Thumping win
Highgate Wood, 5/19/2018
Strongroom won by 104 runs
Strongroom: 131 [Ward 4-18]
UCS Old Boys: 27 [M.Godhi 4-6]
View the Scorecard
A lovely May day at the Woods. Strongroom had a good XI, including a debut for Alfie. UCS Old Boys turned up with some local nous and experience but started with only 9 (thanks to Guy, Dave S, Alfie, Grant for sub fielding). They momentarily reached 10 but were reduced to 9 again after one of their fielders badly split his finger after flinging himself to his left to try to snaffle a solid Dave P pull shot.
The pitch was dry and firm underneath, but a bit crumbly and uneven up close. Batting was tricky all day, mostly because of variable bounce - shooters (mostly at the score hut end) and tennis-ball lifters were common. UCS opening bowlers presented some challenges - substantial inswing from the far end and less pacey but more accurate and stump-threatening outswing/seam from the hut end. Jimmy looked unfortunate to fall lbw after advancing a long way down the pitch and flicking to leg. Vinay looked very crisp but fell caught behind to a nicely pitched outswinger. Dave Siddall played the most assured and highest scoring innings of the day, combining watchful defence spattered with well-judged lofted straight drives. Dave G hung in somewhat grimly and the two Daves put on 46. After Dave G failed to clear mid-on there was a bit of a collapse, with Croft's teasingly slow but naggingly accurate out-dobblers causing problems. 63-2 quickly became 77-6. Ilyas and Dave P calmed things down with an excellent, important and swift 44 partnership, Ilyas calmly finding gaps through or over the infield and Dave selecting which balls to give a firmer hit. Strongroom seemed back on track for batting out their 40 overs and ending with a healthy total, but hopes fizzled out with another dramatic collapse 121-6 became 133 all out with more than 7 overs unused. Lots of stump-splattering full length bowling. Opening bowler Ward (4-18 in 8 overs) the pick of the UCS attack.
A pretty good tea courtesy of Dave P, Vinay and Sainsbury's.
The UCS innings was a brief affair, done in less than 15 overs. Grant, Momed and Tim were all excellent, bowling attacking lines at good pace with plenty of movement. Momed was spectacularly good, getting very late outswing from balls starting off on leg stump. He couldn't quite get the 5-fer he deserved, though two dropped catches (the only SCC blemishes in the field) and an abbreviated batting line-up didn't help. Dave S did a fine job keeping. UCS's Craig played some great attacking shots late in the day.
This was an enjoyable game. It looks one-sided on paper but UCS seemed to have some talent at the top of their batting order and just came up against a ruthlessly effective opening spell. Watching Mohmed at work was a pleasure.
Written By: D.Gower
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