Guy the lead man in close encounter
Fulmer, 5/5/2007
Strongroom won by 18 runs
Strongroom: 184 (G.Wilson 56, R.Woolhouse 45)
Fulmer: 165 (J.Gower 4-27)
View the Scorecard
Strongroom on Saturday headed to Fulmer in Buckinghamshire looking to maintain their 100% winning start to the season. Fulmer itself is a picturesque village some half a mile from Pinewood film studios, where recent Bond flick Casino Royale and the Carry On films, among others, were made, and there were elements of both in a less than convincing Strongroom performance against determined opponents.
Fulmer’s square has suffered from vandalism in the past, but night-time vigils and the offer of a reward seem to have solved the problem. Nevertheless, the strip still looked a little suspect, both green and irregular, but nothing like as capricious as the Highgate shocker of the week before. Little was known about the opposition, after last year’s match was rained off, other than they were a couple of players short, and pinched Strongroom debutant Abhay, reducing us to 10. But consummate wins in the first two matches had made us confident that we could brush aside most oppositions, even when playing a man down.
Skipper Jon Gower, who was looking to enhance an 87.5% win ratio as captain, lost the toss and Fulmer stuck Strongroom in. Well-established opening duo Dave Gower and Rich Woolhouse made their first outing of the season, both of them keeping a wary eye on a slow but erratic pitch. Dave paid the price when an N Box delivery barely got off the ground and bowled him, bringing in James to partner Rich (45), who was finding his form and rapidly expanding his repertory of shots. He took a particular liking to “Pash”, lamping him back over his head for a fine six at one point.
One of the opposition had said the pitch was the type where you get yourself out, but James had little excuse when he was adjudged LBW “padding up” to a Box inswinger. Danger man and sole centurion of the season so far J Gower (14) was next in and looked to be moving up a gear when he was run out, while Rich proved the adage about getting yourself out to be true when he chased a wide one and edged behind. Pete (16) and Chris (12) consolidated, taking their time and hitting the loose deliveries. But the run rate had plummeted, and we were wondering if we would get much beyond 140.
When Chris fell, Guy (56) came in, starting slowly, nicking his runs in singles, dropping his bat on the straight ones, and not taking any risks by unnecessarily moving his feet. But he soon got the measure of the pitch, rocking back and cracking boundaries to all parts of the ground, hitting a string of fours that propelled him magnificently towards the holy grail of a half century, his first in a distinguished Strongroom career.
Guy’s exuberance eventually proved to be his downfall, and Jolyon and Rich Boote both fell cheaply, leaving Hem stranded on four not out, and the team on 184 all out off 34 overs. No-one was sure if it was enough, and we were aware that we would have to fight to stop every run and take every wicket. For Fulmer, Box and Dave “wily” Jackson were the pick of the bowlers, with 3-29 and 2-31, respectively, while Abhay recorded a Ray-esque 2-0.
Because we had not finished our overs, there was time for a short spell in the field before tea. Jon started and had the opener well caught at mid-off by James off the third ball, while that man again Guy ran out the other opener with a superb pick-up, throw and direct hit. When Jon had “Pash” LBW, Fulmer were 11-3 off 3 overs and Strongroom were thinking: “Job done”.
Tea was very creditable family-themed fare, with a host of small dishes sure to please even the fussiest of tastes. Possibly a tad overpriced at three pounds plus a head. 7.5/10.
After tea, however, Strongroom got sloppy. Fulmer regrouped and, realising that the run rate was a simple boundary an over, took their time and waited for the poor balls. Rich managed a wicket, a catch off a full toss, but was in strangely subdued form, and the ball was heading down leg all too often as it failed to talk as it had at Highgate the week before. He was replaced by Hem, who also struggled with his line. Rich Boote at the other end tied the bats down for a while, but the odd boundary was still being scored by Box (42) in particular, who had started very introspectively but then opened up. He was ably assisted by Fisher (20) and Smith (27) and some indifferent Strongroom fielding, and Fulmer looked on course for a win.
But the spin/pace pairing of Jolyon and the returning Jon Gower thwarted the home team. Jolyon (1-22 off 8) tied up the sightscreen end with his cunning and accurate offerings, while Jon (4-27) charged in from the no-sightscreen end and removed two of the danger men in double quick time. But even at 125 for 6 off 20 there was still work to be done. Jolyon’s arrival, however, had cut out the easy four ball and, despite the valiant efforts of the Fulmer tail, Rich and Hem finally mopped them up from the other end for 166 all out off 34.
This was a far closer game than Strongroom had envisaged after decimating the opposition so early on, and Fulmer deserve credit for making the game fairly tense - one dogged late-order innings could have done it for them. For us it was a grafting, solid performance rather than the champagne cricket of the first two games, the stand-out efforts being Guy’s knock, Jolyon’s spin and Jon Gower’s excellent lead-from-the-front captaincy. Strongroom were at times James Bond, at others Jim Dale, and made harder work of it than necessary, but a win’s a win, the 100pc record remains intact, and most of us have now shaken off the early season rust and are back in the groove. Pacific await on Saturday at Highgate Woods.
Written By: James Claro
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