Due to the nature of planning fixtures for our summer friendlies schedule, these games and dates are subject to change.
We will keep this page up to date, and you can follow us on social media for the latest news @EltonParkCricket
Fixtures
Results
Match Reports
28-June
Strokers
Yet another classic match against The Strokers!
Elton had possibly its strongest batting line up of the season, with 3 of the top 5 batters – C.McNaughton, S.Elderkin and C.Paton – hitting the T20 retirement score of 30, including some spectacular sixes; and the others admirably keeping up a competitive run rate which left The Strokers with 133 to chase.
Despite some good Elton bowling, The Strokers found enough balls to hit to keep the runs ticking over, until that made Connor McNaughton sufficiently fired up to find the extra mph on his deliveries which the batters couldn’t handle, and he sent all of their top 3 back to the pavilion with stumps clattered. Then some ill-advised Strokers running to Jack Mills in the field led to an easy run out. Still, the Strokers stayed in the game, and the Elton captain’s hopes they would be bowled out in under 16 overs didn’t pan out, leading to the captain and vice captain needing to bowl two overs each to finish off.
The VC R.Mills kept it tight and took another wicket, but the captain’s part-time straight spin wasn’t the dream death bowling, and an ominous Strokers’ six landing halfway to the Hall had Elton nerves jangling in the final over. Fortunately a slow straight ball punished the penultimate batter’s huge swing, leaving the Strokers with one wicket remaining, and the oppo captain coming to the crease needing all boundaries, which proved just too much, and Elton won with 7 runs to spare.
Another wonderful evening of cricket played in the best of spirits by both teams, with thanks to the excellent group of supporters from the village who cheered and jeered when needed, and availed themselves of the superb burgers and bar provided by the wonderful EPCC volunteers
Rory
21-June
Cuckoos
Match report for last night’s game vs Cuckoo’s played under glorious summer solstice skies at Elton Park.
Runs, the bar and village community spirit all flowed freely as a warm but competitive game unfolded. EPCC put on a good total of 119 anchored by Tom Mills’s 30 (retired). Contributions then followed from most EPPC batsmen. The innings was paced nicely with everyone having time at the crease and batting with urgency without recklessness.
The Cuckoo’s were straight in their lines and strong in the field. An excellent quick pulled pork bun, courtesy of Trae’s over night smoker and it was the Cuckoo’s turn.
EPPC had good depth in the bowling though we were missing our regular wicket keeper Kevin Durham who had stepped up for the Cuckoo’s. Tight lines from Angus Hammond Chambers and the ever reliable Matt Humphrey restricted the batsmen from a flying start. Connor and Bertie then started making in roads and with wickets beginning to tumble we looked pretty comfortable.
The Cuckoo’s responded with some strong middle order biffing leaving a tense 25 required from 3 overs. A crucial wicket and retirement meant the stand in skipper had to see out the last over without too much stress. With 10 required of the last two balls EPPC sneaked home and won with a few runs to spare.
The real winner was cricket with everyone taking part and the spirit of the game summed up by the Cuckoo’s confirming a freak bounce off one of their fielders boots on the boundary was a six rather than four. The season and the weather are hotting – everyone’s encouraged and welcomed to get involved in the next game coming up this Friday.
Robbie
14-June
Barrowden
It didn’t look like it was going to happen. An hour before the game at Elton Park was due to start against a very capable Barrowden side, there was the typically English scene of a group of forlorn cricketers sheltering from the rain trying to convince each other that there was lighter sky on the horizon. Unusually, they were right, as shortly afterwards the cricketing gods suddenly presented a bright warm evening felicitous for cricket.
Stand in captain Stuart Elderkin won the toss and put the visitors in to bat. Tight bowling kept the Barrowden run rate low and Elton took two early wickets reducing the visitors to 11 for 2 after 4 overs. The Barrowden middle order rallied, and kept the scoreboard moving despite an unusually lively pitch, which produced several deliveries which lifted sharply to the surprise of batsmen and close fielders alike. As a result of the tight bowling Elton limited Barrowden to 102 for 6 after 20 overs. Stand out performances for Elton were from the Mills brothers who bowled the opening overs, with Tom taking 4 wickets for 23 runs and Jack bowling 4 overs and conceding just 8 runs. For Barrowden , E B Athley scored a competent 21, and A Hall a skillful 31 not out.
In reply, Elton produced a solid batting performance, which kept pace with the required run rate with contributions from all batsmen, but most notably from Bertie Troughton and Connor McNaughton who jointly secured the win by accelerating the scoring rate in the last few overs, steering Elton to a total of 105 for 4 with just over an over to spare. Bertie finished on a very competent 21 not out, and Connor with a typically pugnacious 32 not out, hitting a boundary to end the game.
