This week Walsall Health made the short journey to the picturesque Cannock Chase for an away game against Longdon. Unfortunately, this was to be the home team’s final game at the ground with both teams wanting to sign the ground off with a win. Regular readers will be aware of Alex Nunns feast or famine approach to winning a toss this season, he made it a fourth win in a row this week and decided to bat, hoping to rack up a big score on a small ground. 

A lot of the Elf’s successes with the bat this season has come from the willow of Dan Dunn, but with his other bat otherwise indisposed after a short argument with a wall last week, he could only manage 4 before being bowled. Most weeks any batsman would take matching Dunn’s score and that’s what Lauchlan unfortunately managed this week, also being bowled through the gate for 4 off a quick inswinger veering into the right-handers down the hill. In fact, 9 of the 10 dismissals for the Elf were bowled, only Ben Lester ruining a full house. Jack Stenson was going well though at the other end and was joined by the young Will Tomlinson, whose introduction to the team was a real bright spark in the Elf’s season. As the two looked to looked settle in though, Stenson was out for 25 The Elf were 48-3 and in need of a partnership.

As so often is the case, captain Nunns came to the crease and set about doing just that. Him and Tomlinson, two southpaws regularly rotated the strike and played carefully putting on a gritty partnership of 63 to lift the Elf to 111-3 before Tomlinson was, you guessed it, bowled, this time for 24. What followed was a classic Walsall Health collapse unfortunately, J. Lester and D.Hill making strong runs for this year’s ducks trophy though many batsman would struggle to score on a pitch that was seaming, swinging with the odd one keeping low.

With the Elf now 112-6 Dan Armstrong came in at 8 though to throw any issues with the pitch out the window. His innings flipped the game back in the Elf’s favour with a Bazball style counterattack scoring a swashbuckling 76, including a 32-ball 50. Nunns played the supporting role expertly but was soon, amazingly, psyched out for slow scoring by some of his own team, still a fine 48 was vital to the cause. With a few late wickets, Armstrong hogged the strike well and put the Longdon bowlers to the sword. With some debatable no balls and even more debatable not given no balls and Armstrong’s batting the Elf were eventually all out for a strong score of 225. 

Even without usual opening bowler (Dai)ave Stephens, the Elf were confident of a victory. Stephens deputy was found almost immediately with Ben Lester bowling a tight line and length to put Longdon to the sword with a pair of quick wickets to bring the home side to 18-2 in a five-over spell where he went for only 11 runs, well bowled Ben, now we just need to see you more often!

His opening bowling partner and Elf leading wicket taker this year Josh Butler unfortunately couldn’t add to the wickets as the Longdon batsman counter-attacked. Rich Fell, who very sportingly gave his batting innings to Armstrong bore the brunt of the counterattack to go for 72 runs off his 8 overs. Bell, bowling for just the second time also struggled to find a line and length but after a few beamers settled into his stride and picked up his first Elf wicket. Along with Fell taking 3 wickets the Elf were back on top with Longdon 105-6. 

Longdon again though fought back with a superb partnership, regularly hitting the boundaries and putting the bowlers into the long grass. The Elf were struggling to find an answer and while the ground fielding was still as strong as ever, the mood was starting to dip as Longdon closed in and heads started to drop.

 Nunns stuck with his bowlers though and soon took a chance on the spin of Tomlinson and the slow bowling (chucking) of Lauchlan. The team needed some inspiration and it came courtesy of a run out for the ages. J.Lester behind the stumps taking the bails after quick thinking from Dunn and the Health had their breakthrough at 174-7. With the target in sight and 3 wickets needed to win, it was coming down to the wire until Tomlinson, who despite going for 18 in his second over bounced back superbly to dig deep and drag the Elf over the line. A heroic effort taking the last 3 wickets in his first bowling spell for the team as the Elf secured a 25-run win.

A great win for the whole team and a good few beers afterwards caped a fantastic away day. The Elf return on September 3rd, back at Carter Park for the visit of Lapworth hoping for a strong end to the season in their penultimate home match. 

Will Lauchlan