Strollers extend unbeaten run at Chippers

Late into the preceding week, the side for the annual jaunt to Chippenham had been frustratingly short numbered, so it was not without a due sense of joy and relief that, come 1.30pm on Saturday afternoon, skipper Gav found he was surrounded with an embarrassment of riches as not eleven but thirteen Strollers assembled at The Tharp. This mainly thanks to a number of débutants, featuring Harsh Joshi, recruited by Simon that week who enthused could be ‘our own Tendulkar’ (read on!), and the inclusion of 9 year old Jamie Morgan in the line up, marking the first ever father/ son presence in a Strollers side – the next generation had truly arrived! Will Stirling, making his return to the Strollers after several years, also brought welcome reinforcements in the shape of paceman and brother Ben, and pal Seb.

On arriving at the ground, Darren extended the usual warm welcome and got straight down to business, winning the toss for Chippenham and electing to bat on the customarily beautiful batting track. Unfazed and after a rousing huddle the Strollers set about their work in the field with gusto and were quickly rewarded in the second over when Ben clean bowled Chippers’ opener Van De Peer with a cleverly disguised slow yorker. Simon, at the other end, struggling with the wind and the onset of a cold, looked less comfortable but found his line and length soon enough and, after several tensely contested opening overs made the second breakthrough, bowling the potentially dangerous Simon Heather with the score on 45 – this looked good.

With Chippenham stalwarts Darren and Alan now at the wicket, the Strollers knew their work would be cut out dislodging either and, after quick discussions with his team mates, Gav decided the appropriate ploy should be to contain and frustrate the batsmen – both known for their belligerent defence and habit of nurdling their way to a decent total. Therefore, K***** was brought on to replace Simon with his newly fashioned 2007 three-stride action whose economy of pace was matched by economy of runs, thanks to consistent accuracy and variation of spin.

With Ben continuing to bowl a very tidy line the game entered a protracted period of stalemate with neither side willing to give an inch despite Dickie’s several attempts to catch Alan out of his ground when backing up with a series of fearsome returns to the bowler’s end. Nevertheless, the Chippenham batsmen dug in and scored in patches, notching up the hundred despite the applied pressure.

Jake, suffering from a side strain, was eventually brought into the attack to replace Ben but struggled to find a penetrating length, and Alan and Darren began to take their opportunities to score. Reacting quickly, Gav called upon Harsh to take over with his off spin and, with K***** turning the ball from the other end, the Chippenham batsmen were reasonably contained, despite the occasional boundary. But thanks to diligent work in the field from Will, Harsh, Dickie and Seb patrolling the flanks, more fours were saved than conceded.

With an eye on the advancing clock, both batsmen sensed the need to apply the gas and, having mounted a well crafted hundred partnership, began to lash out. This in turn prompted the return to the attack of Simon and Ben, now operating at opposite ends. The change in pace induced more in the way of wild strokes and eventually Darren was caught for a well earned 74 by Ben at fine leg who snapped up the first genuine skied chance of the afternoon off Simon’s bowling.

Alan, with new partner Richard, continued to push ahead and managed to nudge his side over the 200 mark and towards the close of their innings, but not before one final over from the Strollers’ newest addition Jamie who turned in 6 tidy deliveries after which Chippenham decided to call it a day with a sporting declaration on 206, and Alan on an impressive 83 not out.

The Strollers enjoyed a typically sumptuous Chippenham tea, and having rested up for the last few overs, K***** was sent out to open the innings shortly after 5.15pm with Harsh, elevated from his preferred number three position to number one. Chippenham’s opening bowler, Wright, tore in at a lick but the Strollers’ openers were more than equal to the task as Harsh wasted no time in taking the attack to the opposition with K***** unusually playing a supporting role.

With enthusiastic running and demonstrating a full array of shots, Harsh took the Strollers past fifty in no time at all with K***** nudging the ball around with ease. Twos were converted into threes and it was perhaps this which caused the onset of tiredness that in turn led to a rare lapse in concentration from K***** as he played down the wrong line to a pitched up delivery from first change bowler Sutton and was bowled. But with the score on 66, it had been a valuable opening stand that set the Strollers well in contention for a win.

Deavs, at number three, neatly flicked the ball away off his pads for four off his first ball but with just ten more runs added to the score, he also succumbed to the good line Sutton was now pitching, and was also bowled. Gav, in at number four, played himself in and, with the score on 90, the clock struck 6.30pm heralding the onset of the last 20 overs.  The 117 needed to win looked very possible but Chippenham immediately struck as Gav was run out - sent back after a bad call - but having told Harsh the previous over that “the important thing is that you stay in”, he could hardly complain …much(!).

Next in, Matt looked in good nick and the glitch in proceedings seemed to have passed as he and Harsh restarted the onslaught against the Chippenham attack. But poor calling again cost the Strollers dear as Matt, scrambling back to make his ground, saw the bails whipped off by wicket keeper Alan and was judged out with the score now on 139. Still, as long as Harsh was at the wicket, the Strollers still felt they could win and Dickie, at number six, looked capable of keeping up with the run rate until he mistimed a pull shot to Sutton and was caught.

Andy too looked reasonably comfortable in the supporting role to Harsh who continued to hit and run with ferocity taking the side past the 150 mark and, with a typically nippy single, notched up the first century from a Stroller since Simon Poole’s fine knock two years previously. Truly a glorious achievement, especially on début, and was duly greeted with warm applause from the pavilion and fielders alike.

But it was to be the last gasp at victory as, on 104, Harsh was finally caught off a delivery from Sutton that seemed to pop from nowhere. By now, the remaining Strollers batsmen had been given skipper’s instructions not to throw it away and to shut up shop for the draw. Despite the resistance from Jake and Andy, who continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over, Sutton had other ideas however and took Andy’s wicket with a looped slower ball.

Simon joined his old tailender buddy at the wicket and restored the necessary calm to proceedings until the nineteenth over when, with a rush of blood to the head, Jake attempted to swivel-pull Sutton - who claimed his sixth wicket of the evening, very impressive by any standards.

Having looked set for a win earlier, the Strollers were now biting their nails. Will, Ben and Seb had needed to leave early for an evening engagement which left the not insignificant responsibility of surviving the last seven balls to not only Simon, but also the young shoulders of Jamie, who walked out to bat in badly fading light, surrounded by the bear trap of the closed in Chippenham field.

Thankfully Jamie manfully saw off the last ball of the penultimate over leaving Simon at the other end to do precisely what he does best with the bat and with stoic resistance he stone walled out the last six balls – well, not without giving his skipper near heart failure in seeming to call for a single on the fifth – but wisely he thought the better of it.

Match drawn and for a third successive year the Strollers remain undefeated at Chippenham – a record of which they can rightly feel proud considering what a luckless hunting ground it used to be for the team.

It had truly been an excellent game of cricket with fine performances from players on both sides. However, but for the their hundred run third wicket stand and the penetration of Sutton’s bowling, one could justifiably claim that Chippenham were lucky to escape defeat, or am I being a little, what’s the word? Harsh.

Gavin Richardson
19.08.07

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