Going still good for strongroom
Ascot racecourse, 9/12/2009
Strongroom won by 5 wickets
Royal Ascot: 175-9
Strongroom: 176-3 [M.Newkirk 75, R.Woolhouse 55]
View the Scorecard
Email chatter during the week had culminated in several Strongroom players dressing up for what was expected to be a ‘posh fixture’, and Paddy scored full marks for his remarkable pair of plus-fours. However, Royal Ascot turned out to be an extremely pleasant and not-at-all-posh bunch, but above all it was great to get out of London and to experience some semi-fresh air and an interesting, new setting. The oppo skipper won the toss and opted to bat first on a dry and dusty surface. RA fielded a mixed team, comprised of their four league XI’s, and it was a case of ‘spot the first XI batsmen’ as we set out about our task. A rejuvenated Paddy ran down from the grandstand end and soon achieved some healthy pace and lift, yet it was a full bunger that trapped one of their openers lbw without scoring. Ujjal bowled with his usual gusto up the slight slope, but suffered from a troubled ankle/knee after a 6 over workout. Meanwhile, the hard-hitting Carr [24] often threatened to move up through the gears, but a smart throw and gather [D.Gower/O.Moore] finally ended his stay. Whereas Paddy had struggled to control the rampant swing of the Sher ball in his first spell, Oliver focused on inswing only and claimed 2-43.
After 20 overs RA were 75-5, and there was a buoyant feeling that were going to run through them for a small total. However, the Ascot tail did wag and proved harder to dislodge than the first few batsmen. Joe bowled a typically neat spell and picked up two scalps (one from a stunning running catch by D.Gower at extra cover), and Paddy came back for a tighter second spell, mixing in some quick off-cutters and finishing with 2-25. One highlight of Joe’s spell was a leaping effort by Ken as he threw himself from 2nd slip to very close to the batsmen. Alas the ball spilled out of his fingertips as his torso bounced off the ground. Meanwhile, keeper Proctor’s quips of ‘Strike-Rate’ for Dave Gower proved prophetic as Martin ran in from deep square to snare a mis-hit and so complete another quick wicket for the cheeky off-spinner. However, Dave G’s aggravated shoulder opened the way for Ken to turn his arm over and once more prove that his recent ‘6-for’ was no flash in the pan – indeed, within a few deliveries his mighty paws once again held onto a firmly-biffed caught and bowled chance, much to his delight. The Ascot tail had scored quickly off Dave and Ken, and it was left to J.Gower and Martin to deliver the final overs and bring some control back to the scoring rate, leaving RA at 175-9 after their 40 overs. We had no idea what was a par total on this track, but 175 seemed a reasonable target, especially after witnessing the ease with which their no 10 and 11 had batted, and taking the rapidity of the outfield into consideration.
Tea: Excellent. It had everything one needs in a tea – hot tea, orange squash, sarnies, pork pies, mini pizzas, jaffa cakes etc etc etc…
Martin [75] and Rich [65] put on 144 for the first wicket in 19 overs, and that was pretty much that! Okay, I guess I could go into some more detail here…I could talk about how brilliantly they both played, how they systematically took apart the bowling attack. In the early exchanges Martin dispatched a couple of long-hops into the undergrowth bordering the square leg boundary, thereby setting out his stall. Some clinical and well controlled square cuts brought further 4’s, and thereupon followed a quieter spell for both batsmen as tighter bowlers were introduced who demanded greater respect. The respect didn’t stay for too long, though, as suddenly something inside Martin clicked, and a particularly destructive over witnessed a firecracker of boundaries including one violent straight 6 into the road. This was the cue for Rich to play catch-up, and he too wasted no time in displaying the Woolhouse of old – leg-side biffs, lofted straight thwacks and one inventive off-side smear with both knees on the pitch. And that was that. Shaan holed out for 5, and it was left to Oliver and Jon to see Strongroom home with 7 wickets and 13 overs to spare. If Ascot had taken a steepling chance off a Martin mis-hook the course of the innings may well have altered, but down it went, and no further opportunities were provided.
This represented another impressive victory for Strongroom, against an affable team who we hope to play again in 2010. We hung around for some chart and a few drinks, and then headed back into the city…but Paddy didn’t get too far as his tyre exploded before exiting the racecourse. If his Skoda was a horse it would have been put down.
Written By: J.Gower
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