Skipper Gannon won the toss and put the oppo in and so Craig and Dave Partridge opened the bowling. Both were straight on the money but it was Craig who did the early damage, clean bowling Sloan for 0. He followed this up a couple of overs later by doing the same to Skipper Lek. Meanwhile Cordwell was playing his luck and having a go at everything and might have been out at any time. Dave was bowling very well without any luck as edges flew over and beyond the slips and infield. Craig, although going past the edge regularly was starting to go for runs at the hands of Cordwell and Hughes, with a short boundary on the off side. Bill Partridge and Alan Russell came into the attack to stem the runs, but the Oppo batsmen were playing their shots well and riding their luck. Bill eventually clean bowled Hughes for 32, and at the other end, Alan responded by having Webb brilliantly caught by Craig Partridge at mid on. Cordwell was still in and banging away though. Johnny Ling came onto try his luck but bowled well without luck. Gannon brought himself on as a last throw of the dice and managed to trap Cordwell, well stumped by Dave Brupacher behind the stumnps, but the damage was already done as he had 110 to his name. The returning Dave Partridge also got a well deserved wicket, having Hart caught by Gannon at fine leg. Old Elthamians declared on 224 for 6.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Partridge | 6 | 1 | 43 | 2 | |
| Dave Partridge | 11 | 1 | 39 | 1 | |
| Bill Partridge | 6 | 0 | 51 | 1 | |
| Alan Russell | 8 | 1 | 35 | 1 | |
| John Ling | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| Tim Gannon | 3 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
Kenny Robotham and Skipper Gannon opened the batting for Park with less than an hour plus 20 overs to get the daunting 224 required. Both openers started cautiously, anxious to avoid an early dismissal, and it was nine overs before the first ten runs were on the board. Ken was the first to go, getting a nasty shooter that gave him virtually no chance, and he departed for a solid 8 runs, but importantly had been out there for 43 minutes. Park 22 for 1. Alan Whaley was in at no.3 and couldn't resist having a go at the first change bowler and whacked the ball straight back at him to be caught out for a duck. Park 31 for 2. Dave Robotham was in at no.4 and was unlucky to be run out for 0 after being called through by the skipper, Park 44 for 3 and twenty overs called. Consolidation was the order of the day as the game was well beyond us to win it. Dave Fletcher came in at no.5 and looked in good nick but was caught out for 3, Park 60 for 4. Dave Brupacher was in at no.6 and joined Gannon who was grinding it out at the other end. Bru also looked in good nick and hit a good boundary, before new bowler frost bowled him a beauty that rose and left him to take a glove on the way through to slip. Bru out for 8 and Park 70 for 5. Craig Partridge was next in line at no.7 and batted very sensibly, curbing his natural aggression, but punishing any bad balls. Gannon meanwhile, had managed to grind his way to a fifty, and this pair saw the last few overs out to earn a draw for the Park. Park finishing on 117 for 5, with Gannon 55 not out and Craig unbeaten on 27.
This proved to be a difficult game as despite having a strong bowling line-up we couldn't stem the flow of runs, and ended up with no realistic chance of chasing such a big total. But despite a couple of hiccups, the batsmen played sensibly to claim the draw which was pleasing in the light of recent collapses.
We didn't have an awful lot to crow about in this game, but for an all round display including excellent opening bowling, a great catch and a spot on knock in the middle, Craigy Boy Partridge pips the skipper for this weeks MOM.