Gwyn-Win.
Highgate Wood, 12/6/2022
Strongroom won by 8 wickets
Palm Tree: 191
Strongroom: 195-2
View the Scorecard
Palm Tree won the toss and chose to bat. On a glorious, sunny day at the Woods, I would have done the same.
Their openers started solidly against Jerome and Ankit. We initially had 8 players due to last-minute drop outs and delays on the Northern line.
Nevertheless, Ankit found that nagging length that is his speciality and his six overs yielded just 15 runs. Jerome struggled for rhythm from his less preferred end and was replaced by Vinay who bowled as if he had some personal scores to settle. The opening ten overs offered the purists a tantalising contest between bat and ball – no doubt enjoyed by the picnickers looking on. When Ankit changed to round the wicket and struck with the first ball of the 11th over we were relieved to break the opening stand of 55.
The opposition number three arrived and continued in much the same style of solid defence and positive running. Palm Tree really do play in the way of a well-drilled league side. Nisar joined the match, bringing us up to ten players, and was immediately into the attack. His right-arm round was on the spot every time but Palm Tree resisted stubbornly.
In search of a wicket, I turned to Sam’s off-spin in the 18th over. After taking an over to get loose, Sam produced a magic delivery that gripped and turned and trapped the dangerous-looking Treasure LBW for 37. Then, Nisar finally got his reward in his sixth over drawing a thick edge that was extremely well-held by Ankit in the gully.
This brought the skipper Robins to the crease and signalled an increase in intent from Palm Tree. Kamat, Robbins and particularly Stabbins pushed the score along with lusty blows off the bowling of Sam and Seb. Seeing a left-hander at the crease, I brought myself on. Of course I didn’t get close to getting him out, but picked up two other wickets in an over to spark a collapse.
Palm Tree’s innings subsided from172-4 off 30 overs to 191 all out as Vinay, Nisar and Jerome returned to mop up the tail.
We hung in really well with just ten players against a strong Palm Tree batting order and then ruthlessly closed the innings out to leave ourselves a steep but reachable target.
DIY teas were the order of the day.
Chasing 192 to win will never be easy in Highgate Woods. Palm Tree seemed to be putting all their eggs in one accurate and fast-medium basket at their opening bowler Stabbins immediately bowled his full eight overs from the shed end. Our policy of just seeing his spell out is born out by his figures: eight overs, no wickets, just 12 runs.
Gwyn and Sai opened the innings in watchful mode, which I continued after Sai fell for 15 well-made runs. At drinks, Gwyn and I were still there, the score on 65-1 off 20 overs with 120-odd still to make in the second half. But the opening bowlers had been seen off and I had put Palm Tree’s first change bowler out of action when he dived to stop a drive and the ball bounced up into his face. Get well soon Speedy.
Thereafter the chase was all about Gwyn who moved through the gears as only he can. After plundering 21 off a single over, he saw us home with four overs to spare. Gwyn registered his first ton at Highgate Woods: 112 not out chasing here is a simply phenomenal effort. Well batted sir.
A great win for Strongroom sealed by Gywn and set up by an excellent comeback with the ball. Special mentions must go to the injured Dave Proctor for arriving 30 overs into Palm Tree’s innings to spark a collapse by his mere presence at slip (and also for his umpiring) and Naveen who somehow didn’t get a bat despite being carded at number five. Thanks for coming.
In this image below, we see Jerome advising Seb on something related to scoring.
Written By: B.Hartridge
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