In addition to the match report above, I would like to add that the bar and barbeque provided for players and spectators during and after the game was very well received and much appreciated by all. Massive thanks to Jim McKillop (bar) and also to Wendy Brooks and Mark Cross (barbeque) for all the hard work involved in setting up and serving during and after the game. And thanks to those fine people and also to Jack and Emma Mills and Helena McKillop for all the the tidying up afterwards!
Kevin
07-June
Short Legs
Having lost the toss and fielded first the steady stream of bowled EPCC batsmen returning to the pavilion, meant a very enjoyable game against old arch rivals the Short Legs ended in modest defeat. Despite this, our third fixture delivered many highlights continuing the theme of “firsts”.
The two standout moments came from EPCC on the field. Kevin Durham, first choice wicket keeper, is widely established as the safest gloveman over the last three years. What we saw last night was the first evidence of Kevin’s flare and brilliance instinctively diving to his right, the ball lodging in an outstretched glove from a rapid edge off Connor’s pacy bowling. Outstanding.
Trae Morgan delivered three memorable firsts. Having smoked for 9 hours 2 shoulders of pork the BBQ fare was for the first time truly at a U.S.A. standard. This was followed up by his first wicket, a gun barrel straight ball removing middle stump. And these achievements along with Trae’s first attempt at opening the batting were in no way diminished by his first golden duck.
Other contributions to note include Tom Klimes’ brilliant BBQ operation, Bertie’s probing spin bowling, Connor’s biffing rear guard action at number 9 and some inexplicable dodgy leadership from the stand-in captain, who had no one to blame except himself, having lent the Short-legs his youngest son Tom Mills to make up their numbers, was then bowled by the same.
The philosophical Neil Welsh, summed up the game pointing out that if his former student opening for the Short Legs had not scored 30 of 10 balls we would have squeaked home.
Must mention how well Mike Robinson’s pitch is playing, exceptional the ground is looking, and what a super atmosphere there was with so many spectators from the village enjoying Jim’s brilliant Bar and Trae’s succulent pulled Pork served by BBQ king Tom K.
Robbie
31-May
Cambs Fire & Rescue
Great match last night, well played Elton, a commanding win over Cambs Fire & Rescue CC. Some strong performances with bat and ball, and two hat trick balls from Tom Mills and Neil Welsh.
Despite the lack of warmth, also a great turnout of supporters, and even a fire engine. Special mention to the Treasurer Robbie Mills who gave up his place in the team to flip burgers, and sold 80 of them (!) alongside barman extraordinaire Jim McKillop.
Look out for photos on our social media in the next few days. Meanwhile the EPCC stumpcam captured some wickets, including Tom Mills’s twizzling bail, and Neil Welsh’s twizzling ball…
Rory
18-May
Khalsa
An excellent opening to the Elton Park CC season. Having sadly had to cancel last year’s game with new opponents local team Khalsa, it was great to make this a fixture of notable firsts.
There were excellent debuts for Elton Par CC from Trae Morgan, Bertie Troughton, Al Church and young Jack Humphrey. Bertie’s beguiling spin took several wickets followed by proper biffing with the bat later. Khalsa batted first and were kept quiet from tight opening bowlers JJ and Matt. But with only one wicket down, albeit a super bowled by Matt, their middle order began to settle in. The stand-in Captain and Jon H took some punishment but Trae kept EPCC in the hunt with his first catch, an outstanding one on the boundary, to a carefully laid trap. Coming back at the end of the innings, Matt H took a superb return catch off his own bowling and JJ finally got a deserved wicket knocking out middle stump. Still 169 after two hours off 31 overs, even with 8 wickets down looked a reasonably tough target.
The one hope was a wicket prepared by Mike R that was playing very true with decent and even bounce. Other firsts from JJ opening and Kevin in at 3 helped see off the opening bowlers. All of this was beautifully recorded also for the first time by David Stowbridge, EPCC’s new official scorer. It had become clear from his careful and meticulous scorecard that Khalsa’s team of Singh’s were indeed all from one family. So even though they were playing 10 (huge thanks to Dave Rutherford for making them up to 11) the family bonds and organisation began to tell on the pitch. EPCC wickets started to tumble and the careful start, particularly anchored by James Grigson’s opening knock, began to stutter. Slightly rusty and self inflicted mistakes from our middle order, including the stand in captain playing all around a vicious in swinger from 15 year old Singh caused a collapse.
As the sun came out, after a lavish tea prepared by and with huge thanks to Wendy Durham and Emma Mills, the remaining EPCC batsmen seemed rather too eager to sample the new Elton Park bar, also making its debut. Jim McKillop ran a class offering – if only the batting had matched the bar’s high standards. Huge thanks to Jim. EPCC ended the day both short on runs and out of batsmen around the 26th over.
Despite the convincing loss it was a very memorable game with a friendly opponent who despite the mixture of ages were canny and well drilled.
The standout cricketing highlight, heavily cheered, was actually a second. The legend that is James Anderson scoring his second highest run in his distinguished batting career!
Robbie