Low-scoring classic
Highgate Wood, 6/17/2017
Strongroom won by 1 wicket
Village: 106
Strongroom: 108-9
View the Scorecard
This low scoring classic had it all. Baking heat, soaring emotional temperatures, competitive captaincy occasionally brimming over, a difficult wicket, some stodgy batting, exceptional bowling and some unusual symmetry across the innings. A slightly depleted Village (10 men) won the toss and elected to bat on a highly unusual double track, a photo would help, but there are none; so just picture two perfect tracks next to each other. Never seen that before, grounds-men humour, who knows? SR bowlers hit their lines from the off, passing the edge on multiple occasions to see the Village run less after the first 6. Momet and Tim bowled exceptionally, but it was the leg-spin of Riaz that eventually broke through the Village openers’ defences, Riaz also took their number 3 returning figures of 3 for 20 off his 8. Tim Moore returned after drinks to remove batsmen 4-6, Jimmy’s catch of their number 4 bat was superb – he leapt almost to second slip to take a one handed gem of a dismissal. The number 6 Cressy looked classy and potentially a pivotal wicket, but he fell to a great ball from Tim Moore. Naz batting at 8 proved his quality and pushed what could have been an ‘undefendable total’ <60 over 100, with a very well played 32. Momet finished off his spell and was rewarded for his fine bowling with a low, one handed (blue moon) slip catch by Proctor at first slip, Momet bowled 8 overs for 9 runs and along with Tim and Riaz left us in the box seat at tea. A bit of nonsense and niggle saw the Village captain depart after edging a fairly innocuous Proctor ball to Jimmy who took a great catch. Words and postures were exchanged. Handbags and glad rags. Kuldeep, David Gower and David Proctor finished off the Village innings with short but tidy spells. Tea was a sombre affair, slightly marred by rumblings from the Village skipper who was slightly remiss in not reciprocating an offer of detente from Proctor. Not a big issue, but not ideal in a friendly. All cricket is competitive and that edge clearly shone through on this day. The Old Johnny Bairstow (skipper Thompson) was certainly fired up for his opening spell and along with Shet bowled an exceptional opening 10 overs that had SR reeling. Quality bowling with pace and craft is always a handful on the Highgate stodge; and we enjoyed being on the wrong end of it to a degree. OJB moving the ball both ways with decent pace. Shet bowling good lines outside off, hitting the seam almost every ball. Quality. It was a mammoth effort by Village in the heat and saw SR on the back foot from the second over when Mike threw his wicket, albeit to a great catch at point. Jimmy followed when his eyes lit up to a short ball only to shovel a catch to mid off. Momet came and left quickly to the only lbw of the game in spite of 2 or 3 decent shouts for both teams. SR’s top order acquiesced and crumbled to 11/5, 19/6 and 26/7. Ever dependable David Gower got a golden at 6, which brought Dave Proctor to the crease after just 9 overs, probably 15 overs earlier than expected. Obaid making his debut stuck around for a while, mostly mowing across the line, much to the chagrin of his skipper given that SR hadn’t reached 30 runs with 6 wickets down. Inevitably he threw his wicket away to make way for Kuldeep who inspired confidence arriving at the crease by announcing ‘I can’t bat’! He did well to bat for a couple of overs adding a partnership of 8 valuable runs, but ultimately departed, bowled by Naz. This brought Hem Patel to the crease, a SR veteran but only an occasional, albeit competitive batsman. DP and Hem set about giving SR a semblance of respect by targeting incremental 10 run improvements in the score. By 20 overs we had reached the noble total of 35. Progress was undeniably slow given that Village continued to bowl well with miserly tightness and hustling fielding. Post drinks and with only a few strike bowler overs in reserve, Village had to turn to second string bowlers; and during the next 10 overs the game changed. SR pushed up the run rate and scored at a decent clip of 5 an over. Village worked hard but struggled to get the all important 8th. As they quietened in the field, and SR edged towards 70, Hem and Proctor got to thinking of an improbable victory. At 78 with a partnership of 52, SR lost Hem still needing 29 to win. Guy came and went in 2 balls, playing the wrong line to a decent off break that pegged his off stump. The unflappable Riaz entered the fray and said something like ‘we can win this but no twos please - I’m tired already’; he was wearing a memorable moisture pad on his forehead - he, Obaid and Momet were all observing Ramadan, so had not taken on any water or food during the game (tough blokes the lot of them). Within 4 overs the game was won. Riaz and Proctor hit 9 an over from 29-32 and when the returning skipper bowled a low full toss first ball of his 7th over, it was dispatched for 4 by Riaz, SR knew Village were there for the taking. 8 leg side byes followed (mirroring how SR finished with DG firing a few past Jimmy’s outstretched left hand) as Village, further depleted to 9 by an early fielder departure, struggled to plug gaps in the field. The game ended quite abruptly and a tired but jubilant SR Proctor and Riaz exited the field unlikely victors to the delight of their SR team mates. Village were obviously gutted to lose, but took defeat on the chin and we all marched off to the pub. At the end of a gritty and combative encounter there were hand-shakes all round. It’s pretty clear that we like a competitive and enjoyable game; magnanimous ‘well played’ comments were exchanged by both sides at the Woodman, ensuring the day’s cricket conclude on the right note.
Written By: D.Proctor
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