Wanstead’s Ellis-Grewal hoping side have learnt lesson

The Herons fell to a 14-run defeat at Hamro Foundation Essex League Premier Division rivals Buckhurst Hill last weekend, their second loss in five matches.

And Ellis-Grewal pulled no punches when looking back on the action in midweek, admitting it was not good enough.

“It was a really disappointing performance to be honest,” he said.

“We didn’t learn the lesson from the week before, it was almost a repeat.

“We had Hutton 80-8 but let them get up to 130 odd and then just snuck home eight down.

“We had Buckhurst Hill 90-5 on a tricky pitch but then for a spell, we bowled and fielded woefully. We dropped six catches. You can’t afford to do that.

“We knew 190-odd was not going to be easy and it showed.”

Zain Shahzad (3-24) led the way as Hill were reduced to 92-5, but Naivedyam Dwivedi (54) led a fightback and the tail lifted the total to 196.

Wanstead overcame an early wobble at 31-3 to reach 148-5, thanks to Kishen Velani (30) and Ali Zeb (58), but Ellis-Grewal (34) lacked support late on as they were dismissed for 182.

“Their seamers bowled well and made it difficult for us from the start,” he added.

“Haaris [Usman] and Tom [Simmons] couldn’t get them away and at 30-3 I thought we were in trouble.

“But Kish and Ali put on a good partnership. Ali came in at five and took the game to them and we then did well together. But once he got out, nobody could hang around with me at the end.

“The reality is, I was looking at the scoreboard thinking we should’ve only been chasing 150. We got away with it at Hutton, but we got burnt on Saturday.

“I’d rather it happen now with plenty of games still to go.”

Loughton have lost four of five, with the other abandoned, but Ellis-Grewal has no room for complacency.

“You can’t take anything for granted. You’ve got to play well every game to win or come unstuck,” he said.

“The all-day format suits us, with three or four spinners and a couple of good seamers up top to do some damage.

“I’m surprised to see Loughton where they are as they’ve got good batters and bowlers. The all-day probably suits them as well so it should be a good battle.

“To stay in touch we need to win our next few games, but we will be up for it.”