Rampant Woolhouse inspires miraculous victory
Highgate Woods, 6/17/2006
Strongroom won by 2 runs
Strongroom: 214-9 (R.Woolhouse 95)
LBS: 212 all out (Nirmit 107, R.Woolhouse 5-45)
View the Scorecard
Who could have predicted that Highgate Woods would stage yet another cricket match of immense stature and drama? The return of the prodigal son, Rich Woolhouse, was perhaps an omen of what would unfold in another golden June evening.
Stand-in-skipper J.Gower waited a nano-second before deciding to bat first upon winning the toss, and sure enough, openers Shearer and Woolhouse posted a steady platform of 41 off 9 overs before Brett was adjudged lbw for 13. J.Gower (14) and J.Morris (24) also played themselves in comfortably on a benign surface, but both batsmen made errors of judgement which left Strongroom at 130-3 off 24 overs, with a big total still in the offing. Woolhouse was at his very best though, and his trademark slaps, biffs and straight 6’s were all there to behold. His run out for 95 was a cruel end to a brilliant innings. Three quick wickets left Strongroom on 180-7, and the dream 250+ total was now looking too ambitious. LBS brought back on the pace of Nirmit, and only Baddeley (22*) and Philipps (13) revealed the grit and application required to deal with some focused bowling. Strongroom completed their 40 overs on 214-9. Would it be enough?
Tea Report: 7/10 James Morris and John Baddeley combined forces to conjure up a good quality tea, although the excessive use of cling film did raise a few eyebrows from the conniseurs. The sandwiches though were excellent in range and quality.
Brett Shearer’s natural height and metronomic accuracy shattered the timbers of Anup in the first over. What a good start! Surely we would knock them over now? No such luck. Manish (36) and Nirmit (107) proceeded to put on 138 runs for the second wicket. Gabbay and Shearer bowled decent opening spells, but these two batsmen showed real patience and sound technique. J.Morris, J.Gower and R.Boote all joined the attack, but still this obdurate pair resisted the temptation to take any risk. It was the introduction of the wily Woolhouse that finally breached the defence of Manish with some lovely late swing, and Strongroom were just within a snifg again. Nirmit went on to reach an accomplished and calm century, and coaxed some more runs out of his middle order partners, and at 193-4, LBS were seemingly only 22 runs away from an easy victory. Strongroom remained noisy in the field however, and still they dared to drea of the unlikely. The turning point was two maiden overs from Gower (2-43) and Woolhouse (5-45), and suddenly nerves began to show. Gower snared two quick wickets, as well as a run out, but it was Woolhouse who stepped up and showed his character.
With 5 runs needed off the final over for victory, and 3 wickets in hand, Woolhouse proceeeded to bowl a remarkable over including 2 wides and 3 wickets. His late away-swing devestated the LBS camp, and Strongrooms hungry fielding and self-belief brought them an incredible win.
Can we go unbeaten all the way in 2006?
Written By: J.Gower
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