Strongroom see out season in style
Moormead, 9/24/2005
Strongroom won by 73 runs
Strongroom: 223-5 (R.Woolhouse 51, D.Gower 44, D.Proctor 43)
Crossbats: 150 all out (M.Court 4-33)
View the Scorecard
The sun low in the sky, freshness in the air, and ripe conkers. With October rapidly approaching, Strongroom completed their season with a trip to St Margarets, near Richmond – a rare treat for the few South of the River squad members. Here they crossed swords with Crossbats, another new fixture for 2005.
Crossbats put Strongroom in on an astroturf track, in sunny, dry conditions. Old Firm openers Rich Woolhouse (51) and Dave Gower (44) again showed the benefit of their experienced, contrasting partnership in a fine stand of 93. Rich blended a watchful defence with hammer-blow drives and back-foot cuffs, while Dave set about building a robust innings, typified with his familiar flicks to leg and punches through the covers. Crossbats’ bowlers were all threatening, but too many bad balls appeared among the pearls, the surface was true, and their ground-fielding did not fully support their efforts. This didn’t prevent Crossbats from keeping an attacking offside ring throughout the innings, which made for entertaining cricket.
Rich was eventually dismissed in the 17th over, after passing 400 runs for the season. John Baddeley stepped into the breach, and was surprised by pace and bounce to be bowled off his glove and pad for a ‘golden’. James Claro replaced him, and after surviving the hat-trick ball went on to compose a characteristically stylish 30 runs, putting on a vital 60 for the 3rd wicket with Dave, his Devonshire Comrade. James used his reach well to push forwards and play through the line, showing good techinique and ‘soft hands’. At 145-2 off 25 overs the drinks break was taken, and a final total of 250 off 35 was being eyed up. Upon resumption Dave smacked a couple of boundaries before being caught at short mid-off, and James followed him back to the clubhouse without a further run being added. Dave Proctor (43) and Mark Pickering (10*) were now at the crease, and they responded brilliantly, plundering 60 runs for the 5th wicket. Dave played his best innings of the season, showing great character after a difficult year with the bat. Yes, the trademark violence was there, the sledge-hammer blows to mid-wicket and swats through extra-cover, but he also revealed some delightful on-drives, exquisitely timed flicks to leg and off-drives on the up. This was impressive stuff, and his Pietersen-esque counter-attack took the game away from Crossbats, as Strongroom passed 200 runs for the 7th time this year. DP was eventually out in in the 34th over, and Pickering and J Gower took Strongroom home to an impressive 223-5 off 35 overs.
Tea Rating: 8/10
Egg, tuna, ham, cheese, bacon, Branston pickle – all the classic British fillings featured in an excellent, shop-prepared tea, washed down with a fresh brew. One of our best away teas of the season.
Strongroom kicked off with the contrasting attack of Jon Gower (3-26) and Chris Willcock (0-26). Jon continued from last week’s encounter with Pacific, bowling skiddy stuff just back of a length, while Bully bowled much fuller, shaping the ball away nicely. After some cautious overs, Jon claimed his first of three victims, as Spiro mistimed a pull that looped up for Pete Cannon to take comfortably. Skipper Dave Gower then introduced 14 overs of slower bowling from both ends, in the form of Matt Court’s cutters (4-33) and Jolyon’s spin (2-38). Both bowlers were biffed away to the boundary on occasion, but the wickets kept falling as they tried to keep it up to the bat and their skipper kept faith with an attacking field. Jolyon even slipped in the odd leggie – one of which beat the bat to hit the stumps. Matt in particular was aided by some brilliant outfielding. James Claro took a very sharp diving catch at silly mid-off, Rich snapped up a tidy slip chance, Jolyon grabbed a good running effort at mid-off and Dave Proctor took an outrageous catch at extra-cover, running full-pelt, diving and wrestling the ball out of the air. Fired up by his golden duck, John B scampered around threateningly to stop many runs. Matt twice had hat-trick opportunities, and by the time Jon and Bully (who also took a smart catch) returned the game was nearly won. There was even time and space to begin James C’s bowling rehab – we’re looking forward to more big inswingers in 2006.
Strongroom had won by 73 runs, and both teams headed for the Turks Head to drink beer and look back over an enjoyable game and great season for club and country.
Written By: J & D Gower
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