Gardeners win nail-biter in the final over
Highgate Woods, 6/5/2004
Gardeners won by 2 wickets
Strongroom: 130 (R.Woolhouse 40)
Gardeners: 133-8
View the Scorecard
After an unbroken string of 32 appearances for the Gardeners, club captain, Mike, was unable to play this game on account of work commitments. Hugh deputised as captain and won the toss and put Strong Room in on a muggy day in Highgate Woods.
With only 10 players in a 40 over game - a debutant had had his car broken into, and couldn't make it - there were holes in the field and some aggressive batting, particularly by opposition captain Richard Woolhouse, particularly at the expense of Ludo, saw Strong Room threatening a daunting total at 70-0 in the sixteenth over. Jeremy had beaten the bat several times but the batsmen didn't get a nibble.
Ty Ty replaced Ludo and exerted some control, and when Jeremy had bowled out his allotted 8, the captain turned to spin. Richard Clayton immediately sold Richard Woolhouse with a short one that was pulled directly to Ludo at deep square leg, and in his next over Richard trapped the other opener LBW. Richard blew away the Strong Room top order (8-1-23-4), with a sharp catch from Rupert at mid-wicket, while Ty Ty (8-3-15-0) bowled fast and straight and restricted runs at the other end, and effected a run out from the deep when the batsmen were caught in at least four minds.
Hugh then brought himself on to bowl and a flurry of wickets fell: from 106-5 Strong Room fell to 107-8. Debutant Ed Denes came on to bowl his off-breaks, and another run out occurred - direct hit from Hugh at extra. The last wicket put on what could have been a crucial 18 runs.
130 on a pitch on which most balls kept low and the odd one took off, and on which the outfield's grass was long, was not going to be a straightforward chase. Jerome bowled some lovely away swing to openers Peter and Rupert. Peter - as ever was carrying an injury - a possible cracked rib, and he winced in the follow-through as he played extravagant air-shot off drives. Rupert ran very well again - stealing singles and settling for twos, and when joined by Jon Sinclair upped the pace of the innings, so that we were well poised at 47-1 after 18. Then Jon Sinclair, who had batted immaculately, deftly driving through gaps in the covers, was beaten by an absolute beauty that cut in about 9 inches. Rupert fell shortly afterwards going for a big one off a straight one. And a wobble was on: John Lloyd was caught and bowled - leading edge as he tried to work one through mid-wicket. 63-4, and not yet half way to the total.
Ludo came to the crease slightly higher up the order than he has been accustomed to and did not disappoint. Together with Ty Ty who made a positive 13, he saw off the dangerous Mellor who last year in the same fixture had the remarkable figures 6.3-1-17-6. After 30 overs we were on 86-5, needing 44 off the last 10. Ludo and Hugh at the crease. Jerome still had 3 overs left to bowl. And Jerome did come back and found the edge of Ludo's bat. But the target was getting nearer: 112-6 after 35.1. Richard Clayton was adjudged LBW immediately. 118-7. Jeremy to the crease. At about this point Richard Woolhouse lost his bowling knack and gave away a series of most welcome wides, which took the pressure off the batsmen. Jeremy was out to Woolhouse which brought Ed to the crease as we needed 2 off the last over, but with Hugh on strike. Ed noted on his arrival at the wicket that if he got to face a ball it would at least mean that we hadn't lost - it was technically impossible for him to be bowled and lose the match.
With the field all in on the one, Hugh pulled the first ball over square leg for four, and a famous win.
Pressure now back on Mike after stand-in captain wins the toss, takes 4 wickets, gets a direct hit run-out, gets 31*, and hits the winning runs. Also writes the match report within 24 hours of the game.
Written By: Hugh Jonstone (Gardeners CC)
|