Strongroom back to winning ways
Highgate Woods, 6/25/2005
Strongroom won by 6 wickets
Corona: 122 all out
Strongroom: 123-4
View the Scorecard
Corona’s decision to bat first raised a few eyebrows, as thick cloud cover and heavy overnight rain certainly suggested bowler-friendly conditions. And so it proved. Simon Ray and Rich Woolhouse opened the attack and in no time were producing extravagant swing which beat the bat 3-4 balls an over. Eventually, Rich made the first breakthrough, snaring Kamran in front of the stumps, but generally there was little reward for their rampant swing. J Gower replaced Simon, and he too swung the ball past the edge on many occasions. At the other end, Jolyon introduced some off-spin flavour to the attack, to immediate effect. Two successive deliveries rattled the timbers, and once again a slow bowler reaped the rewards of the change of pace in the otherwise medium-fast mode of operation. Jon Gower's accuracy was finally rewarded with a wicket, and a further couple of run outs turned Corona’s respectable 50-1 off 13 overs to 89-6 off 25. Mike Gabbay's consistent line produced another scalp, and James Morris bowled a hostile spell which the stodgy wicket failed to respond to. Simon Ray then returned for his now typically fiery second spell and was finally rewarded for his efforts, but fittingly it was Jolyon who completed the job, with his third wicket for just seven runs conceded. Corona, after a sound start, were dismissed for 122 in 36 overs. An astonishing 30 wides were conceded by Strongroom, largely due to the prodigious swing-bowling conditions, but no-one was really sure whether this was a meaningful total.
Tea Provider: Simon Ray Rating: 7/10 Summary: Simon provided a good range of home-made ham & mustard sandwiches, as well as some very eggy ones. These were complemented by sausage rolls, scotch eggs and a large selection of Kipling's Cakes.
The absence of David Gower provided an opening berth opportunity for debutant John Baddeley. However, Rich Woolhouse soon fell to an opening three-card-trick from Kamran (two short balls, followed by a full-pitcher). John was then joined by James Claro, and these two patiently set about the task ahead of them. Kamran and Maruf bowled a brilliant 12 over opening spell, the skiddy Kamran charging in like Waqar Younis off a thirty yard run-up, and the taller Maruf troubled the batsmen with some well directed out-swing. Baddeley and Claro battled through this testing period of play, and went on to post 47 crucial runs for the 2nd wicket. James eventually edged one behind, but Guy wasted no time in putting bat to ball and contributed some rapid runs. But it was left to Simon “The Finisher” Ray and John Baddeley to see Strongroom home with an unbroken stand of 54 for the 5th wicket, including some good running between the wickets. John showed excellent patience and shot-selection, and has provided Strongroom with another good opening option. There was an oddly flat atmosphere to this game, the overcast conditions keeping the sunbathers away, but Strongroom showed real character in chasing down this total. Particular credit should go to Bully, who did a valiant job standing-in behind the timbers, and to the injured Dave Proctor, who neither batted or bowled but chuntered on noisily throughout the game.
Written By: J Gower
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