Hobgoblins draw close, but we pull away...
Highgate Wood, 6/5/2017
Strongroom won by 44 runs
Strongroom: 253-7 [M.Nicholson 110, G.Dixon 43]
Hobgoblins: 209-6 [S.Rowntree 75, B.Ansar 49, J.Lynch 43]
View the Scorecard
We had a strange team. Not often you get a guy who has played Grade A cricket in Australia (Mitch) and a Frenchman (Ben) who has never held a bat or ball in his life, in the same XI. We posted a solid opening stand of 72 against some pretty good bowling. There were however a lot of byes given away. Overall a good hard track and fast outfield. Mitch accumulated another consumate century, as he does. Grant scored a gutsy and typically characterful 43. Tea was a massive, sprawling multi-handed affair, courtesy of inputs from Grant, Hem and the Gower bros. There were probably about 10 sandwiches per person, and somehow they all got processed. Riaz yorked the opener without scoring, and debutant Joe Miller maintained pressure throughout with his skiddy, hustling left-arm pace and line. The Hobgoblinners actually batted really well, and three batsmen showed real assurance at the crease. They were always in the game, but after tea Joe Miller returned and took the key wicket. Then Riaz took another, and they started to lose momentum. Vinay’s brother Victor bowled 4 overs of Afridi-esque hustling leg-spin. Other highlights included debutant Frenchman Ben tripping over his own feet as he chased the ball in the outfield, and rapidly converting this forward fall into a forward-roll, and continuation of the ball chase. It was very entertaining and somehow very French. Mitch kept wicket very tidily, and Hem pulled his hamstring executing an audacious and trademark slide deep in the covers. Hobgoblins showed some real mettle but ultimately fell a little short.
Written By: J.Gower
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