Village people provide stiff resistance
Highgate Wood, 9/5/2009
Strongroom won by 28 runs
Strongroom: 173
Village: 145
View the Scorecard
Our first game against Village CC proved to be a tough challenge against a good bunch and we hope to see them again next year. Strongroom’s ability to bat down to number 11 was again an important factor in our victory. Village filled there full 40 overs with quality bowling, which is something most teams have struggled to do this season.
Village's opening pair began with very good line, length and pace (that had their keeper standing back half way to the boundary to Lynham). However, a few short deliveries (one of which had the first new ball lost in the highgate labyrinth), and a couple edges that fell short of the distant keeper saw Woolhouse (33) and Newkirk (23) on top of proceedings. After I fell attempting to pull again (which I am currently trying to give up) Ken "Teflon, Ravi, KP, Red, Tiger (O'Reilly)" Park (12) entered the arena. After a few boundaries, and some surprisingly sharp running between wickets with Woolhouse, Ken began a mini collapse which saw Jon Gower (0), Baddeley (6) and then Woolhouse going in quick succession. Rich again looked very good for his 33. It is very reassuring having the likes of, well all our bottom six to get things back on track. Proctor muscled his way to 28, which didn't hurt his 30 average for the season but in true unselfish fashion tried to smash the opening bowler over his head rather than add to his collection of not outs. More unorthodox than the shot was the high five for the bowler as his ran all the way back to the pavilion. Where would we be without our Proc? Moore (12), Higginson (15) and Rafman (12) all contributed nicely to a very solid total of 173. Although our innings had an unhappy finish with Ujjal's (3*) "yes yes yes yes yes yes, oh no actually stay there" run out of Paddy (3).
Tea - Proctor delievered once more with a spread from the Highgate bakery, the cheese sandwiches helped us find a weakness in one of the Villagers.
We played in the twilight zone for most of their innings, tough conditions to bat in which made up for the well-worn ball we recieved from the oppo. No outstanding performances with the ball, but another all round effort from the team. Paddy and Ujjal started us off with solid spells removing both openers and paving the way for Mighty Joe Raf to damage the foundations of the Villager's line up. Joe bowled tight and smart to pick up numbers 3 and 4. Our assault on win 13 for the season hit a bump mid way through, our high expectations of our ability after a very successful season was evident as we were very harsh on any mistakes in the field. The Skipper remained calm enough to bring himself on for the vital breakthrough of the hard-hitting Harty. The Villagers never gave up though; they seem to bat as low down as we do with number 7, White remaining not out on 28. The fielding picked up dramatically in the final ten overs helping me to clean up the tail, with Proc taking a low down catch, "Tiger" Park leaping for a ball over his head as well as an exceptional run out after a long chase to the mid wicket boundary, and the highlight... J Gower racing across from mid off to take a diving catch one handed at full stretch, then holding the ball up high, showing his critics in the media box he is as well rounded a cricketer as Tef. Paddy then came back on to finish off the innings. A convincing win, bring on Royal Ascot.
Written By: M.Newkirk
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