got the first wicket after a suspect stumping was not given. What was the reason you ask? Oh well, apparently the umpire ‘couldn’t see the line’….what? Move to the OTHER SIDE THEN. So he did, and surprise surprise the next one was given.
Dave Stephens got Fearon clean bowled and the Elf were in good shape.
The next two batsmen of Nick and Moss played well and didn’t score many runs off Davies and Hall but also didn’t get their side above the run rate. The next suspect moment came when Nick ‘nicked off’ the ball lodged between Gort’s legs, Nick walked and then the batsman at the other end decided the ECB rules had changed and that wasn’t out. WHAT?

Karma struck soon after and Moss was out trying hit Dan Armstrong’s off spin into Fradley. Dave Preece got the next wicket when his fielding got Nick run out going for runs and the Elf looked in prime position to get the win.
Dave Stephens came back on and picked up Hutton and Tom Davies got a wicket after a smart catch from Rob Hewlitt. Chris Hall got the last laugh by bowling the 40th over as maiden.

Well done boys, the bowling unit performed superbly today and won us the game. That’s now nine undefeated! #Spiritoftheelf

Tea review

Nomads have clearly been reading our reviews as they pulled out all the stops today but putting OLIVES and Strawberries on the menu no less. Unfortunately there was no English mustard or Pork Pie but a solid 9/10.

Shower club update

Decent showers this week but the smallish changing room resembled a Turkish Spa with all those bodies and warm water vapour in the air. 6/10 on a purely moisture basis.

Written by Tom Davies

Bowling.

Batting.

Walsall Health v Old Moseley Fitmen…Match Tied.

On yet another scorching hot day, WHCC played hosts to opponents of many a year, Old Moseley Fitmen. With no heavy roller to make batting conditions even easier, we got underway on time at 14:30 BST.  Historically, Fitmen always bring a strong XI. Today was no different. Two classy openers, Tom Caesar and Jawad, piled on some early misery and raced to 55 before Dan Dunn took a good caught and bowled to dismiss Jawad. With Dave Stephens toiling away at the other end, our regular nemesis “Mo” ambled out to begin his innings.  Mo would lose his first partner, Caesar thanks to a cool catch by Dan Armstrong off the bowling of Chuck. Chuck then pilfered his second wkt of the day, thanks to a stunning reflex catch by JP. A strong contender for catch of the season. It was so good, Mo immediately paid his homage at the none strikers end with a nod of respect.

Chucky and Chally had applied the brakes with some tight bowling to peg Fitmen back to 111-3. However, Mo (87 off 78 balls) and Harris (46 off 36 balls) then cut loose, to wrestle back the momentum, and pass 200, with 8 more overs left in the bank. Despite several tough passages of play, heads didn’t drop this week, we kept battling away which was good to see. Nathan Reeves, once again setting the standard in the field, attacking the ball like a caged lion. Such good standards paid off, with Dan Dunn returning to pick up two more wkts, Chris Hall and Dan Armstrong snaffled one each at the death, with Fitmen finishing on 246-7.  A tremendous collective effort here, several times Fitmen threatened to post around 280-300, but our application for the full 40 overs, meant we had a chance of chasing this down.

The chase began with an unlucky dismissal for Gort, ball onto boot, onto stumps. Maybe a hint of bat into a tree, the sequel here, the Gort willow was certainly hurled a few yards in disgust anyway. Enter the Chuck brothers, and this partnership was definitely not suitable for Kids TV. Some aggressive batting, with Leo punching the ball through the covers for fun, and Ian bludgeoning the ball to all corners, saw the Elf race to 100-1 off just 14 overs. Great to see Leo bat so well, falling just short of a deserved quickfire fifty. The momentum was all ours at this stage. Dan Armstrong joined Chuck, and continued to dominate the Fitmen bowlers. When Chuck departed for a brilliant 89, we appeared comfortable on 190-3….57 required off 96 balls.

A lot of credit has to be given to Fitmen, from a tough position, they gradually eased their way back into the game, with some tight bowling from Mo (4-17 off 8 overs) and Harris. Scoring became more difficult, as Nath, Rob and Greg went cheaply. With the score at 236-7, Dan Armstrong was still at the crease, after reaching a second consecutive 50. Another excellent knock from Dan, who is really starting to deliver with the bat. Time was running out, so when Dan was caught going for a big shot to ease the pressure, the game remained in the balance. Dave Stephens hit a priceless 4, then was out to another good catch from a Fitmen fielder, they really did catch very well in the key moments. After 79 overs it came down to the final over, with the Elf needing 6 to win. Dan Dunn fell to the first ball, leaving us on the brink. JP joined Chally, and managed to sneak a single, leaving Chris to get 5 off the final two balls. The first of which was despatched to the square leg boundary for 4, to tie the game up after 79.5 overs. With all fielders brought into the ring, Chally couldn’t quite connect to pierce the field, leaving JP valiantly falling inches short of making his ground to complete a dramatic victory. What a game! Nearly 500 runs in a match that came down to the final ball, finishing at 20:55 BST….Match Tied.

