Highgate Swamp Sinks Strongroom
Highgate Wood, 6/25/2011
Pacific won by 25 runs
Pacific: 136-8 [T.Chasseaud 60*]
Strongroom: 111 [G.Durston 4-24]
View the Scorecard
A very wet week left both teams wondering about the likelihood of a game taking place as they woke up to an overcast London sky. These doubts were all but removed with an email received at 09.24 declaring “GAME IS ON”. On arrival to the ground the sun was starting to attempt to poke out through the clouds, the outfield was still wet and the pitch was very soft and spongy. Joe in his first game as captain against external opposition, won the toss and proceeded to throw recent Strongroom convention out the window, deciding to bowl first on the basis that the pitch and outfield would dry out as the day progressed.
This decision was proven to be wise initially as Sian (making his Strongroom debut) and Zorain both managed to make inroads into the opposition, and indentations into the soft Highgate pitch - there was no need for hawkeye as Sian got the first lbw decision of the day with a ball that left evidence that it had pitched in line. Mike was brought on at one end and bowled tightly in a nice outside off channel without reward. At the other end Chris W came on and bowled a couple of deliveries of varied length before settling into a rhythm and removing a couple of Pacific batsmen. Sumer was brought on after drinks and bowled a lovely spell, turning the ball both ways and kept the batsmen guessing throughout, picking up two clean bowled wickets in the process. Zorain came back for a quick over to try to nip out a wicket before Joe finally brought himself on in the 29th over for a tight five over spell which troubled both batsmen. Zorain and Sian came back on for the last couple of overs as Toby Chasseud finished off an excellent captains knock scoring 60 not out (with no one else scoring more than 14) guiding Pacific to onto a very competitive total of 136. The Strongroom fielding effort aided Pacifics total and was below par compared to recent performances . A couple of catches put down, and there were a few misfields in the wet conditions. There was even one incident when a ball that had pulled up before the rope was kicked over by an unnecessary dive....
Tea: The standard spread from Muswell Hill Bakery consisting of sandwiches, bagels, and crisps that were about as soggy as the Highgate Pitch
Strongroom got off to a slow but solid start with Mike looking to play straight against fairly tight bowling lines. Unfortunately he fell to stunning reaction catch to a hammered drive at short extra cover. This brought about the patented Strongroom collapse earlier than usual. Anirudh came and went after trying to play his first two balls across the line. Karan struck around for a couple of overs before Durston removed him LBW with his first delivery of the day. He then struck again the same over removing Will with a rare ball that popped up and was spooned back to short mid wicket. Strongroom were reeling on the pitch at 4-28, and were scrambling off it. The lack of available kit and scorers left this author trying to pad up and score at the same time. Joe added some impetuous to the innings and together with Chris V, who had remained stuck on two runs while his first four partners had come and gone (at one point he faced 34 deliveries in a row without troubling the scorer), put on our highest partnership (26) of day. Chris V’s downfall to the fourth LBW decision of the day brought Guy to the crease. He fell into the same trap as others before him trying to play a perceived shorter ball that stayed low across the line. Chris W joined Joe at the crease and together they moved the score along briskly to 80 before Joe (top scoring with 28) fell to a very sharp catch at square leg. Zorain usurped Sumers place in the batting line up in the hurry to get home and did not last long out in the middle, thumping two balls for four off the slow spin of Tambay Raja before attempted a third and being clean bowled. Chris followed soon after to a one handed diving catch at midwicket. Sumer and Sian played a few nice shots before Sumer fell to another one that stayed low bringing the innings to a close 25 runs short of our target.
In summary, the match was played in excellent spirit and we shared a few beers with our opposition at the Woodman after the game. Strongroom had the better of the batting conditions but failed to play straight on a pitch keeping low. The difference between winning and losing could be attributed to Tobys excellent knock and the stark contrast of fortunes in the field. We look forward to the return fixture in October.
Written By: C.West
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