Strongroom celebrate 21st Anniversary in Style
Highgate Woods, 9/3/2005
Strongroom J.Gower won by 41 runs
Strongroom J.Gower: 124
Strongroom D.Gower: 83 (M.Mellor 4-7)
View the Scorecard
This match was all about 21 years of Strongroom Cricket Club. The previous evening, Strongroom Studio had partied into the early hours for its 21st, providing some notable casualties for this game. This particular Intra-Strongroom battle was captained by a Gower on each side, adding an extra rivalry to the cricket on show. In addition, seven debutants made their appearances, including a couple of young lads from Birmingham that David Proctor press-ganged from among the park revellers enjoying the sunshine in the Woods. Other notable virgins included Father-of-Bully and another father-son combo in Martin and Charlie. Fittingly, the first ever Strongroom skipper, Colin, also made a return appearance.
The J.Gower XI batted first on perhaps the firmest track of the summer. Chris Englefied (12) and Pete Cannon (25) made a confident start against the opening overs from Martin and Bully, dispatching full tosses and short stuff with relative ease among some probing deliveries. 47 runs were made in quick time before Chris was well bowled by Bully, whose mixture of off-cutters and out-swingers also accounted for Pete soon after. Incoming bats J.Gower and M.Mellor were treated to some competitive verbals from the field, and some equally competitive bowling from James Morris, who cleverly nipped one back to trap Jon in front for 10. James also clean bowled a solid looking Proctor and a hungover Guy, to finish with 6-0-6-3. D.Gower put in an adequate display as wicketkeeper, and was generous in providing his debutants with some decent bowling spells. Veteran Andrew Hornig produced some good turn from his leg-spin, clean bowling Richard Boote and Father-of-Bully in succesive overs. Mark was now running out of partners, but managed some beefy shots in a good innings of 39, before falling to the promising out-swing of young Charlie. J.Gower XI finished on 124 all out, a moderate total on this decent batting track.
Tea Rating: 9/10
Was this one of the best ever Teas? I think so (despite Proctor’s observation on the low diversity of crisp flavours), with much praise going to Richards Boote and Woolhouse and Sarah for their monumental efforts the morning after the Strongroom party. Two large trays of beautifully prepared sandwiches – the buttering of the bread for the egg & watercress was simply inspired. The sarnies were complemented with sausage rolls, mini blueberry muffins, flapjacks, coconut macaroons, fruit, and other nibbles whose names escape me. President Boote revealed an enormous bottle of bubbly, and all present raised their polystyrene cups to his toast of 21 years of Strongroom CC.
The familiar duo of Dave G and Rich W strode out to face a pumped up Mellor and Proctor. Mark was soon into his stride, hitting an awkward length at good pace. Eventually, Dave nicked one behind off Mellor, and so the first of his team’s ‘Big Guns’ was back in the pavilion. Rich then saw off a prolonged spell of round the wicket leg theory, and seemed to be building something special. Colin joined Rich in the middle, but after some stubborn resistance he provided Pete with another catch as he edged one off Jon. It was at this stage that the spin of El Presidente was introduced, astonishingly the first he had bowled from the scorebox end in his 21 years of cricket at the Woods. Richard’s first victim was Rich, scuffing an off-drive to silly mid-off. James Morris took guard, and played with full respect that the bowling of Jon (5-0-9-1) and Richard (7-0-19-3) deserved. Martin was Richard’s second victim, glooping a leg-side hoik to Ed Norman at square leg. James (35) started to unleash some powerful drives and pulls, and was just starting to take control when he fell to a clever change of pace from Richard. Bully smacked a couple of boundaries, and had to deal with the extra psychological stress of facing the crafty off-spin of his father, but nobly walked as he gloved a nasty lifter from Mellor. Mark (6.2-1-7-4) really hit the straps in his second spell, removing Charlie and Andrew to finish with four scalps. The D.Gower XI finished on 83 all out.
J Gower XI had won by 41 runs, and this match was notable for two fine all-round performances by Mark and James, and the bowling of Richard Boote. On a warm sunny day toward the fag end of the season, when the intended opposition had failed to get a team together, Strongroom had mustered together two sides, and found itself the real winner.
Written By: J & D Gower
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