All 22 players agreed it had been a superb match, which ebbed and flowed all day.  Everyone contributing, and trying their best, is all any team can ask for. A bit like the John Isner v Kevin Anderson match at Wimbledon last Friday, that would have been a tough game to lose for either team.

Tea update….RIP Victoria Sponge.

Thankyou’s update….Some big efforts yesterday. Rich Fell umpiring for the full 40 overs, allowed a lot of the players to take a rest after a long innings in the field. Nice to see Dan Dunn, Dave Stephens and Leo back in the team, all making excellent contributions. Great support too, from Gail, Fitzy, Nikka, Dai and Roger Moore, with Alex and Rachel sensing a knife edge finish arriving just in time to see the drama unfold.

Novak Update….The great man is back to his brilliant best, Wimbledon Champion 2018.

Stats Update….Ian Chuck’s 89, moves him up to fourth place on the all time run scorers list.

The Verdict….Wonderful contest. Exactly what all sports should be…A contest.  I would happily play in a game like this one every single week. In a game so close, everyone may be thinking of the “If only I’d done this or that moment” which is understandable. But sport is mostly all about split second decisions, all of which a game can be decided on. We should all just focus on being fortunate enough to take part in a memorable game of cricket, on a nice summer afternoon, and celebrate the match for what it was.  We won’t play in many games better than this one.

Written by Chris Hall

Featured image – http://www.susanyounganimation.com/drawings/cricket.html

Walsall Health 250-3 (40 overs) beat Oak n Ash 196-8 ( 30.1 overs) by 54 runs

The Elf hosted Oak n Ash today at Aldridge in a game where the sun cream was a must for all those participating.
Rob Hewlitt won the toss and decided to bat first which did not sit well with Ian Chuck who stormed off to put his pads on.
Chuck and Gort opened up on a wonderful deck and the Elf’s solid opening pair piled on the runs and the misery for the Oak n Ask lads by surpassing the 100 mark with relative ease with both of the Elf’s openers securing a half century. However it was Andy Gorton who has been out on 49 twice already this season who was out after scoring exactly 50 with the team total on 151.
Dan Armstrong assumed full all-rounder status by coming in and giving the ball a bit of tap and providing excellent support for Chuck who reached his 100 with a four through midwicket off his legs to raise his bat for the second time of the day.
Chuck was out caught shortly after and Rob Hewlitt who is used to more of a ‘dig in’ after a few captain’s knocks in recent weeks was out caught for two. Hewlitt was replaced by Greg Phillpott who hit three boundaries for his 12 but was run out in the final over pushing for the extra runs.
The final over was dominated by 18 year old Dan Armstrong who hit a couple of massive sixes to reach his maiden fifty for the Elf, somewhat deserved as well after some excellent batting recently.

The Elf began the defence of their mammoth total with Nath Martin and Dan Armstrong fresh from a great knock. Dan picked up the first wicket of Gallen for one and at first change Chris Hall got Bailey and the Elf had the visitors at around 30-2 inside the first 10 overs.
If you know anything about this Oak n Ash side you know they are a great bunch of lads and fight hard to the death and their 3rd wicket partnership was a magnificent one at that. Shepheard and Cochoran hit the Elf bowlers to all parts of the Coliseum in a great display of batting. Shepheard was the first to go bowled by Ian Chuck and Dan Armstrong picked up his 2nd of the day by knocking back Sheldon’s bails.
Cochoran was still their dismissing the ball to all parts but the nervous nineties kicked in and he hit a hard shot back to Chuck and on about the third attempt the man from Durban snaffled the catch and the Elf looked home and dry. The last four batsmen for the opposition hit 23 between them with wickets for Davies, Hall and Armstrong to see the Elf to their seventh victory of the season and also seventh in a row.
A final word for the Oak n Ash boys who played valiantly with nine men in that heat and probably would’ve won with the extra two men, well played boys.

Tea review

No Victoria Sponge. 5/10

Shower club update

The showers in the squash changing rooms are better than the main ones but you can only have two of them on at the same time plus they were boiling. 4/10.

A final mention for Rakesh Mal who turned up after getting asked at 1:30 if he could play, superb effort in the field as well on debut.

Written by Tom Davies