Record haul for Rahman seals big win
Wandsworth Park, 5/19/2012
Strongroom won by 127 runs
Strongroom: 223-9 [S.Katariya 67, R.Sharma 48]
Balham Roamers: 96 [DK 42, J.Rahman 6-16]
View the Scorecard
Both teams had major difficulties in getting teams together in the build up, but some combined determination to get a game in under reasonable weather paid off. Strongroom turned up with only 7 players, boosted in the nick of time by 8th man Rishabh, and also by recruiting some youthful vagrants in Wandsworth Park. Both teams were late and the game was reduced to 35 overs per side.
The pitch was dry enough considering the weather but looked a touch agricultural. In the end it played pretty well with only a handful of deliveries popping.
Luckily for a team with only 7, Strongroom won the toss and batted. James and Jimmy looked solid enough but DK’s excellent yorkers paid off and saw the end of them both. Sumer heaved himself to the crease and proceeded to play one of his best innings for Strongroom, full of straight-bat and clinical dispatching of bad deliveries interspersed with only the occasional swish. He dominated two 50 partnerships with James and Dave (especially the latter – scoring 41 of the 51 partnership) before an ugly mow brought about his downfall as he failed to give due respect to Rutter’s full late outswingers. The Strongroom innings then had a minor wobble. Rishabh still hadn’t turned up, Dave was bowled and suddenly more than half the team were out for 140. Joe and Chris hung around just long enough for Rishabh to make it to the crease at 156-6. Rishabh played very nicely for 48, and batted especially well with Louie – a teenager just recruited from the park – they added 30 together. Louie’s mate Sameen joined Louie at the crease to ensure that Strongroom batted out their full quota of overs. Strongroom were delighted with their 223. Balham’s legspinner took some tap but all their other bowlers picked up wickets and bowled some decent stuff.
A quick and perfectly adequate tea, well-prepared in the absence of any pavilion/clubhouse facilities. Strongroom were happy when teenagers Louie, Sameen, Shay and Luke agreed to provide fielding cover. They made a good contribution, not only filling gaps but turning in pretty much unblemished performances in making excellent stops that generally added to a good team fielding effort. Strongroom had an entire team of spin bowlers so opened with Chris and debutant Riaz. Chris didn’t take to the shiny new ball so was immediately replaced by Joe, and by the time Joe and Riaz had finished their spells the game was all but over. Riaz bowled his legspinners accurately, briskly and with a lot of turn. He was unlucky not to take more than the one wicket, and his economy could have been much higher if we hadn’t packed all the fielders pretty much on the square. At the other end Joe took the best ever Strongroom bowling figures (though he needs to thank the umpire for calling one short run – the run that separated him from Mellor’s previous record of 6-17). Joe’s wickets were all deserved and it was a great spell. Among the carnage, DK played expansively enough for James Schneider to have an exploratory two overs of pace (unluckily having a slip catch put down). Chris came back and took the final two wickets before completing his second over. We had been worried about Jimmy having to leave at 6 to attend a wedding, but it was done and dusted before then.
Written By: D.Gower
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