Boughey the Vampire Slayer inspires victory over forces of Darkness

On an evening that would have done credit to February and finally in light so bad lit torches were necessary to guide incoming batsmen to the crease, the Strollers notched up their first win of 2010. The fact that it was over long-time north London rivals Beamers didn't hurt at all either.

This was a much, much better showing by the Strollers than has been customary so far this season. There was good captaining by Dickie (in George's absence) tight bowling, lively fielding, catches were held, and, most importantly of all, some very robust batting at the top of the order led by Patrick Marshall, Bill Ward and Harsh Joshi. Perhaps the fact that it was played at North Middx, on a good wicket, with proper boundaries and an outfield that didn't resemble a sheep farming pasture, helped as well.

The Strollers got off to a very good start as Graeme dismissed the top of the order in the first over, firstly inducing Blout - who has scored lots of runs against us in the past - to knock a leading edge back into his armpit and then bowling Kemp. Kieron opened from the Pavilion End of a longer run than we have seen for, well, years, and was soon beating the skipper Howard consistently outside the off stump.

But Howard rode his luck, and began to find the middle of the bat. Alongside Wright at the other end, the runs began to mount rapidly. Gaps were found consistently and, after a very good start, things began to look far less good for the Strollers.

They were indebted to veteran Boughey for the dismissal of both. In his first over, Simon hit the top of off stump to get rid of the opposition skipper as he attempted another big hit. Howard departed for a rapid fire 43.

In the next over, he sailed like a swallow - belying age and general creakiness - to snaffle Wright at square leg off a full blooded pull, Kieron taking the wicket he richly deserved. Cue scenes of general celebration.

Some very tight bowling from Barker and Bowstead saw off the Beamers, who were all out for 149 with a couple of balls to spare. Barker returned the very respectable figures of 3-30 from his four overs and was happily able to get through his spell without groin strains, hamstring pulls, tendon snapping or any other general physical degeneration. Harsh took a towering catch at extra cover for the first of his victims, Patrick held another behind the stumps and the third was bowled.

Generating nice away swing, Paul went for only 14 runs off his three overs and picked up two late order wickets, including that of Christian I-can-only-hit-to-leg-and-I'm-an-prickly-old-bugger-too Wolmar.

It was not an easy score for the Strollers to make, but gettable if we batted well. Fortunately Patrick and Bill got us off to a very good start, and when Patrick was out for 28, unfortunately picking out the man right on the square leg boundary, Harsh continued the good work and even picked up the pace. There is nothing more comforting for a Stroller than seeing Harsh in full swing at the crease, and one over departed for 18, including two massive sixes hit back over the bowler's head and into the sight screen. The umpire at the non-striker's end was forced to take evasive action in scenes that reminded the older ones of Botham's mighty hitting in 1981.

Bill Ward went past 50 with some classy shots before popping one up to the skipper Howard at short mid off. It was now dark and cold. Very, very dark and very very cold. And there were still 20 runs to get with Graeme and Kieron at the crease. No-one could see the ball clearly. There were a few heart murmurs when Graeme was bowled for a couple. But Dickie eased the pressure with a spanking off drive for 4. With the scores level, four byes brought up a welcome first victory of 2010.

Simon Boughey
20.05.10