Eltham let off the Hook

Park elected to bat first down at greenwich park and opened the innings with Dave Hearn and Alan Horton. These two made a great start and put on 73 for the first wicket before Al was caught out for a quickfire 52 (outscoring Hearnie 2 to 1 !). Unfortunately Hearnie was to follow on the same score, caught out for a circumspect (for him) 21. Sean Pritchard and Dave Fletcher came out at 3 & 4 and soon carried on in the same vein. Fletch was dismissed for 12, caught out, to leave Park on 96 for 3 and looking set for a good score. Dave Brupacher came in at no.5 and he and Sean set about putting on another big stand. 86 runs later and Seans vigil was over as he was caught out for a superb 69 (oo-err!!), leaving Park well set on 182 for 4. Thomo came out for a quick swish in the remaining overs but Bru was to depart soon after for a Captains knock of 31, Park on 190 for 5. Thomo was bowled a few runs later having that swish, out for 4, and Park on 194 for 6. This left Craigy Boy Partridge and Sam Moss to face the last couple of balls. No further runs were added and Park finished on 194 for 6 off (a mammoth) 53 overs.

With a big total to bowl at, park opened up the attack with Paul Moss and Dave Partridge. Mossy was straight into the action clean bowling the opener with no score on the board. Eltham were not to get too much further before Mossy struck again, dismissing the no.3 bat with Paul Thompson taking the catch. Eltham on a shaky looking 14 for 2. Eltham then recovered their poise and put on 20 runs for the next wicket before Dave decided to get in on the act and clean bowl batsman no.4 to leave the oppo on 34 for 3. A few balls later and dave was at it again, inducing a catch that Thomo once again pouched. Eltham on 37 for 4. Davey Boy wasn't finished there though and straight away had the no.5 bat caught by Alan Horton to have Eltham reeling on 38 for 5, with the top 5 back in the hutch. To give them a rest, Bill and Craig Partridge replaced the openers! Again Eltham recovered briefly before Bill clean bowled the no.6. This effectively finished the game as the oppo sensibly tried to bat out the match and Bill and Craig were to take no further wickets, but scored very few runs in the process. A double change to bring Sammy Moss and Thomo on to try and get Eltham to go for it, but it wasn't to be and eltham batted out 42 overs to get the draw on 104 for 6.

This was always going to be a big target for Eltham, and the two bursts of wickets ensured that it wasn't going to be reached, unfortunately Park couldn't take advantage and force the win.

Several good performances to choose from here, Alan Hortons 50, Dave Partridge's 3 wickets but it has to go to Sean Pritchard for a superb 69 runs.