Fresh off an exciting game at Springhill last week, the Walsall Health teamed returned to home comforts at Carter Park for the visit of Old Moseley. Will Tomlinson took up the captaincy reigns as Jack Stenson is on holiday/ in hiding after last week’s run out drama. 

Tomlinson and Dad got to the ground early to begin a bizarre new tradition of trying to break as many locks as possible on the way in. Fortunately the one key that Tomlinson did have was one to unlock a winning toss and under grey skies he took the opportunity to bowl first. Tim Wesson took the new ball from the Pavilion end bowled a spell with some superb line and length balls but the batsman stood resolute and ultimately Tim ended up wickletless but the spell deserved a couple at least. He was joined by Wyatt Hill from the Dave Stephens end (bowling an over from each end, fancy that?!) who bowled his 6 across two spells and similar to Tim, was unlucky to come out with no wickets on the board. 

Where the opening bowlers missed out though, Dave Stephens cashed in, the traditional probing line and length finally got the wickets the Elf had deserved, dismissing both openings when they were just starting to turn the screw, one an LBW, the other a fantastic catch from the skipper in the covers just before the drinks break. 

It set the tone nicely in the field for the second half of the game. Marcus Wesson picked up two more wickets for the Health, the birthday boy helped to his first by a lovely stumping by Mac, who didnt even have to stare down square leg for his decision. The second was later in the innings by Alex Nunns, who after a wardrobe malfunction took a good catch with half of his left leg showing. 

Jonathan Preece also got his name next to a wicket, a lightening reaction C&B which most of us would be an outstanding grab but we’ve seen these catches enough from JP to know they’re par for the course (especially off his own bowling.) The skipper wasn’t to be left out and bought himself on towards the end alongside Dan Dunn, a wise decision as the runs stayed in check and the captain helped himself to a couple of late wickets getting to go past the bat and rattle the stumps.

With the task of 180 runs off 30 overs ahead, opening pair Mac Perager and Dan Dunn strode to the middle intent on getting the Health on the front foot from the off in the chase. Dan started the quicker of the two, bludgeoning the ball through the offside on multiple occasions and swiping a short ball high over square leg for a classy maximum. When he found himself on strike, Mac went about his business in typical Mac fashion, nudging the ball into gaps and rotating the strike, a nightmare for the opposition skipper to set a field for, as he always managed to miss the fielder. They nearly had the Elf off to the perfect start but before he could really kick on, Dan was bowled for 21. Alex Nunns came in at 3, striving to keep the scoreboard ticking with the required rate around 6. Mac and Al combined well and simply put, gave the opposition fielders the run around, timing the ball into gaps for regular ones and twos with the occasional boundary. Not a single chance was given to the Old Moseley side, and the Elf batters coasted all the way to drinks at 15 overs, immaculately set to kick on and complete a tricky chase. However, regular match report readers, players and anyone associated with Walsall health can probably guess what happened next… 

The wicket of Nunns for 29 sparked an almighty collapse; Will Lauchlan replaced Nunns and was soon caught on naught. Fresh off his maiden 50, Dave Hill was in at 5, looking to support Mac who was now more regularly finding the fence. In his pursuit of more boundaries, Mac brought up his half century, a very classy knock. Although, with the score creeping closer to 180, Perager fell on 60. Will Tomlinson came in next, with only a few overs left and the required rate elevated to around 8 an over. He and Dave looked to keep accelerating and bring home the win for the Elf, but Dave couldn’t repeat the feat of last week and gloved behind before troubling the scorers. The next man in was Dave Stephens with less than 40 required now, he managed to power the ball to the boundary while Tomlinson also lifted the ball over the infield for another couple of boundaries. It was a case of going for one big shot too many for Will however, as he was caught at long on for 12. Dave was then joined by Marcus Wesson but before Marcus could get in, Dave was caught for 8 and Marcus had a new partner in Wyatt Hill. The hope was not lost for the Elf however, as Marcus looked to be the hero. He found gaps in the field and the ball was cheered to the fence by the crowd which had gathered outside the pavilion. Wesson then picked another gap, but this time it would not run away, and he had to try and run two. Unfortunately, he slipped while turning and was short of his ground when the bails were removed. Wesson was replaced by Wesson as Tim came in for Marcus, sporting a controversial hoodie, which he had forgotten to take off in the rush of getting changed, and was later reminded of during fines. It now looked too little too late now for the Elf, and Tim had to attempt a big shot which saw him caught for a duck. The last man to try and salvage the win for Walsall health was Johnny Preece, but ultimately, he was also out for 0 and the Elf had fallen 15 short on 165. A tough one to take as one more partnership would’ve seen the Elf home, however, it wasn’t meant to be.