Strongroom keep Gardeners in the potting shed
Highgate Wood, 8/22/2015
Strongroom won by 8 wickets
Gardeners: 157 [N.Cunningham 54, M.Aked 42, V.Venkateshan 6-27]
Strongroom: 158-2 [R.Woolhouse 56*, Hassan Ali 49]
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A beautifully hot and sunny day saw a Strongroom team, good on paper but low in numbers, lose the toss and asked to field by an experienced Gardeners side. Kindly lent a couple of players, Strongroom went into the field and opened up with the tall swing bowling of Moore. Six balls later things were looking ominous as Cunnigham hit a couple of balls straight back over the bowlers head, 11-0. Seven men, a six and a four. Ouch. This looked like a long day.
Not to fear though as the skiddy John Rajeeve opened up from the other end. The twin virtues of bowling straight and full bringing rewards on his way to 2-13. By the end of 8 overs, Gardeners were wobbling at 36-2. However, a strong partnership followed from Cunningham and Matt, the Gardeners captain, putting on a 73 for the third wicket. Strongroom players gradually arrived, eventually getting the numbers up to 11. Even so, the Strongroom bowlers toiled in the afternoon sun, with Abdul and Mike bowling well but struggling to take wickets, Gardeners accumulated runs. Then enter Vinay, bowling straight and changing his pace well, he was rewarded with a wicket in his first over. This was followed by two in two balls in his third, two more in his sixth before polishing off his spell with a wicket maiden, 6-27, his best figures for Strongroom. The game had changed, from 109-2 to 155 all out. Steve chipped in with the wicket of the dangerous Cunningham as the batsman looked to accelerate.
Tea was a solid mix of sandwiches, bagels and vine leaves.
Strongroom opened with Mike and Hassan as both had to leave early. Hassan hit the ball well on his way to 49 but Mike was the victim of an unfortunate running mix-up and grumbled his way back to the car and an early shower. Hassan was joined by Rich Woolhouse, despite this being his first game since tour, he looked assured and in good form; timing the ball well on his way to a composed 56 not out. After Hassan was bowled, Vinay joined Rich to continue his good day, taking his time to get off the mark, he finished on a solid 18 not out. Strongroom won at a canter with 15 overs to spare.
Written By: J.Hall
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