Walsall Health CC 137 all out 33.4 overs lost to Bharat Paviar CC 138-8 25.4 overs by 2 wickets

On a day where a few heads from both sides had one eye on an enthralling World Cup encounter at Edgbaston, there was a familiar theme at Rushall CC where the Elf lead the three match series 1-0.

With the first ball bowled closer to ‘Songs of Praise’ rather than ‘Goals on Sunday’ Andy Gorton and Alex Nunns opened the batting for the Elf and thanks to the extras the home side looked to be putting themselves in a decent position until Alex was bowled for 12 by a ball that seemed to not bounce very much at all. Rushall youngster Ryan Scott entered the fray and looked in good touch before he was bowled on debut for 8. With the score approaching 50, the Elf lost a few wickets for just as many runs in what is becoming a repetitive theme throughout this 2019 campaign. Gort was unfortunate to see the ball clip his pads and roll on to the stumps then Nathan Reeves and Andy McClay came and went like Christmas Day being bowled and plumb in front respectively.
Dan Dunn added some much needed impetuous to the frail innings with three exquisite cover drives in quick succession supported by JP who was rotating the strike nicely. JP was bowled and then Dan Dunn was out for 24 and the Elf were seven down before they had made 100 for the second week in a row. Chris Hall was caught cheaply for twelve whilst the last two wickets added 35 runs from Dave Stephens, Tom Davies and Nicka Dunn. The score was 137 all out and now the Rushall outfield has been cut, the score looked at least 30 runs short.

The visitors started as briskly as they always do however wickets fell at regular occasions. Dave Stephens got the first after a sharp catch from Gorton behind the pegs. Dan Dunn opened up the travelator and got two wickets when Ryan Scott took an impressive catch at long on and then Dunn picked up the third wicket for 40, bowled.
Tom Davies came on a bowled a nip backer of a delivery. The away umpire considered all possibilities in his head before raising the finger to a ball that couldn’t have been more plumb.
Then, the shackles came off. With barely 60 runs on the board the game’s two best batsmen Patel and Tejas of the vistors unleashed an array of boundaries to guide them past the 100 mark in quick time.
There was a mini collapse of sorts when Chris Hall and Nicka Dunn picked up two wickets each and the score went from 112-4 to 123-8, however with the impressive Tejas at the crease it was never in doubt. Without the overs to worry about the Bharat number number 10 smacked two boundaries and the visitors got home with two wickets to spare.

Another unfortunate loss for the Elf who will be looking to take their score to level par next week against Sportsman CC after falling to 3 wins and 4 losses this week.

Teas – Olives, albeit purchased by Nicka and not the pub who supply the teas we all know what the rules state….10

Shower club – nice and cosy as ever at Rushall, Nicka brought some lovely Marsh Mellow Imperial Lather shower gel which smelled delightful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Tom Davies

 

Batting		Runs
Walsall Health

Bowling	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets