Windy Win!
Harberton, Devon, 6/8/2012
Strongroom won by 53 runs
Strongroom: 146-2
Harberton: 93-6
View the Scorecard
This was our only game on tour this year, in the face of foul weather. It nearly didn’t go ahead, but thanks to the strong gales, hill-top location of the ground, and energies of the Harberton ground staff, we were delighted to get out of the cars, stretch our motoring legs and run around. There was no toss because we had only 4 players there for the start. Ollie (great to have him back) and Joe opened the batting while Mark umpired at the bowlers’ ends and Dave G umpired at square leg with his bat, pads and the scorebook. Fortunately Jon, Sumer, Jimmy and Rishabh (car 2) arrived before things got more complicated. There was an amazingly strong, persistent cross-wicket wind. This made it difficult sometimes to distinguish genuine swing from drift, but youngster Tobias bowled some lovely inblowers with the bright pink ball (a first for us I think – and a good idea for an evening fixture without sightscreens), getting one through Olie’s defence early. After that we chipped along rather well. The pitch played pretty well – much more batsman friendly than even a fairly dry Highgate. Retirements for Strongroom (at 25) were notched up by Joe, Dave, Rishabh (in his last Strongroom appearance, sadly) and eventually Mark. Sumer wasn’t his usual brutal self in the face of some wily rural fare to which he wasn’t accustomed. Harberton actually bowled alright, but they were badly let down by many dropped catches, including a rare hat trick off the same bowler/fielder combination. Mark also completed his innings with three mighty 6s which provided our total with some ballast. Car 3 (Andy, Hem, Guy) arrived just in time to take the field. Andy settled in to his first cricket since the last tour by dropping immediately onto a perfect line/length. Hem also bowled neatly and it took a superb pick up and direct hit from Ollie to see off a good opening bat. Ollie’s inswingers took him to an anticlimactic hat trick ball (given as a wide). Harberton’s Larder hadn’t played cricket since this same fixture 2 years ago, but he compiled a crisp 34 before misjudging a run. Jon bowled the game’s only maiden, and tight overs and fielding saw Sumer, Rishabh and Mark quashing any chance of a late run surge. Guy took the last over – his first competitive bowl for as long as anyone can remember. It looked quite reasonable, even though 72 year old Hawtin did tuck him neatly off his legs for 4. A comfortable win but perfect tour opener in terms of a lovely opposition and ground, and everyone getting involved in the game. Shame the weather did for the rest of the weekend’s cricket…
Written By: D.Gower
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