Strongroom cut down Hobgoblins on Chocolate Gateaux
Highgate Wood, 8/25/2012
Strongroom won by 7 wickets
Hobgoblin Nomads: 139-6
Strongroom: 140-3 [W.Davies 53]
View the Scorecard
As Jules clipped the winning runs at around 7pm, 20 sodden and heavily soiled men converged to shake hands and show respect for what was a good game of cricket played in dire conditions.
Several hours earlier, I lost the toss to our new opposition (late replacement), who decided to bat first under heavy clouds. Within no time rain was falling, which made for quite a pacy, bouncy surface, as the water formed a skiddy film upon what had been a hard track. Gabbay and Hem started off solidly enough, but it was Orme who made two breakthroughs, extracting LBWs from the opposition umpire thanks to a nagging line and bellowing appeals. A good stand between skipper Niz (27) and Sachin (30) steered the Goblins towards a decent total. Thereupon another very heavy shower occurred, backed up by black skies, thunder and lightning. We really had no business playing on what was now a waterlogged surface, but this was the wettest summer for 100 years, which had already claimed 11 games from us, and Andy had driven 2 hours from Kent. We had to play. The Goblins were ambling along quite nicely, so it was a very timely burst of energy and aggression from David Proctor (3-24) that helped derail their final 10 overs, ending their innings at 139-7 off 35 overs. A few other things to note - Jules did a fine job behind the sticks (first time), debutant Kiwi Grant Dixon fielded and bowled really well, and everyone bowled a good line. 4 catches were put down, though only some of these can be excused by a wet ball!
Tea: The Bakers of Muswell HIll did their ‘best ever’. Thankfully they limited the mayonnaise, and presented crisps in little bags so they didn’t go soggy (pet hate of DP).
As for our innings, by the time we batted the surface was totally soggy and each end around the bowlers footmarks resembled a chocolate gateaux. The zip and bounce from when we bowled had completely gone, and so the Hobgoblins probably had the worst of the batting and bowling conditions. As it was, Will (53) and Gabbay (15) put on a very credible opening stand (32 off 7 overs). Will went on to plunder his first Strongroom half-century, after playing his first game of the season (numerous other attempts had been sabotaged by rain), and included several trademark biffs over mid-wicket, as well as some more delicate shots off the spinners. I hung around to make 24, and it was left to a characteristically, sprightly innings from Jules (21*) to take us to victory in the 27th over.
A fun game overall, our first for a month! And a good one considering we only had 9 players. We hope to play the Hobgoblin Nomads at their patch in South East London in mid-October.
Written By: J.Gower
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