Key batting and bowling partnerships inspire Strongroom
Highgate Wood, 7/25/2009
Strongroom won by 64 runs
Strongroom: 160
Gardeners: 96
View the Scorecard
Gardeners won the toss and did what Strongroom would have done by inserting us on a moist track in overcast conditions and taking first use of the match ball. The pitch was certainly Highgate-slow and typically difficult to get in on, but pace and bounce were not as uneven as they have been in similar conditions on some previous occasions.
Gardeners opened with a combination of de Jesus’ short-pitched quicks and Holloway’s dobblers, both of which proved effective as Jules fatally went back to one that kept a little low and Martin played over a full tempter. Ken and Jon dropped anchor and absorbed some good Gardeners pressure. Jon’s 13 ball nought was built on immaculate defence until he was trapped in his crease by a de Jesus leg-cutter delivered wide of the crease. Dave G and Ken absorbed a bit more pressure against the testing outswingers of de Guingand, and then even started to show glimpses of promise in getting the scoreboard to tick over. Ken played one glorious pull shot and looked in good touch until aiming a big one at a Holloway dipper. Dave G attempted a back-foot forcing shot only to see the ball stick in first slip’s grip. Oliver followed Ken and Dave G in getting out frustratingly at the point when he started to look like he’d begun to get going.
At this stage, Strongroom were in serious trouble, six down with 100 still some way off at no more than 3 an over. It was now that the key Strongroom batting partnership crystallized, with Dave P and Guy delivering what we know they can – bustling, sometimes explosive, sometimes comical and thoroughly annoying (for the opposition) batting. Employing a diverse range of highly effective, often aerial shots and some eccentric running between the wickets they changed the game. Aided by some unselfish play from Paddy, Ujjal and Joe, Strongroom came off at the interval delighted with their 160 total. Gardeners had missed a few catches, leaked too many extras, and perhaps lowered their intensity after demolishing Strongroom’s top order.
Tea. Adequate Muswell Hill bakery sandwiches, but slightly soggy crisps and no cake.
The sun was out, the pitch perhaps becoming a little easier to play on, and the ball 40 overs old, but Strongroom felt confident that 160 would not be easy to chase given the slow outfield, especially if wickets should begin to fall.
Paddy bowled a testing first spell of 4 overs for 10 and at the other end Ujjal was similarly tight while steadily working out how best to get the ball moving. Gardeners were forging an obdurate opening partnership that threatened to blunt the attack until Ujjal deservedly burst through Sutton’s defence to leave the opposition at about 20-1 after the opening 10 overs.
The second key Strongroom partnership of the day (following the Proctor-Wilson batting) came together now as Martin joined Ujjal in a superb spell of probing, hostile bowling backed up by keen pressure from the fielders. This was some of the best Strongroom bowling in living memory. Hewson and de Jesus briefly threatened to stop the rot as Oliver and Joe replaced Ujjal and Martin, and this slight wobble in Strongroom progress looked worse as some uncharacteristically sloppy and downbeat fielding materialized after the drinks’ break. However, Oliver proved difficult to score from and eventually picked up a couple of useful wickets. Joe’s left arm spin was a little uncertain at first, especially against some hard hitting from the left handed de Jesus, who also took a liking to Paddy’s return spell. Gardeners were suddenly moving along at 3 an over, suggesting that the game could have been much more tense if wickets hadn’t fallen regularly. Ken took a neat catch behind off Jon – fair reward for some good verbal encouragement to the bowlers and fielders, and tidy keeping that had kept our extras column under control. Joe eventually settled into a neater line and length and mopped up the last couple of wickets.
This match was probably more even than the 64 run margin suggests. The fall of 20 wickets (14 of which were bowled) is testament to the generally good bowling and a tricky pitch (and/or some dodgy batting?). Although it was an excellent team win, the Proctor-Wilson batting had rescued Strongroom’s innings, and the Roy-Newkirk bowling turned good early pressure into crucial breakthroughs. As always, Gardeners had contributed to an enjoyable and competitive game, and both teams retired to the pub to work out where it had all gone so right/wrong and how things might be better in the return fixture next week…
Written By: D.Gower
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