Strongroom emerge victorious from gritty grindfest
Highgate Wood, 5/28/2022
Strongroom won by 65 runs
Strongroom: 190 [B.Hartridge 55]
London Itinerants: 125
View the Scorecard
A beautiful day was made that much better by winning the toss and batting first. Club captain David Proctor was still absent with a groggy groin and knackered knee, so I stood in as temporary overlord. Vinay arrived late, and so again Ben Hartridge benefited from someone’s absence and exploited the opportunity to open with a fine 55. He’s simply in great touch. David Siddal also looked in forthright mood until he popped up a catch to the covers for 19. Debutant Robbie Fraser got a spot at number four, and was displaying a good eye and a straight swing of the bat until he went across the line to a full one and paid the price and lost his stumps. Thereafter, we quickly lost big guns Ben, Arif and Vinay, and went from 104-3 off 20 to 140-6, and teetered on the edge of a low total (and we only had 10 players). I steadied proceedings with a particularly stodgy 21 in 17 overs, helped by debutant Nick Dennis (20). We targeted the magical Highgate Wood total of 180 and completing our 40 overs, and were therefore satisfied when we finished on 190 after 39.4. Vinay’s run out was somewhat contentious, and Arif wasn’t too pleased to be adjudged LBW. Umpiring really is a job to avoid! London Itinerants had bowled well, especially Dev (very accurate), Nobby (frustrating length) and Meenal (good line), but we hung in there and accumulated our way to a decent score.
We individually snorted down our DIY teas, but somehow it lacked the theatre of a purpose made, creative effort.
We were treated to a superb opening spell from debutant Nick (3-23), who employed his smooth action, height, pace and bounce to good effect. In particular he had an enthralling contest with opposing skipper Nishi, who shimmied down the track and smashed him back through the V’ on a couple of occasions, before he took on a short-one and mistimed a pull to Sai at midwicket. Even though we eventually went on to dismiss Itinerants for 125 and won by 65 runs, curiously, for much of their run chase it seemed they were in with a decent chance. Their most promising looking partnership appeared in the form of Devansh (37) and Phil (15), who both looked comfortable at the crease. Arif provided a running commentary for classy lefthander Devansh, in an attempt to unruffle his calmness, but which amusingly resulted in a huge 6 being hoisted into the trees over long on. Ben’s offspin did the trick, as he finally got Devansh caught off a missed drive by Nick at deep midwicket. Soon after Ankit bowled Phil with a pretty much unplayable delivery, and then Vinay threw down the stumps from 20 yards to leave Nobby well short. Arif, Ankit, Mario and Nick had all bowled superbly, with accuracy and intent, Robbie fielded with astonishing running speed and immense enthusiasm throughout, and Siddal did very well behind the stumps. The final victory margin of 65 runs seemed a bit harsh on the Itinerants, but our disciplined bowling proved to be the difference.
Written By: J.Gower
|