Elmley Castle v Broadway 1st – Premier Division, Saturday 18th May

 Report by Nigel Evans

Broadway 122–all out, Elmley Castle all out 100. Broadway won by 12 runs.

Elmley 6 points, Broadway 20.

Broadway maintained their strong start to the season with a hard fought turbulent victory over their local rivals.

Broadway travelled the short distance across the A46, in apparent fine fettle after their opening two victories. However with lots of disruption from injury and late withdrawals from illness things weren’t quite so buoyant.

When the home side won the toss and gave Broadway first use, things proved extremely difficult. Runs were impossible initially as the ball hooped around both through the air and off the pitch. After an opening 6 straight maidens from the disciplined Bailey (3 for 27) and N Cooper (1 for 18) the away team finally broke the shackles with a welcome boundary. This proved a very brief respite as G Evans and opening partner Hawkins succumbed in successive overs. When the prolific Humpston (13) was dismissed 4 overs later, Broadway’s foundations were rubble at 22 for 3. All three fell to Bailey offering a variety of catches. Wickets continued to fall, Powell (10) was trapped in front, M Evans (3) feathered a catch at the wicket, and Broadway lurched to 45 for 5 through 20 overs.

 The youthful McDonagh (19), who came in at number 3, showed the necessary application to keep the Elmley attack at bay and he allowed Phillips, in typically aggressive fashion, to counter attack. They had elevated the total to around 90 when Phillips’ run a ball 33, was abruptly ended caught. Having threatened to post a respectable total, the innings was catastrophically derailed by a hat-trick in Simon Cooper’s eight over. Previously wicketless in the innings he initially ended McDonagh’s rear guard, trapped Cutler in front next and nipped through Stewart’s gate leaving the Broadway innings in tatters at 93 for 9. Vice-captain Smallman (11), who’d watched helplessly, was joined by Horsburgh making his seasonal debut. Horsburgh playing his unique simple brand of “see ball hit ball” plundered 21 not out of only 12 balls and along with the vice-captain who was caught on the boundary, trying to join in on the fun at least made sure the ignominy of not gaining a batting point was avoided. Broadway’s 122 was substantially short of an average score with the short square boundaries, despite the helpful bowling conditions.

This appeared to be confirmed by the positive start made especially from Sheward. Powell and particularly Smallman struggled with rhythm and bowled too full allowing Sheward the platform to play his brand of expansive drives. In the 10th over with the score on 40, Powell (3 for 41) finally found his radar and trapped the doughty Cross in front and immediately accounted for Howman in the same fashion. 40 without loss became 40 for 3 when Sheward’s exuberance got the better of him and he was inexplicably bowled for a breezy 34. From a seemingly impregnable position Elmley were suddenly under some pressure, and when N Cooper swiftly followed the position was precarious at 52 for 4.

S Cooper (29) found an ally in Cawson and they punished the occasional bad balls and accumulated nicely in a partnership of 30. The game took a decisive turn with the introduction of Cutler (4 for 11). He trapped Cawson in front with his first ball, had skipper Corbett taken at the wicket in his next over and sandwiched between them Stewart “castled” S Cooper. 82 for 4 had become 86 for 7 and the game was anyone’s.

Hemmings (14) tried the “Horsburgh” method and looked to be tipping the balance Elmley’s way until he heaved across a straight one from Cutler. At this point Elmey were thankful for their batting depth as W Bailey entered at number 10. Unfortunately he lasted only a single ball to a magnificent leg side stumping as he over balanced from Humpston, off a jubilant Cutler.

The equation was 22 runs or 1 wicket, with overs proving irrelevant. Smallman’s reintroduction with his trademark looseners almost halved the runs required and having also shelled a very difficult chance in the slips pressure was creeping in. Smallman then summoned his poise and induced an outside edge from Brown which Phillips comfortably pouched at slip bringing celebration for the visitors and an inquest for the home side. A tumultuous match where wickets had fallen in clusters was thus ended, with Broadway’s 100% record remaining.  They host champions Bretforton next hoping it stays that way.

The seconds didn’t fair quite so positively. They hosted league new comers Lapworth and having been put in on a wicket of varied pace, did well to post a respectable 188 for 5 off their allotted overs with K Holmes, adding to his impressive season start and skipper Wheeler both making 50s. The total proved insufficient however as the impressive visitors overhauled the total for the loss of only a couple.