Record total secures heavy victory for Strongroom
London Fields, Hackney, 4/21/2007
Strongroom won by 159 runs
Strongroom: 302-5 (J.Gower 120, S.Ray 93)
London Fields: 143 all out
View the Scorecard
It was a perhaps fitting tribute to the genius of Brian Lara, in his last innings, that Jon Gower and Simon Ray registered a record 212-run partnership for the 3rd wicket, with a swashbuckling brand of strokes of which even the West Indies legend may have approved. In doing so, Strongroom plundered a huge 302-5 off their 40 overs, a total the likes of Messrs Boote and Wilson could not recall being bettered in club history.
Earlier in the day, brand-new Strongroom skipper David Proctor lost the toss on an over-heated spring afternoon, and was delighted to be invited to bat first on what appeared a firm track with some superficial moisture. However, the pitch soon revealed it’s vagaries, as both Woolhouse and Bully fell victim to slow and unpredictable bounce.
At 22-2 London Fields were bowling with confidence, but it was now that Gower (120) and Ray (93) set about their task. Gower survived a close lbw shout against the left-arm inswing of Tyrone, and both batsmen were beaten with some regularity as they battled to find their feet. However, they both put away the bad balls, and after 10 overs were well placed at 54-2. As the track dried out further, Gower took the opportunity to go on the attack, straight-driving several sixes, square-driving fours and sweeping with gusto. Gower faced 110 balls in total, and hammered 20 fours and four sixes in his hundred. Meanwhile, Simon Ray revealed his classy portfolio of strokes, and sweetly struck boundaries all around the park, including an enormous six over the nearby lido. Sadly he just missed out on his ton, but his 85-ball 93 included 14 fours and 2 sixes. The pair compiled 212 runs in just 28 overs.
Proctor (25*) strode in and hammered some typically firm boundaries in the final 5-overs assault, and Strongroom finished on a mammoth 302-5. London Fields impressively never let their heads drop, and this huge total belied a spirited bowling and fielding effort.
Tea Report: 9/10 Arif produced a brilliant tea. His Afghan/North Indian ancestry yielded a fine Lamb Biryani, well complemented by pakoras, yoghurt and minced-lamb filled pastries. This was nicely washed down with champagne, glugged direct out of the bottle.
Proctor opened up with Englefield and Arif, and overall nine bowlers were rotated, in an effort to get everyone’s season off to an active start. However, it was the slow bowling of Boote (3-0-9-2) and Jolyon (3-0-8-3) which teased out the core of their innings. Boote eked out their two most threatening batsmen, and Jolyon displayed some new tricks practiced in the winter nets, including some beautifully flighted deliveries. London Fields dug deep, and frustrated Strongroom for 35 overs, with Steve D (33*) proving hard to dislodge. A somewhat casual fieldng display was illuminated by the youthful scampering of Guy, who raced and dived around like a man half his years. The Strongroom were too casual for some, however, and it took a fired-up Arif (6.1-2-32-2) to return and clean up the obstinate tail, and finally…the game was up.
* Read the London Fields version!
Written By: Jon Gower
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