Elvaston Lord's adventure starts again
by Alan Rowley, 18th August 2002

Elvaston are through to yet another Lord's final after a near faultless demolition of Durham's Wolviston in the Village Cup. They now face the winners of the Rowledge and Shipton-Under-Wychwood tie at headquarters on Sunday September 1st.

In front of a crowd of over 200, Wolviston were the first to bat. They got off to the worst possible start losing their first three wickets cheaply. A late order recovery enabled them to reach 163 for 8 off their 40 overs.

Elvaston's openers Lee Archer and Charlie Ault batted carefully and with surprising maturity from the start. They kept the scoreboard ticking over in keeping with the required run rate and, when drinks were taken after 20 overs, Elvaston's total had moved on to 82 without loss.

Archer reached his fifty off 82 balls with a huge six into the woods, which also brought up Elvaston's 100. When Ault fell for a fine 41 in the 28th over, Elvaston were only 42 runs away from a Lord's trip.

Andy Brear fell without scoring, leg before to Brooksbank, but that was to be the only other wicket to fall. Paul Birch joined Lee Archer and the pair steered Elvaston to victory with five overs to spare. Archer ended with a magnificent and chanceless 94.

A class performance from the Derbyshire lads despite a spirited Geordie challenge. What odds on them going one better than last year in the final in a fortnight?

Scores: Elvaston (166 for 2) beat Wolviston (163 for 8) by 8 wickets.