Strongroom tactics come undone
Turney Rd., Dulwich, 9/1/2012
Jesmond Jaguars won by 7 wickers
Strongroom: 120
Jesmond Jaguars: 124-3
View the Scorecard
Strongroom went into this match feeling relatively confident, armed with a pretty robust looking XI. As it was, Jaguars were 1 ½ men short, so the toss was ‘agreed’ that we would bat first. Overhead conditions were good, though the pitch was somewhat scruffy and featured a significant covering of green grass. Eccles’ opening overs lacked his usual accuracy, and it was an error on the part of an otherwise comfortable Schneider that provided his first wicket has he dispatched a full toss straight into a pair of hands. Grant fell to a misjudged pull to the off-spin of Shurston-Baker (Mounsey was being held back), and suddenly we were 20-2 after 5 overs. The brothers Gower thereupon did battle with the Jaguars attack for the following 20 overs, taking the score to 80-2. Dave Gower (23) displayed great powers of concentration, in particular his relentless nullification of Mounsey, who has ran through our top order on several occasions in the past. The Gowers succeeded in steadying the innings, but struggled to up the scoring rate against accurate and testing bowling. Indeed, we were just starting to counter-attack when my dismissal triggered a disastrous collapse, leaving us at 80-3. Tragically, our destroyer Mark Mellor was removed for 1 run, as the shrewd reintroduction of Eccles accounted for his key wicket. Only Joe of the remaining batsmen managed to get into double figures (though Guy showed us his best innings for a while), and Strongroom slumped from 80-2 to 120 all out. This was a hugely disappointing total, as we always knew that only a score of 200+ would realistically trouble the Jags.
A decent tea in the clubhouse was consumed amidst hushed conversation.
Early wickets were our only chance. However, Andy wasn’t quite ‘on it’ as he usually is, and Joe was dispatched for two early 6s, as the Jags openers set out their stall. Joe went onto bowl a good spell though, causing problems with his changes in line and pace, and deserved his wicket when it finally came. Mellor bowled a really decent, probing spell, yet the much desired tumble of wickets never manifested. James Schneider again bowled a good hustling spell, and claimed our third and final wicket. Although we bowled and fielded pretty well, Jaguars simply had too small a total to chase, and we were soundly beaten.
I think in 2013 we will consider batting second!
Written By: J.Gower
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