Corona draft in Test Player to defeat Strongroom
Highgate Woods, 6/24/2006
Corona won by 5 wickets
Strongroom: 154 all out (J.Morris 57)
Corona: 159-5 (Ehsan 91*)
View the Scorecard
Another glorious Saturday - another tight game of cricket at the Woods. Skipper Simon Ray decided to bat first, and this heralded the return of the R.Woolhouse-D.Gower opening axis. However, Rich was soon dismissed for 2, heaving at a long-hop, whereas David Gower showed more composure and gritted out the feisty opening overs. J.Gower was caught behind off the lively pace of Ehsanul Haque, a Bangaldeshi International with Test and One-day experience. Strongroom were 22-2 and a partnership was needed. James Morris (57) and Dave Gower (22) took the score to 79-2 before Dave was adjudged lbw for 22. James meanwhile continued his excellent form of 2006, mixing in patient defence with some bold driving over the top against the accurate Corona spinners. Only Andy Taylor (10) and Simon Ray (25) showed the requisite character in squeezing some runs out of the lower order, but the return of Ehsanul effectively brought an end to the Strongroom innings, with Baddeley, Claro and Cannon all falling cheaply. From 94-3, Strongroom lost their last 7 wickets for a further 60 runs and finished on a disappointing154 all out.
Tea Report: 7 ½ /10 Pete Cannon introduced a touch of continental flair with some excellent ciabatta’s, filled with pan-fried beef, chicken escallopes, salad and pesto. These were complemented with some chocolate eclairs and mini apple crumbles.
Simon Ray (8-2-16-2) and J.Gower (7.4-0-31-2) shared the new ball, and it was Simon who made the initial breakthrough snaring opposing captain Naser for 5. Jon had Rajan brilliantly caught by James Morris at short cover off a long-hop, but accounted for Zunaid with a legitimate away-swinger, pouched at the third attempt by a juggling Woolhouse at slip. Simon bowled with genuine pace and intensity, and after Tareq was clean bowled, Corona were teetering on 50-5 in the 13th over. Meanwhile, Ehsanul was patiently playing himself in, and Strongroom were struggling to tempt him into any indescretion. Ray intelligently managed his bowling attack, and Rich Woolhouse bowled another fine spell of away swing (8-1-29-1). Spinners Luke Evans and David Gower also created a few half-chances, and although Strongroom fielded well, Ehsan was still proving tough to eke out. Paul (1*) proved equally stubborn, his unbeaten single yielded from 13 overs!
Strongroom fought hard all the way, but it was Ehsanul’s skill which brought victory to Corona in the 36th over with a flurry of boundaries.
Written By: J.Gower
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