Ol Moore steps up in only game of 2011
Calthorpe Ground, Crouch End, 4/16/2011
Strongroom won by 6 wickers
Crouch End: 123 [O.Moore 4-0]
Strongroom: 127-4 [O.Moore 49]
View the Scorecard
The first game of the season is always a special occasion, but for Oliver Moore it was to be his first and probably last game of 2011 (wedding followed by European tour in a VX camper van). So, it was somewhat fitting that Oliver took hold of this opportunity to crack 49 runs, take 4-0…and effectively play a leading hand in Strongroom’s comfortable victory.
Crouch End won the toss and batted first on a grassy but hard surface, as the last few weeks have been unseasonally sunny and warm. Batting was hard work though, as the ball swung from the outset, and the surface was slow and tennis-ball-bouncy. Whilst three Crouch Enders managed to score 20 runs each, they failed to create partnerships, and wickets fell steadily throughout. The first to go fell to Ujjal, a bendy out-swinger took the edge and was stunningly schnaffled by David Proctor’s left hand, taken a millimetres above his left foot. At the other end debutant Zorain troubled the batsmen consistently with his awkward left-arm pace, and was eventually rewarded with an lbw after many unsuccessful appeals. Other notable incidents included Sumer taking a wicket with his first ball (albeit a long-hop), Chris West bowling 30 balls on the money (this after winter rehabilitation at Lords indoor nets) and of course Ol Moore. Oliver’s inswing down the hill was simply too much for the Crouch End middle and lower order, and at one a stage hat-trick was only just avoided. Crouch End threatened at times to post a larger total than 123, but Olly was instrumental in destroying any hopes of a total above 150 which would have been harder to chase. Joe was his usual accurate self, Jimmy uncharacteristically let one chance go off Ujjal, but the fielding was otherwise good.
A good mixed tea including sarnies, pasta salad and hot chicken.
Jimmy [35] and Oliver [49] patiently set about the total, and did a great job in putting on 70-odd for the first wicket. Both batsmen struggled and played and missed at times, but the ball was jagging around and there was increasingly variable bounce at one end to factor in. However, they both played really well, and their patience was instrumental in laying a calm platform for our run-chase. Wickets did fall, and Crouch End rotated their bowlers well in repeated efforts to dismount our chase, but we hung in there and steadily navigated our way over the winning line (courtesy of yet another Proctor not out!). If Crouch End had managed another 30 runs then this would have been a tougher test of our mettle, as runs were always hard to generate, but as it was…we did good. Roll on the next 27 games!
Written By: J.Gower
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