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So the penultimate league game had arrived ? where oh where had our summer gone!

 

Having previously been undone by the rain (and Glaspers pessimism) which potentially had taken the league result out of the hands of the Emen. Ealing had to win this game and hope Richmond dropped points at Stanmore to get back in the title race. To do this though Ealing would have to travel to 3rd placed Teddington who themselves were 12 points behind Richmond and could in theory still win the league themselves.

 

Coach Faraz arrived at the ground early only to find what can only be described as a dog sh*t wicket (sorry Rev). The toss would be cruicial, if there was ever a toss to win it would be here. Scotty back in charge and not known for his correct coin calling/tossing skills would have to pull one out the bag. As the team arrived the football got under way however, with clouds gathering above and a wet wicket to dry it was pretty obvious that we would have a delayed start.

 

Rain eventually began to fall and puddles began to form on the square and chances of a game being played started to dwindle with every drop. The rain clouds eventually passed and the sun appeared but the square looked in dire straits with the run ups and neighbouring wickets holding standing water. It didn’t help that the Teddington umpire showed very little interest in wanting play, the chances of a game looked bleak. 

However positivity and perseverance from the skipper meant against the odds we would indeed have a game - a reduced over game but a game nonetheless (70 overs).

 

Scotty went out for the toss?the coin went up Scotty called?.the coin came down and shock me the skipper got it wrong?.AGAIN!

 

So Ealing would have to bat first and could only bat a maximum of 35overs on a sticky wicket. Landman and Purdy went out and did an excellent job at negotiate the first 10 overs on a difficult deck which saw several balls pop of a length. Both batsman batted superbly with Landman after a watchful start began to open up and punish the Teddington spinners on his way to a quite sublime 117 off just 98 balls. He was well supported by the ever reliable Purdy who himself upped his strike rate scoring a great 85 off 102 balls.

So Teddington were set 218 to win off 35 overs with the ever present threat of more rain which would surely end the game once and for all, the Ealing bowlers would have to strike early and strike fast. Enter Faraz and Glasper! Glasper got off to a great start getting Teddington 2 down, then Faraz came on a struck in his first over trapping the Teddington opener LBW. From then on wickets tumbled and to be fair, credit to Teddington who at no stage looked like they would shut up shop and look for the 1 point. Faraz finished with incredible figures of 5-17 off just 6.4 overs and Glasper 5-55.

Unbelievable win particularly under the circumstances! Richmond had also dropped points so now Ealing and Richmond are level on points and wins but head to head it was Ealing’s league title to win. On to next week, win the game, win the league!

Come on Ealing!