Strongroom continue rampant form under guidance of Guy
Regents Park, 7/4/2009
Strongroom won by
: Strongroom
194 [M.Newkirk 85]:
View the Scorecard
Strongroom has managed to maintain our unbeaten streak this season with a convincing win against a tough LBS team, and with the least proven side this year. We consisted of Strongroom veterans, first seasoners, debutants, ring ins and two (very talented) players generously loaned to us by the opposition for the day. Guy Wilson in his 25th year with Strongroom did a fine job leading the team in the absence of the regular leadership options.
After a short shower had us fearing that the weather would decide the result against LBS for the second week in a row, we got underway. As we only had a handful of players at the scheduled start time the captains decided Strongroom should bat first. We started off uncharacteristically slow, but sure as the openers Tom Higginson (2) and Martin Newkirk (85) looked to see off the nagging line and length bowling of Dipak and Vijay. Tom, bleary eyed from a few too many Friday after-work drinks, looked solid before falling to Vijay in the fourth over. Bringing the big hitting Marc (no, not Mellor) Talbot (24) to the crease. Marc put Martin firmly in the back seat as he smashed 24 from 11 balls. Well on his way to a quick fire 50, Marc was unfortunate to have a ball well wide of the leg stump hit his pads and deflect back on, bringing in Strongroom debutant Elwyn McDonnee (2). As a solid partnership between Martin and Elwyn was building, it was cut tragically short by a mix up reminiscent of Donald and Klusener in the ’99 World Cup semi-final. On-loan, Shantnu (23) then came to the crease and certainly did enough for his regular captain to never give this dynamo batsman away again. Just as Strongroom found themselves in a formidable position, Shantnu and Martin were both bowled in quick succession as their patience waned while the LBS bowlers maintained tricky spells of accurate bowling. Damien Plumbridge (16) and Guy Wilson (14) then set about posting a difficult score for LBS to chase, Damien was solid and rotated the strike well to the hard hitting Guy (who dislocated LBS Dipak’s finger with a well hit shot through mid wicket). The tail didn’t wag too long once Guy fell, Mike Gabbay’s (5) innings was short-lived trying to move along the run rate. Dave Proctor (0*) found himself stranded as Sam bowled Damien and then ring-in Adam (0) for a golden, having not held a bat in 6 years. The last wicket was on-loan Nasir (1) caught by a Strongroom fielder filling in for Dipak.
Tea 7/10, a fine selection of Pret sandwiches went down well.
Our bowling and fielding performance was one of the best we have seen from a Strongroom outfit this year. The Kiwi Adam had something to prove after his batting comeback, and prove he did sending back the LBS opener with a near unplayable delivery in the first over. Mike Gabbay had some difficulty finding rhythm, but interspersed between his dozen or so wides were two very tidy wickets. LBS were on the back foot at this stage but still had some strong batting to come and their run rate was looking good. Enter the demon Nasir, as Adam was rested after a flawless spell of bowling 6 years since his last. The left arm Nasir could well have been the difference between the two sides, bowling out his 8 overs straight giving virtually no runs away as he terrorised his regular teammates. Tom Higginson kept up his bowling form from the other end taking four wickets in a bold attempt to steal Nasir’s Thunder. At drinks LBS was still in a winnable position 5 wickets down with just over a hundred runs to get and their skipper Vijay at hand. However, the game was over three overs later as Tom took his final two polls and Nasir, after getting hit for his first boundary in his 7th over, then immediately bowled three batsmen with big inswingers and had a (difficult) chance put down in the slips. Guy was the pick of the fielders in a solid performance by all. Excellent win.
Thank you LBS for helping us field a full team, and to Nasir and Shantnu for joining us. Also to Adam who we hope to see again.
Written By: M.Newkirk
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