Hall and Ray pull off stunning win
North London CC, Crouch End, 6/13/2010
Strongroom won by 4 wickets
Bohemians: 214-8 [A.Kanwar 42, T.Whyte 54, S.Ray 4-46]
Strongroom: 217-6 [J.Hall 94*, S.Ray 43*]
View the Scorecard
The 10 man Strongroom team dropped to 9 after Guy was forced to withdraw with an aggrevation of his finger injury sustained on tour which had left him unable to dial the correct phone number ;-). A new look Strongroom team arrived in North London to find the Bohemians also a man short. Simon Ray standing in as skipper for the first time in a couple of years took no time in confirming he is not one of the clubs top tossers and lost to opposing captain Rob Archdale. Rob decided to bat first. Strongroom opened with the ever reliable Ujjal who showed excellent control, but it was Praneet at the other end who looked the more dangerous. Both were unlucky not to claim a wicket with testing opening spells but they kept the run rate down to under 2 an over for the first 10. First change Chris and Simon relaxed some of that control with some wayward fare but Simon managed to take a Bothamesque wicket of rank full toss hit straight to fielder. Chris also bowled some excellent deliveries but both bowlers were guilty of bowling one or two four balls an over as well. The ever reliable Bohemians opener Kanwar and number 3 Leece were going on nicely and had put on around 50 when Simon managed to seam one away and get Kanwar caught behind. This wicket bought in the very dangerous looking J Kelly. His class was evident from the outset with powerful drives and wristy pulls and cuts. He was unlucky to play early on one and get caught and bowled for 29. Previously number 3 Leece has missed a straight one trying to rotate the strike. Strongroom debutant Nick made a promising start to his career and bowled much better than his figures suggested, but he was unlucky to be bowling to J Kelly and Tom Whyte both in full flight. Good length balls were despatched for fours and sixes and the plays and misses were also missing edges and stumps. Bohemians were progressing at quite a lick but the removal of J Kelly and Chris' return and bowling of Tom for 54 (off many fewer balls) slowed the run rate right down again and the last 10 overs went for around 4 an over. Praneet and Ujjals return accounted for this, but also Strongrooms knack of getting all the Bohemians top order out before they could do any real damage (with Tom the exception). Kiwi Paul also bowled a nice couple of overs at the end which saw a wicket. Tea: Lovely fair including hot tea! Strongroom knew they were in with a shout at the Bohemians total which looked a minimum of 30 runs short on that fast scoring track. Jimmy and Arvind opened and both looked in good touch. Jimmy especially was quick to punish anything short and wide. We were going nicely at around 5 an over when Kanwar caught Arvind with an amazing catch at backward point after Arvind had middled a cut. Paul came in for his first innings in a few years, but quickly showed a good technique and a couple of powerfully driven fours suggested this could be a fairy tale return, but again the slight vagries in pace of the pitch accounted for him for 8, chipping to point. Most of the middle order came and went with Praneet particularly guilty of getting out once well in, but Jimmy was progressing serenely at the other end. A clatter of wickets meant Simon coming to join Jimmy with the score 118-6 to face a hat-trick ball and 90 odd still needed. Hat trick ball clubbed powerfully into silly mid off's knee These two proceeded to judge the run chase perfectly, waiting for bad balls, running well and having a little bit of luck here and there (Simon being dropped at square leg with still 40 odd runs needed). Jimmy batted beatifully and finished the match in style with an upper cut for four followed by a fantastic clip over mid-wicket for six to end on 94 not out and an unbeaten partnership of 99. Another good game against the Bohemians that we could have won and lost at different times of the match but Jimmy made the difference as the only batsman to bat for any length of time.
Written By: S.Ray
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