TOURISTS BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE

06/05/02: The East Midlands Tour ended in victory for the OLCC as Elvaston were beaten in a last-ball thriller.

The tourists put the disappointment of defeat at Woodhouse Eaves on Sunday behind them as they were asked to bat by the hosts and made a battling 168, having been 93 for seven at one point.

The bowlers then held their nerve - Geoff Samuels' 5-27 was the highlight - to restrict Elvaston to 164 for nine from their 40 overs and secure a nail-biting four-run win.

It was a success that had looked extremely unlikely earlier on as the OLCC innings got off to an extremely shaky start, with all of the top four back in the pavilion by the end of the sixth over.

Charles Allan was first to go when he was bowled by Mills in the first over, and David Pollard followed him minutes later when he was beaten by a beauty from Jones, who finished with 3-8.

He also bowled both Tom Gillmor and Jon Shingles to leave the OLCC rocking on 23 for four, but Geoff Samuels was joined by captain Paul Newell Price and the pair steadied the ship with a partnership of 42 that ended when Samuels was caught at square leg off Charlesworth.

Newell Price and Phil Samuels then added 24 for the sixth wicket before the skipper went to a smart catch by Ault, and matters soon got worse for the visitors when Graham Carter was bowled by Charlesworth to make it 93 for seven.

But patient stands of 27 between Samuels and Richard Newell Price then 37 between Newell Price and Chris Straw helped the OLCC make a respectable total of 168, with Straw and Paul Chalmers' contribution of 11 for the last wicket later proving to be crucial.

Elvaston took the field needing to score at 4.225 per over and were given the perfect platform with a first-wicket partnership of 50 between Yaxley and Baker. However Richard Newell Price accounted for Yaxley and Geoff Samuels removed Baker and Lillie to reduce the home side to 58 for three.

Ault and Mills put on 48 for the fourth wicket before the latter was stumped by Allan off Newell Price, but Archer and Ault continued to pick the gaps in the field and at 151 for four Elvaston were on the brink of victory.

But Samuels was reintroduced into the attack to devastating effect as he pegged back Ault's leg stump with his first ball, and after Chalmers had spilt a tricky chance off his bowling, Straw was on hand to return the ball to Allan who ran out Condon for a duck.

With the run rate pushing up to a run a ball, the pendulum swung firmly in the OLCC's direction when Paul Newell Price took the key wicket of Archer, who had looked set to see the hosts to victory.

Jones and Kettlewell both perished as Elvaston made a desperate bid to get over the winning line, with Charles Allan producing two smart pieces of work to make it three stumpings in the innings and five wickets for Samuels.

It was a just reward for the bald youngster, who kept his cool brilliantly to restrict the home team to six runs off the last over and ensure the OLCC wrapped up their second consecutive win over the Derbyshire side.

However credit was due to both teams for what was a keenly-fought and exciting game, played in front of an appreciative bumper Bank Holiday crowd.

A special mention should also go to Judith Chalmers, who was struck down with a nasty case of severe indifference coupled with a heavy bout of Tourette's Syndrome midway through the Elvaston innings, but recovered well to get back in the game and inspire the OLCC to a famous victory.

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