Pitch takes Sheen off victory
Highgate Woods, 4/28/2007
Strongroom won by 72 runs
Strongroom: 169 (R.Woolhouse 64)
Sheen park: 97 (S.Ray 5-7)
View the Scorecard
After demolishing London Fields, Strongroom welcomed Sheen Park, a Richmond based team to a sunny Highgate woods. A hastily arranged fixture, a tough game was expected from this outfit who were able to choose from 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI players.
Strongroom welcomed back Andy Taylor, fully recovered from his back injury, also present were newly born off-spring of several players accompanied by mothers, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere as well as several die-hard supporters/sunbathers/liquid refreshment providers and consumers.
The weather was warm and felt a touch hotter than the 24C forecast, however the wicket although hard, looked variable in place and was alarmingly dimpled. As the day went on, it became clear this was a pitch that was almost unplayable at best, dangerous at worst.
The usual Strongroom support was evident in abundance, peppering the full circumference of the pitch. While some watched to see if their hero from the 2006 season would recapture form of old, many stripped and turned their backs on the game to soak up the sun, oblivious to the fact a run hungry Rich Woolhouse and James Morris were padded up and keen to send the ball in their general direction…and beyond.
Sadly James departed for 6 early on, bowled by Evans who ended up as Sheen Park’s leading wicket taker for the day. Batting at 3 today was a casual looking James Claro who, negating the LBW, was keen to get forward at every opportunity and stroked a few majestic cover drives to the boundary in his effortless 32. Meanwhile, Woolhouse eeked and pushed singles interspersed with several straight sixes, one of which lodged in the sight-screen. His innings was saved many a time by dropping his bat like a guillotine to fend off the murderous grubber ball which cause misery for many batsmen in the afternoon sun.
Strongroom were well positioned at 101 for 1, when Claro left and Ray entered the affray. This was the man in form, having hit an effortless 92 the previous week but today was to be different story and he was judged out LBW for a duck. Bully was next in but soon out swinging across the line at an in-swinging delivery from Patel who dislodged his off stump.
Undisturbed by the prospect of a mini-collapse, the swashbuckling Guy Wilson entered at no.6 and began wafting at few off-side deliveries but he was able to tune his eye and began to connect with confidence. His rapid fire 21 proved to be a valuable contribution in a low scoring match. Skipper Proctor began a pinch-hitting innings but Lanfield took his wicket too for 10.
The last 5 Strongroom wickets fell for 20 runs; Arif run out for 5 and a chuntering Chris Englefield failed to produce a Hussey style holding innings - finding the leading edge, scoring 2. Andy Taylor and president Boote were both bowled. Despite the collapse, the innings was well paced, leading up until the 38th over. Sheen Park were set 170 to win.
Tea Report The Proctor tea comprised of good variety of rolls, pasties (supplied with HP sauce), bananas, cakes(?) and a couple of whole chickens savaged by the 22 vultures. All in all a solid, enjoyable feed. 7.5/10
With the light fading, Proctor set his field and opened his bowling attack with messers Englefield and Ray. Chris bowled accurately from the clubhouse end, pitching on a nagging length. He had a close LBW shout, and a few popped and bobbed – a difficult one handed chance to Bully was put down - he ended the day with 17 hit off his 4 overs.
He may have failed with the bat, but despite an minor hip complaint began to sheen with the ball, cometh the hour cometh the man, himeth being Simon Ray. Hitting the stud marks (of the football variety) in the pitch, the grubbers didn’t materialise, instead he found bounce from the secret rubber insert sewn into the wicket and chucked out the Sheen openers and no.3 from the game, caught Claro who looked solid and dependable behind the stumps claiming 3 catches for the day.
A bowling change brought in Woolhouse, who began his banana benders from the Clubhouse end. His deliveries swerved violently away from the right handed batsmen, this particular spell dragging the run-rate upwards while and taking 2 wickets. Arif also bowled particularly well, stepping up to the plate with 2 for 7 from his 3 overs and Guy Wilson, donning a retro headband for the day, took a sharp catch at square leg.
The first 6 wickets had gone for 27 runs and only Cunningham provided resistance in his 30 n.o. knock. James Morris got the wicket of Reze for a duck, before being replaced by Ray at his favourite end, cleaning up Patel and then the no. 11 who, thanks to a now rampant, crimson Woolhouse, will probably never wear his thigh pad over his trousers again….nice verbals Richie!! With the light fading rapidly, Strongroom were thankful of bowling Sheen Park in just over 30 overs.
The day belonged to Strongroom but sadly it was the pitch who had the last laugh. This one was a shocker. Sheen Park really needed one player to hit a 50 to get them within grappling distance of what was a low target, but Strongroom bowled their way out of an inconsistent batting display. Against higher-calibre opposition, the result may not have gone their way. Next game is in Angelina Jolies back yard in leafy Fulmer, hope the weather holds out…
Written By: Chris Wilcock
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