There were several cup matches in the week before Half Term as well as an excellent win for the Staff in the annual fixture against the Upper Sixth Leavers!
The Under 12A team unfortunately lost their Kent Cup third round match away at Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School after a poor batting performance resulted in a low total of just 60. The team bowled and fielded much better but ultimately lost by 6 wickets.
The Under 13A team played against Colfe’s School after the initial Saturday fixture was postponed and a superb spell of bowling by Theo Austin (4 overs, 3 wickets for 4 runs) helped us restrict Colfe’s to 85. Although we lost wickets in our chase the team won with a few overs to spare.
The Under 14A team had a fantastic win in their Kent Cup third round match at Langley Park. Fielding first, Eltham struggled to contain early on before Matthew Arman bowled an excellent spell of 5 overs, 2 wickets for 13 runs to pull us the team back into the game. A tough chase of 153 in 30 overs was set but an excellent opening stand of 51 by Charlie Smith and Aditya Kumar set the tone and although we lost a few wickets in the middle, Benjy Davis and Charlie Reynolds put on a fantastic partnership to take the side home. Benjy finishing 38 not out.
The 2nd XI got their first win of the season at Home to Colfe’s as Varun Singh took two wickets and then scored 50 not out as we chased 106. Ahsan Siddiqui and Tommaso Candita-Simpkins also took two wickets in an excellent bowling display.
Finally, the highlight of the week was a superb victory for the 1st XI against Reed’s School in the Regional Semi Final of the National T20 Cup. Eltham batted first and despite losing a wicket early scored quickly as captain Sam Smith and Nico Murlowski built an excellent partnership. Both Sam and Nico got to 50 in less than 40 balls before being dismissed but they were followed by Ben Day and Owen Davies who hit some big shots to help Eltham up to 171-4 from 20 overs. In reply, Arran Khanna took two really important early wickets as Reed’s fell behind the required rate. Eltham fielded excellently as Reed’s began to come back into the match and two vital catches by Gabe Downer on the boundary left Reed’s needing 38 off the last 2 overs. In the end they finished 19 runs short and Eltham go through to the Regional Final now against Whitgift School on Friday 15th June.
