Crossbats defeat Strongroom for first time
Hampton Wick, 9/25/2010
Crossbats won by 4 wickets
Strongroom: 165 [D.Proctor 57]
Crossbats: 166-6 [A.Wright 57]
View the Scorecard
After several seasons of autumnal visits to the scruffy Astroturf set-up at Moormead, we were fortunate to be playing at the lovely Hampton Wick main square. The pavilion was a fine sight, as was the enormous wandering stag that passed the ground as we were batting. Crossbats opted to bat first on winning the toss, which proved to be an astute decision. The opening overs were greeted with five slips, gully and point, and the bowlers achieved good movement off a very green and damp surface. Wickets fell at regular stages, and only David Gower [25] showed genuine application in battling his way to a quarter-century. With Dave’s dismissal though, Strongroom really needed someone to step up to the plate, and sure enough David Proctor did just that in a high-quality innings [57] that helped Strongroom work their way to a semi-reasonable total. Dave P showed great maturity and nous, mixing resolute defensive shots with authentic punch-drives through the covers and powerful bottom-handed punts through mid-on. Of the tail, only Joe Rahman achieved any significant runs, and Strongroom could have done with a number XI batsman and another 25 runs. Excellent tea. Oliver Moore claimed two early victims in a good opening spell [2-34], but at the other end Ujjal was terribly unlucky to have three chances spilled in the slips. Two of these were offered by Crossbats skipper Alistair Wright, who also survived a couple of very strong lbw shouts to score an otherwise determined and invaluable half-century. Joe tightened our game up with another fine spell of left-arm spin, and at 83-3 off 30 overs both sides were still in the game. However, Dave Gower had another straighforward catch put down off his first ball of his spell, and Strongroom simply couldn’t claw their way back from these lost opportunities. Alistair was finally run out, and Ujjal had a final burst featuring yet another tremendous stump-splattering in-swinging Yorker, but Ross and Finch showed admirable fight and courage in taking Crossbats home with 7 balls to go. We really should have made a much better fist of this game, but simply didn’t deserve to win.
Written By: J.Gower
|