Strongroom survive choppy passage to overcome Pacific
Highgate Woods, 5/12/2007
Strongroom won by 4 wickets
Pacific: 126-6
Strongroom: 127-6 (J.Claro 60)
View the Scorecard
Dank day. Soft pitch. A little uneven and very wet and muddy, but a better track than two weeks previous. Captain DP won the toss and inserted Pacific under a brooding sky. The clouds darkened and lowered, and the Pacific batsmen came off for a prolonged delay early on in their innings, reducing the match to a 30-overs a side affair. DP opened with Chris Englefield, who this season has turned into a trusty trundler, who again didn’t let the side down with a few probing overs bang on the correct (full) length on this putty track. At the other end, James Morris was occasionally struggling with the slippery conditions under his front foot, but proved equally hard to get away. Pacific opener Holliday was the first to misjudge the sticky conditions, well held by Woolhouse at mid-off (the fielding went a bit downhill after that). First change, and DP introduced some spin, Dave Gower bowling a tidy spell of slow, full off spin at the far end.
DP rang the changes, Jolyon replacing Dave for another tidy spell of probing spin, until his patience ran out with the left- right-hand batting combination and tedious sight screen moves. Rich started off at the hut end inauspiciously, flinging down a few full tosses and signature expletives, but he came back excellently, bowling deceptively rapidly and a full length off his short run. DP and Mike Gabbay were less consistent than team mates had come to expect.
Meanwhile, Pacific skipper Bastin was digging in at number 3, and proving hard to dislodge. He finally found a useful ally in left-hander Haill, who struck some impressive blows, pushing back the Strongroom field. Pacific blossomed late on to reach 126 off their 30 overs. The Strongroom fielding effort was plagued by some pantomime fielding, over-running the ball, missing out on several run-outs with wild throws, and the odd drop or near miss. There seemed no rhyme or reason. Even Chris Englefield, one of Strongroom’s rare tigers in the field today, spilling a chance at deep mid on.
Tea Report The delayed tea was worth the wait, as Jolyon took catering centre stage for the first time in several years with a fine, Indian-themed effort. Chicken tikka, onion bhaji, potato wada and pakora with a tangy tamarind sauce, and the genius touch of cucumber sandwiches. Jolyon scores highly for this home-made effort, aided ably by Stu McLellan’s ma, Biba. Difficult to say where fractions of marks were dropped – perhaps the lack of chilli to accompany the wada, or maybe the low diversity of cakes. Still, a fine effort. 8.5/10
DP shook up the standard batting order a little, sending out Rich and James Claro first up. Rich talked earnestly about the cautious, steady start that would be required, then promptly lofted the first two balls for four before showing he had a solid defensive shot in his armoury. James played himself in patiently, supporting Rich ably, and these two fair cruised to 49 (with a couple of drops) in 10 overs, before Rich was finally caught for a near-run-a-ball 34.
Jon Gower strode out confidently, hit a sweetly timed square cut for four and then promptly ran himself out for the second consecutive week. Andy Taylor steadied the ship with some patient defensive work, and good, supportive running to keep James C ticking over, but he too fell for single figures. James Morris soon followed, launching a skier to mid off. Dave Gower turned up in an unfamiliar number 6 slot and bedded down to see James to a good 50 and beyond, edging Strongroom slowly to victory. Dave and James, like most batsmen who stayed around long enough in this crazy match, benefited from being dropped from the persistent stream of aerial shots. James’ fine innings of chips into the midfield and despatches of full tosses down the ground for boundaries was cruelly ended by a bobbling skuttler. Captain DP marched out, intent on sealing the match with a big hit, only to suffer the ignominy of the game’s outstanding comedy dismissal. Pivoting furiously, aiming to launch a generously flighted, full delivery over square leg and on to the main road, Dave missed the ball entirely and end up on his back as his off stump was rattled. Soaking up the mud and the moment, Dave lay there as Pacific’s micro under-10 fielder jigged about him in delight.
Dave G saw the rare opportunity for a Proctor-esque not out, so dead batted long enough to allow Jolyon to squirt the winning single in the 29th over. Strongroom perhaps made a bit of a meal of the run chase, but won comfortably enough – the main tasks being done when they bowled well early on in what were probably the trickiest batting conditions, and with the Claro-Woolhouse opening partnership. Pacific will be hoping that the weather will still be cricket-friendly in early October, so that they can halt Strongroom’s 3 match winning run in this fixture on their home ground.
Four games, four wins for Strongroom in 2007, with the major challenge of London Nigerians ahead on the horizon…
Written By: David Gower
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