Big win in Hackney
London Fields, Hackney, 4/27/2014
Strongroom won by 112 runs
Strongroom: 236-9 [J.Gower 46]
London Fields: 124 [J.Schneider 4-20]
View the Scorecard
Strongroom arrived at London Fields on a fresh Sunday morning in late April, the wicket predictably soft and green. The Strongroom management had voiced concerns over the ‘peak beard’ gentrification of Hackney and how this might improve the normally competitive London Fields side.
The game got off to a poor start for the visitors as they lost the toss and were put into bat. Gower and Schneider opened the batting and started off at a canter, allaying concerns about the wicket which, playing not unlike Highgate, proved to be slow and well-tempered. Some wayward bowling was plundered, Schneider showing particular aggression in the knowledge he had to dash off for a TV interview about 40 minutes after the start eventually skying a catch to cover. Strongroom continued scoring at around 10 per over, opening bowler Yates bowled with relatively good control while Laurie and Mark were swiftly hit out of the attack before Tony came on, picking up a couple of wickets. Some lusty blows from Davies and Duck continued the impressive scoring rate. Duck on debut calmed his self-confessed nerves by hitting several huge sixes, sending the hipster crowd diving for cover. However, wickets continued to fall regularly, Gower clean bowled by the impressive Sam for the innings top score of 46, before Kalsi steadied the innings with an aggressive 31. Strongroom finished on 236-9 with useful contributions down the order from Ellis and Das after Hugh claimed two wickets in two balls. Overall, a scrappy performance in the field from London Fields with four or five dropped chances and several overthrows contributing to an already imposing total.
As per usual, no tea provided by London Fields.
In reply Strongroom, with a strong bowling attack, quickly rattled through the London Fields top three. Vinay, bowling with a good change of pace, took out both openers on his way to 15-2. The other opener, Dixon, was his normal controlled self, picking up one wicket caught by Kalsi at cover. London Fields were struggling to keep up with the run rate and this showed as wickets continued to tumble. The middle order of O’Connor, Smart, Holden and Yates offered some resistance and clean hitting. Patel, at first change, picked up two in a probing spell. Das at the other end, initially proved erratic but finding rhythm, returned figures of 25-1. Ellis was unlucky not to pick up wickets in his four overs before Schneider, came on to knock over the tail. The virtues of bowling full, straight and quickly being rewarded as he collected 4-15.
A sharp performance in the field by Strongroom, with only one dropped chance, led to a victory by an impressive 124 runs. Proving again that catches (and lots of quick runs) win matches.
Written By: J.Hall
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