Whalers beached short of target
Chiswick, 9/8/2007
Strongroom won by 39 runs
Strongroom: 192-6 (D.Gower 56)
Whalers: 153
View the Scorecard
David Proctor won the toss and opted to bat first on a pleasant September afternoon in South-West London. Strongroom had enjoyed their two previous visits to the Chiswick Civil Service grounds, with key victories over Whalers in 2006 and Jesmond Jaguars earlier this season, and so it proved again today as they managed to secure an important victory by 39 runs. This brought an end to their miserable run of seven consecutive defeats.
Rich Woolhouse (33) looked in pristine form at the start of the Strongroom innings. There was a perkiness to his thwacks through cover which had been missing in recent weeks, and one savage Robin Smith-esque square drive lingered in the memory. Oliver Moore (18) proved to be a steady and elegant opening partner, and this pair compiled 41 runs before Oliver departed to a slower ball which caught him full on the pads. Thereupon followed a mini-collapse as both Jolyon and Jon Gower registered ducks, and it was left to debutant Paul Charles to provide a bit of backbone to help steady the innings at 46-4 when Woolhouse finally let the scene. The ball was now beginning to rise sharply at one end of the wicket, and this was being well exploited by Gould who yielded some sharp lift outside the off stump. It was at this stage that David Gower (56*) joined the fray, and immediately he settled into his usual workmanlike mode of operation. Dave G’s innings gathered pace as the overs column ticked ever nearer 40, and most notable were some well-timed square cuts, drives on the up through mid-wicket and another glimpse of that lofted straight six (first revealed at Toddington Manor earlier in the summer, which had Rich Woolhouse delirious with pleasure). Omar (16) provided fine support for Dave’s innings, demonstrating some nice strokeplay mixed with watchful defence, and Strongroom finished up with 192 runs to their name – all in all a good effort considering the mess they were in at 46-4. Whalers let through an unbelievable 54 extras, though their specialist keeper was missing from the game.
Tea Report: The usual combo of bog-standard sandwiches, cakes and decent tea.
The Whalers opening batsmen survived several hard chances in the slips and keeper cordon, which was especially frustrating for Mike Gabbay whose opening spell again did was asked of him. Rich Woolhouse at the other end continued to bowl like he has done all season – with genuine guile and skill. Infact, several half-chances were missed in the outfield as well, so it was with great relief that Bully secured two catches in Proctor’s favoured fly-slip position, and a smart run out off Moore’s bowling showed the first chinks of light for Strongroom. At the halfway stage, Whalers were progressing much as Strongroom had done, and the result was very much in the balance. Jon Gower (1-24) bowled with as much intent as he could muster, and Bully (2-22) again confirmed his love for this ground (following his five-for last season) with some beautifully controlled medium pace out-swing bowling. However, it was very much Dave Gower’s day (3-18), and he chose this opportunity to reaffirm why he has by far the highest strike-rate in the club as he winkled out three batsmen within 24 balls. It always takes some courage on the part of the captain to hand the ball to an expensive spinner when a run-chase is under way, but Proctor sensed that DG could buy him a wicket, and indeed he did so again, and at a good price. Infact there followed Dave’s second hat-trick ball of the summer, but again he was denied by a sensible forward defensive! Jamie Whelligan (another debutant) claimed another wicket, but it was left to J Gower to rattle the stumps to finally beach the Whalers 39 runs short. David Proctor only let through 5 extras, and his bellicose presence behind the timbers was instrumental in maintaining Strongroom’s cause, in what was his best performance yet as a tactical captain.
This was a most enjoyable game – not just because Strongroom won but also because the Whalers proved to be an excellent foe that played the game in the right spirit. We look forward to battling with them again in 2008.
Written By: Jon Gower
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