Old Elizabethan’s first XI remained on course for a very tight finish to the season as one of 5 teams who could still steal the last promotion place on the last day of the season.

Arriving at Hatch End on Saturday just gone with a team fresh from a confidence boosting victory it was quickly noted that this day would not be like many others. A park pitch, 1 very long boundary, 1 tiny boundary, no opposing umpire, a burnt down clubhouse and half of the outfield the length of the rugby field ready for the new season. Challenges lay ahead.
Win the toss and bowl Smirnoff the team were saying….he didn’t! What a let down!

Go get 200 the skipper says, and with Kappa off to a flyer this looked as if it could be the case. This before Kappa and Clive were involved in a mix up which left Kappa short of his ground and run out. Enter Sat Nav, who began some clean hitting causing some trouble for their bowlers who after an erratic start were beginning to find their lines and lengths.
The scoring rate slowed and soon the top order suffered a minor collapse with Sat Nav, Clive and then skipper Smirnoff all losing their wickets with not much being added to the score, albeit still a half decent total of 120 on the board at this point on a pitch not conducive to high scores.
Gibbo and Milo begun the rebuilding process with Gibbo looking more ‘in’ on this pitch than any other this season….it beggars belief it really does. How can you find form on this! Gibbo even takes advantage of the short 30 metre boundary by smashing 3 sixes all of which crept over the boundary rope. Still well done on your first ever 6 mate. Shame it was on an under 11 wicket! Champagne moment….I think not! Anyway his knock of 55 on a poor wicket dragged OE’s back into the driving seat and with Milo looking comfortable against a turning ball at the other end the rebuild was well and truly on.
Dutchy and then Cassie enter and add some long handle hitting. Cassie in particular hitting very cleanly against their ‘quick’ bowler who disappeared back over his head. With Milo gone the steadying job lay with Olay. And he hit a four through the offside (to the aforementioned under 11 boundary!). And with 49 overs gone and 232 on the board Smirnoff decided to declare. Giving the bowlers the best chance of getting the 10 wickets and 30 valuable points.

The bowlers who have not let the team down all year had to perform against a small boundary and a group of batsman who liked to throw their bat at most balls, as notably this happened third ball of their innings with Dutchy going for six. Herbie opened up from the other end, and did all but get a wicket, as did Dutchy from his end, was it going to be one of those days? A sprinkle of rain came making the ball difficult to hold, so Smirnoff turned to ‘H’eratio Patel and he soon had the ball misbehaving off the pitch, swinging and seaming and causing trouble for the batsman. Dutchy then has one dropped by keeper Gibbo who went with one glove when 2 was always the way to go, and another ball spiralled and was not taken in the field. Was it going to be one of those days? Sat Nav joined H’eratio in the attack and was also unlucky not to have a caught behind, or a stumping.
H’eratio strikes not long after and on a pitch now offering something to the bowlers it was never easy for the incoming swinging batsman. Chances continued to come, but all were falling out of reach or frustratingly being shelled by the fielders, a total of 7 in all counted by a member of the team.
H’eratio was now in the middle of a long spell and was joined by Cassie the two of them looking very threatening in between the rain spells, and both getting just rewards for their efforts. Cassie taking 3 wickets again and H’eratio taking a couple. With 2 overs lost to rain the team still had a chance to gain victory, and Sat Nav and Dutchy both picked up a wicket a piece at the end to leave the team with a total of 17 points at the end of the day. With the weather threatening to ruin the game this must be seen as 7 points gained rather than 13 points lost.

So going into the last game of the season 3 points off promotion lets hope the rain stays away and we get the results which are needed starting with a big 3-0 for us.
If you have not got a game this weekend please feel free to come down to Gypsy Corner and support you’re first XI in their push for promotion. All support is very much appreciated.

And hopefully we will see a member of the club with clenched fists come 8pm saying “GET IN THERE!!”

Another day of sun fell upon Gypsy Corner for the visit of Northwood Town on Saturday, with the 1st XI keen to put right the wrongs of last weeks tie at Luton Town and Indians. Despite a small hiccup with the boundary rope caused by Herbie and Monty we were ready to go!

After losing the toss, skipper James ‘Smirnoff’ Heavey was still happy to be bowling first, showing great faith in his bowlers to bowl tight lines and restrict the visitors to a chaseable total.

A fast and accurate opening burst from Dutchy and Herbie meant that the Northwood score was doing nothing but crawling along. Although there was a lack of wickets being taken on what was described as a traditional Asian wicket, the scoring rate never got above 2 runs per over for the first 15 overs.

The first wicket came with Dutchy finally getting a favourable LBW decision when switching ends.

Nav then set about another long spell from one end following Dutchy’s 13 over marathon opening spell. Nav continued his fine jug form, and bagged another 5 wickets which is important for fantasy league points!

Dunn’e’ and H on his return, bowled a tight stump to stump line, without any success and were unlucky not to pick up wickets with their figures not doing them justice.

Dutchy and Nav saw off the end of the innings with some tight bowling which meant the batsman failed to score freely with. A total of 211 on a hot day with a small boundary and quick outfield was gettable……surely! Another very good fielding performance by all, minus a few nutmegs along the way.

