Classic match!
Highgate Wood, 8/9/2014
Strongroom won by 11 runs
Strongroom: 151
Queensbury: 140
View the Scorecard
A cracking day at Highgate Wood, and some overnight rain gave the track a bit of juice. Something to work with! We had 10 players - but a very strong bowling attack. Queensbury a late replacement and new opposition - an unknown quantity.
Das and Gabbay got us off to a reasonable start. Queensbury opening bowler Rryan looked good and achieved some good pace and carry. Both our opening bats were out to classic Highgate Wood ‘pop up’ deliveries from a length. And then me too! Suddenly we were in some trouble at 23-4. Chris Duck (17) played well, and was unlucky to get out to a top edged sweep to fine leg. But it was a partnership between Joe (24) and Ridwan (30) that got us out of dire trouble. Ridwan gave more chances, but hit poor balls very strongly! Joe, meanwhile, looked very composed, as he has done all season. Queensbury bowled well, but 5-6 of us were victims of Highgate ‘pop’ balls. We were finally dismissed for a disappointing 151 in the 32nd over.
Tea - another good lunch, Muswell Hill Bakery.
Grant clean bowled the Queensbury opener 1st ball of their innings! A pitched up outswinger - which made for a great start. Ridwan was was very good at the other end as well. We dropped the other opener three times! (Myself, Gabbay and Joe). Grant picked up two more wickets, and Queensbury were at one stage oppo 25-5. But then Cockburn and Connor batted very well. Cockburn in particular was very shrewd, and knew exactly where his off-stump was. Joe and Asif bowled well - Aasif in particular achieved a good rhythm - after a break courtesy of Ramadan and college exams. Joe again - always accurate. Dane got punished, but there was some poor fielding too, and we didn’t have many runs to play with. We were also struggling with three ‘stand-in’ keepers [Grant, Joe, Asif], and a missing 10th fielder! You really notice this in the field in tight games like this. As a result, the Queensbury lower order continued to put on runs and edge closer to our total. By now they required about 25 off 6 overs - with 4 wickets in hand. Then - the key moment. Joe bowled Cockburn with a beauty - pitching middle and hitting the top of off. Suddenly, we are back in the game. John Rajeeve then gets Johno caught behind, and then a portly fella hits one straight to Gabbay at silly mid off. And then...with 12 runs needed to win...I bowled Ryan, and it was all over.
This was one of those great close games, fluctuating throughout. We made some mistakes fielding, but we all showed good heart throughout. Dane and Chris Duck were very good in the field. And our bowling was superb throughout.
Written By: J.Gower
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