Elstree Premier League Round 2

Venue-Tatty Arena (Pavilion under water)

Result- Bucklebury Badgers 447, Thatcham Thunder 447- match tied.

With both teams out early raring to go the Thatcham Thunder won the toss and elected to bowl first in an 8 a side hardball pairs game on Tatty.  Pavilion was too wet with the covers still on it but the consistent bounce of the artificial surface provided some pace benefiting both the batsman and bowlers.

In temperatures barely above freezing, the Bucklebury Badgers set about their innings positively with the opening pair of Carlo and Rupert  manoeuvring the ball into the gaps.  This made life tricky for the fielding side with the right hand left hand combination.  Some lovely batting from Carlo finishing with a brilliant pull shot for 4 set them off to a positive start.  This was continued by Manuel and Archie  keeping the score ticking along with a combination of generous extras from the ‘Thunder’ and clever placement off the bat.  At this stage no wickets…. In came Jake  and Freddie  to face a couple if really tight overs from David  and Julian. Still no wickets…

The final Badgers batting pair strode out to the arena with a swagger and confidence that looked menacing. Jamie and Ollie ran well between the wickets and Ollie hit some punishing pull shots including a 4 to take the Badgers up to 447 of their 8 overs having lost no wickets which was awesome. A competitive total.

In return the Thatcham Thunder opened up with the aggressive combo of captain Gaspard and Ignacio . The captain set about the badgers bowling with destructive intent and hit two monstrous blows through the leg side for 4 of two reasonably good balls from Manuel . The ‘Thunder’ were off to a flyer. In came Dylan and Julian to see Jake prowling at the end of his long run up raring to go.  Second ball wicket from Jake who produced a searing yorker to castle the base of Dylan’s stumps.  

Jake completed a great over with real pace with the wind behind him running down the Tatty slope like a man possessed.  With some tight bowling from Calo the Badgers had clawed it back at the halfway point.  Up stepped Edward  and David  and despite running well between the wickets with quick singles seemed intent on chipping the ball up the air.  A very brave effort from a chance to Jake with cold hands went down but the ‘Thunder’ lost another wicket off the good bowling of Freddie .  Another 2 miserly overs from Archie and Jamie who got the ball up above the batsman’s eye line and with one over remaining the ‘Thunder’ needed 16 to win.  Who should bowl the final over with only one run for the wide and no ball but the extra ball of doom….. Only one choice based on today’s performance…. Lightning Jake…However the change of ends and bowling up the hill into the wind was a different prospect to the young quickie.  16 off 6 required by the thunder, no ball….15 off 6, dot ball, wide….14 off 5, Jack then carved one through cover point for 4, an unbelievable shot straight off middle stump to leave the bowler furious!  To cut a long over short, it came down to 2 off the last ball to tie and 3 to win. Jack nudged one into the covers shouting a loud ‘yes’ and both he and Fraser made it back for 2 runs ending the match in a brilliant tie!

Well played to both teams in what was a very enjoyable afternoon.  The EPL 2018 is up and running and very much alive! 
BJC