Kappa and Clive began the chase at lightening speed with Kappa timing the nuts out of a pull shot that is probably still going now, or at least he is still talking about it now!

Value for money was definitely on offer with proper cricket shots being rewarded with boundaries. Clive was busy timing the ball through the covers, and Kappa busy playing enterprising cricket shots, and both were scoring quickly. 50 up very quickly.

Proving that there was something in the pitch the opening bowler got Clive with a very good delivery which went up the hill and took the top of off stump.

Nav next in began playing through the line of the ball hitting it hard and clean before watching Kappa at the other end make his first Saturday 50 of the season. Kick on go and win the game for us lads we’re in a good position here….no.

Both Nav and Kappa lose their wickets in quick succession with Smirnoff and Miles in ready to take us to victory.

Steady as she goes these two got us down to 26 to win, before Miles went LBW, Dutchy walks in smashed 2 boundaries gets words of advice from Smirnoff and duly walks back not long after. It was down to Dunn’e’ and captain Smirnoff to lead us home and to another valuable 30 points.

With the league looking tight this is a good victory with anything possible this season, a few more good performances like this will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season!!

Fresh from a win the week before, the first eleven arrived at LTICC’s very large ground with a bounce in their step and a new face amongst the ranks.

Paul Lissowki was making his debut for the first team, following his impressive run of form this season…..

On a lovely day, it was obvious that should the opposition skipper win the toss he would bat first on what is well regarded as a ‘road’. And this happened!

From the start, the OE’s opening pair of Alex Herbert and Matt Holland put the top order under pressure nipping a couple of early wickets. Herbie in particular bowling with good pace and swing, bowling a right handed batsman from round the wicket with late swing, it was a picture!!

Following this opening burst, Nav Akthar embarked on what was now one of his common long spells and bowled a very tight line, without the pitch offering up too much spin was still able to claim 3 wickets. Undoubtedly a few very close shouts for LBW from Nav were very close, and he must now address his position at delivery if he is to get any leg before decisions (according to the standing umpire).

During this spell Rob Dunne was busy bowling a very impressive display of controlled bowling outside off stump causing the batsman to take on too many shots. One of whom was brilliantly caught by Matt Holland chasing back over his head and taking a skier.

All of which resulted in LTICC only managing to post 190 all out, all be it this was a decent score on a used track and a very large boundary.

It is safe to say that Jimmy ‘Smirnoff’ Heavey got his tactics spot on here, and for once he had his catching hands on, taking 3 very good catches, and is fast making gully his own position. He now just needs to work on his slow motion roll!

Special mention must be given to Indee Mali, who also held his first catch in living memory, well done Indee!!

With spirits up at tea, OE’s reverted to the opening partnership of Clive and Kappa.

Unfortunately after a steady start Kappa guided one straight to point, when the watching crowd were begging him to smack it for four! Kappa looking in good touch at the moment can not be far from a big score, and no Kappa, Sunday scores do not count!

Madness then set upon the umpire at the bowlers end who ‘shotgunned’ Nav first ball leaving the OE’s chase in disarray. Mass panic then set upon the dressing room with Smirnoff suffering the after effects of a night shift, there was even talk of Holland going in at 5…..madness! In the mean time Pablo and Clive were busy rebuilding, and Clive in particular looking in commanding form on a pitch which was still suiting the batsman.

Another mad half hour followed, Pablo was caught behind, Smirnoff entered at 5 despite his bleary eyes, and wanted to hit everything for 6, (which would have been impressive on this pitch) but was out LBW.

Last weeks hero Holland entered the frame. Holland in a rich vein of form immediately upped the run rate with his enterprising shots, and despite a few scares Holland and Clive went about reducing the deficit. Holland eventually caught and bowled Panesar for a very quick 45. Collins remained, was he to be the hero?

Dunne came and went being run out, followed then by Collins, who charging down the wicket was given out LBW by the aforementioned umpire, who was having a blinder!

The lower order were left chasing 30 off the last 5 overs, Indee being Indee then launches a couple of massive hits (nice one Fatso) and bring OE’s into the box seat.

Madness then set about Fatso as he ran, for no reason, none at all then turning like a bus was left stranded. Will ‘Monty’ Montgomery was playing nicely at the other end picking the gaps and running well, he held the hopes of the team, and looked very comfortable.

Herbie walks in, and walks back about a minute later as he loses his off stump first ball to a peach of a delivery.

Enter Mr Heavey very senior. The specialist keeper for the day, 8 to win. Every run was cheered by the now large crowd, as Mr Heavey v.snr ad Monty continued to rotate the strike this was it, 1 to win off the last ball. Mr Heavey v.snr hits it to cover that’s it he’s in…….OE’s win oh wait the umpire who is having a blinder has not moved from his spot and given Mr Heavey v.snr out! How? Why?

The questions remain, but one thing can be certain OE’s looking a different proposition and can take this forward and make sure that 30 points is attained without complications this week!

This weeks report to you was bought to by the club Hero.