Strongroom dominate in sweltering heat
Fulmer, 5/10/2008
Strongroom won by 173 runs
Strongroom: 269-7 (J.Gower 99*, J.Rebbeck 50)
Fulmer: 96
View the Scorecard
This fixture represents one of only two forays outside the bounds of the M25 in our season fixture list, and indeed it felt good to escape London and venture out into the Bucks countryside. Opting to bat first on a firm surface was a simple decision for Jon Gower, and another new opening pair [Baddeley & Gabbay] were immediately given an opportunity to establish themselves at the top of the order.
Mike [19] and John [29] both played impressively, tucking into anything off the stumps and defending the more accurate deliveries, and after 10 overs they had raced the score along 50 without loss. They posted 66 for the opening wicket, whereupon they were both back in the pavilion in quick succession. James Claro [21] and Jon Gower [99*] both struggled to find their timing against some very slow bowling, with only Harryes’ probing accuracy providing any real difficulty. Around the halfway stage of the innings Fulmer had pulled back Strongroom, and it wasn’t clear what final total was in the offing. Howerver, Fulmer were also struggling with wides and no-balls, and Jolyon [50] took advantage to register his third consecutive Strongroom half-century. The Jolster has really made that no.6 position his own now. After a slow start, J.Gower decided to up the run rate in what proved to be a curious innings overall – which can best be summarised in that he struck a total of eight 6's, yet was also dropped at least 5-6 times on the boundary! Fulmer had a bit of a mare in the field, and Strongroom eventually posted a total of 269-7.
Tea report: Really good ‘traditional’ English tea [sarnies, cakes, choc biscuits, hot tea!], and eaten in a building with a roof with chairs and tables…something we really aren’t used to.
Paddy Ell [2-20] and Hem Patel [2-20] both bowled good opening 6-over spells, with Paddy generating some useful pace and good ‘carry’ through to keeper Guy Simmons. Hem showed his usual wiliness, and just as the experienced Fulmer openers were starting to frustrate Strongroom, he winkled out two quick wickets with some deceptive dip and swing. Thereafter there was not much resistance from the Fulmer middle order, apart from the wristy Pash. Richard Boote [2-27] again proved his canniness by schnaffling two important wickets, and that man Jolyon picked up three scalps in as many overs, tempting batsmen into indiscretions with his juicy, loopy leg-breaks. Paddy returned from the road end to whip out the final two batsmen, and the job was done. Three excellent catches were also made by Hem, Paddy and Jon G, and the outfielding of Guy Wilson, Hem and James Claro was also worth special mention, as was Guy Simmons work behind the timbers.
Strongroom clearly benefited from winning the toss, and Fulmer’s extras tally and dropped catches only added to this advantage. The match was played in a good spirit, and Strongroom hung around for a couple of pints after the game in the overall lovely setting before chugging back to the big smoke.
Written By: JG
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