Bohemians beaten at Ferme Park

The afternoon began with skipper Gav losing the toss to Bohemians’ captain Rob Archdale who elected to bat. Undeterred, a strong Strollers lineup took to the field with firm intent to make life difficult for the batsmen.

Things could not have got off to a better start when, third ball, opening bowler K***** trapped the Bohemians’ best player Tim Bentley LBW for a duck. Jubilation quickly gave way to all out aggression as Jake, steaming in from the other end picked up the second wicket shortly thereafter when Komwar edged to Matt behind the stumps. The Bohemians’ number three, Hayley was then dismissed in similar fashion, edging behind to Graeme who took another stunning catch at slip, low to his right. Bohemians were now reeling at 32-3 off 10 overs and the Strollers sensed a victory could be in the offing.

Graeme took over from K*****, bowling up the hill with meticulous accuracy, matched by pressurised fielding as sharp and stifling as anything the Strollers have ever managed to apply. Boundaries were absent, and the Bohemians had trouble even getting the ball off the square. Soon enough, Graeme’s persistence was rewarded with the wicket of Bohemians’ number five, Andrews, clean bowled for just 6. At the top end, Jake took a breather after five attacking overs to be replaced by Mikey, turning his arm over for the first time this year, who didn’t take long to hit his straps and tore in at pace, gaining considerable lift out of an otherwise benign pitch.

However now, after their initial turmoil, the Bohemians were beginning to settle and, sensing they needed to post a total of some kind, began to hit out with Graeme now having finished his spell with outstanding figures of 7-3-8-1. Finally boundaries began to flow for the Bohemians but at risk – indeed Mikey was unlucky not to pick up the wicket of the opposition’s wicket keeper Wilson who skied a flick off his pads, but the chance was spilled at fine leg.

Sensing the let off, Wilson and Meier upped the ante and began to find the gaps and, for a while the short Ferme Park boundary was reached in typically frequent fashion. Spencer took over from Mikey after his spell whilst George also began his first bowl of the year from the bottom end. At the 30 over stage Bohemians had reached 138 and were advancing their total at speed. Jake returned for the final overs, eventually managing to take the wicket of Meier, who looped a dolly catch to midwicket, where it was safely pouched by George. However, after their impressive start, the Strollers seemed to have taken the pedal off the gas in field and, having let through a few more boundaries than they should have, they saw the Bohemians reach 180 off their allotted 35 overs with wicket keeper Wilson closing on a well fought 80 not out.

Despite the feeling that they had let the Bohemians off the leash a little, the Strollers took tea feeling very pleased that they had restricted the opposition to a sub-200 total, never an easy task on the small Ferme Park ground and, with the benefit of fielding a strong batting lineup, felt confident the runs could be knocked off.

George and Spencer set out to open the batting but were immediately hindered by some fast and accurate bowling from Bentley at the top end who clearly had the intention of meting out the same brand of aggressive bowling that he and his team mates had been subjected to from the Strollers opening attack earlier in the day. George tried to work the ball around as best he could but was soon the first victim, looping a catch off Bentley’s bowling to mid off. Deavs, in at number three, followed quickly afterwards, bowled for a duck by Bentley, again attempting to play down the wrong line in the same manner as the previous week.

Skipper Gav, in at four with the score on 24-2, did his best to dig in and sure things up. Scoring opportunities were few and far between but Spencer, looking ever more assured as an opener, began to get his eye in and made hay when he could. The 50 mark was passed after 14 overs and finally Bentley was seen off. However his replacement Shak, recruited only that morning by the Bohemians, was even quicker and clipped the bail of Gav’s off stump, bringing Matt to the wicket.

The Bohemians continued to apply pressure although Matt and Spencer worked hard to up the run rate. In doing so Spencer was eventually dismissed after reaching 29 in stoic fashion, bowled by Stoop who was now on at the bottom end. K*****, at number six, managed the keep up the rate, but was given out cheaply, caught behind before really getting going.

With the tension building and the required rate now rising (100 needed off the last 15 overs) Graeme strode out and wasted no time in taking the attack to the bowling with several powerful shots square of the wicket. Matt also began to hit out including a fine on drive for four. These boundaries, combined with some neat running between the wickets, saw the Strollers begin to compete again after a shaky start and things looked better until Matt eventually succumbed to Shak’s bowling for 18.

With the skies beginning to darken, Mikey came in next in scenes reminiscent of the Strollers memorable World Cup final-style pitch dark victory over Queen Adelaide last year, hoping to emulate the same form that took the Strollers past the winning line as in that game. By this stage, Rob had posted nearly all of his fieldsmen far back and despite some well timed shots, boundaries were hard to come by. Quick running characterized the partnership between Graeme and Mikey until the former was stumped for 26 off Archdale’s bowling in a laudable attempt to push forward. This, incidentally being Archdale’s 999th wicket for the Bohemians who were all set for wild celebrations should he gain his 1,000th in the same game.

However Dickie, coming in at number nine, was in a mood to spoil the Bohemians’ party and began timing the ball well from the get go, with some fine strokeplay. Together with Mikey he reduced the asking rate to a run a ball and was set well until the penultimate over when a well targeted throw in from Archdale saw Dickie run out, just short of his ground.

This brought Chris Rowe to the wicket to partner Mikey for a tense last over with seven required in very poor light. Mikey nudged a quick single leaving Chris on strike, six to get. The tension was palpable but onlookers needn't have worried as Chris drove a towering six over mid on, seeing the Strollers home in style and setting off loud celebrations on the boundary. In an odd way, the Strollers innings had mirrored very closely the Bohemians’ effort – slow to start but powering through the finishing tape. Thanks to a fine team effort, victory was the Strollers’. Bravo!

Gavin Richardson
30.04.07

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