Debut wickets for Sam crown all-round Strongroom performance
London Fields, 4/24/2022
Strongroom won by 141 runs
Strongroom: 276-6 [B.Hartridge 73, Varun 60, G.Jones 49]
London Fields: 135
View the Scorecard
The sun-worshippers and picnickers were out in force on a glorious spring Sunday to witness a powerful Strongroom side outclass London Fields at their own manor.
276 always seemed like enough to defend and Strongroom's bowlers did an excellent job, taking wickets at regular intervals to bowl out the Fields batting order for 130 inside 30 overs.
Dave Gower (3-23) picked up three with his sinuously snaking away swingers. His first wicket – the length drawing the Fields opener forwards, the movement curving it away, the ball kissing the edge of the bat and the edge flying straight through to Ben behind the stumps - was a dismissal that would not have looked out of place on a grander stage.
The remaining wickets were shared. Mario and Ankit both struggled for rhythm initially, coming up the hill from the Richmond Road End, but they eventually settled into tidy spells and each deserved their wicket. Tryshan beat the bat again and again but got no reward. Nissar came on to EXPLODE THE STUMPS OF TAILENDERS! He got one.
The revelation of the Fields innings was the curious and effective bowling action of Sam Leach (3-22), on debut. Sam’s off-breaks, delivered with a windmilling approach to the crease and tantalising dip and flight, accounted for three of the Fields lower order and announced the arrival of a new spin bowler to the Strongroom stable.
After winning the toss and inserting Strongroom on a greenish pitch, a one hundred run opening stand was probably not what London Fields had in mind. Gwyn (49) and Ben (73), along with Ilyas (24) coming in a three, set a strong platform for the middle order before all perishing to misjudged backfoot play.
If the top three were left contemplating the internalised voices of the Strongroom elders urging them to “get forward!”, Varun soon swept all that to one side. His crisp pulls and lofted drives lit up the Strongroom innings with a brisk 60.
At the other end however, the cricketing gods would not allow Sam a completely seamless debut. Despite a magnificent dive, he was run out by an unlikely direct hit from long off.
Arif and Tryshan batted selflessly at the end, scampering singles and peppering the boundary, to drive Strongroom to an imposing 275-6 from 40 overs. More than enough, in the end, despite the short boundaries and excellent April wicket.
Tea was bring your own, the Fields side were a hospitable bunch, the Pub in the Park was heaving with hipsters, and the sun shone brightly throughout. An excellent day out for the Room.
In the image below we see skipper David Gower, Ilyas and Ben.
Written By: B.Hartridge
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