Elham

Match Report

Elham Valley produced a young and keen side, who just could not stay with the Stragglers brimming with confidence in spite of the cold and gloomy conditions. The highlight of the Straggler batting was a wonderfully crafted maiden Straggler century by Ralph Taylor. His partners all contributed with varying degrees of application and/or brutality, but the innings was built around Ralph. When he was out for 122, the score stood at 215 for 4. A flurry from Toby Snape and Tom Wood took the total to a declaration at 243 for 8.

Toby was still in typhoon form from Wellesley, and with the wind and the slope in his favour, he was almost unplayable. He induced edges, errors and a fair, degree of apprehension, taking 3 for 12 in six overs. Wickets fell at both ends, and the youth of Elham had clearly never faced a bowler with the Chairman’s lack of pace, to which he added bowling into the wind, uphill and against the rotation of the earth. Elham subsided to 68 all out, their skipper making 46 to be last man out, the only opposition player to reach double figures. Victory by 175 runs is the third highest winning margin when batting first.