Strollers whitewash Fallopians

The Strollers notched up their third victory of 2007 in style with an emphatic 88 run win over the superbly named, anatomically questionable Old Fallopians at North London CC on Sunday.

The day started well with all eleven Strollers showing up unusually early. With skipper Gav winning the toss and electing to bat in order to make the most of the good pitch, decent light, dry weather and a deep batting order, George and Spencer marched out to bat with the firm instruction that the side must bat out their allotted 35 overs. However, in view of some decidedly wayward bowling from the Fallopians’ opening attack, neither batsman wasted any time in cashing in as fours crashed to the boundary and, with the scoring augmented by frequent extras, by the fifth over the Strollers were comfortably achieving a run rate of 8 per over.

Unfortunately then, with the score on 43, Spencer top edged a pull shot to backward square leg and was caught in the deep and he clearly felt frustrated to get out on a day when hay could quite easily have been made. Mickey Leighton, who in playing his second game for the Strollers marked something of a coup (having turned out for the victorious Fallopians in the 2006 fixture), strode out at number three, and between his good timing and George’s punchier aggression with the bat, a good second wicket partnership was mounted.

Indeed George was unlucky not to see the side past the 100 mark when, with the score on 98, he too was caught in the deep but having made a laudable 36 he had done well to build a platform for the innings. That said, progress hit a blip as first, having survived a close run out call, Mickey was trapped LBW by Tennant and then both Chris and Gav were dismissed cheaply in short order, each taking a single, despatching a four and then holing out to a poor shot – with the score now on 123-5, the Fallopians were clawing their way back into the game.

However Graeme, batting at six, had different ideas and with typical speedy running between the wickets got the scoring going again. Andy hit a glorious on drive back past Tennant’s head but then tried the same again and was bowled, bringing wicket keeper David to the crease who, combining with Graeme, got a decent run rate going and the score past 150, before he too was caught in the covers off a misjudged drive.

This brought Mikey to the crease who the Fallopians clearly remembered from last year’s encounter – one fielder was overheard saying “Watchit, this bloke takes his guard outside leg and then walks in to slog”… which was precisely Mikey’s plan and it worked a treat, for despite the occasional mistimed stroke both he and Graeme were able to belt the ball to the boundary with regularity.

All was going well until Graeme, looking to slog once more, was beaten by flight and bowled by spinner Castle for an invaluable 39. With just four overs to go, Jake marched out to bat and, agreeing on a hit and run gameplan with Mikey, began nurdling and scampering so the Strollers were able to pass the 200 mark with ease – always a good landmark on the larger North London pitch. With a couple more boundaries successfully hit and runs taken on nearly every ball, when the final over of the innings was completed the Strollers had reached 217-8, leaving the skipper feeling highly satisfied with very good effort right down the order.

With the depth of the Strollers batting looking to be matched on paper by the plentiful bowling options available, all that was required now was a tight effort in the field and victory would on the cards. Having taken tea Jake tore in from the top end, immediately finding good line and length. Spencer, handed the new ball for the first time, also probed to good effect and neither of the Fallopians at the crease were able to get the ball off the square. The applied pressure sparked an early flashpoint when in the third over opener Smallman was judged out LBW to whoops of delight from the surrounding Strollers except for wickie David who sportingly admitted that there had indeed been a nick of woodwork. Gav then deferred to the Fallopians’ skipper who was umpiring who exercised his right to call the batsman back, Pietersen style.

With the Fallopians seeming to have been let off the hook, the Strollers felt anxious that they may indeed pay dearly for their sportsmanship but, when Mikey was brought on to replace Jake in the ninth over the first blow was struck as Tate, looking somewhat intimidated by the pace the bowler was generating from the top end, saw his off stump dislodged with the Fallopians’ total on 23.

Thanks to some further accurate bowling and good fielding the game then slowed for a period which, if anything, encouraged the Strollers as the opposition now required upwards of 7 per over. Spencer, feeling the onset of a calf strain, was replaced by Graeme who continued to pressurize from the lower end with trademark accuracy. Mikey continued to race in and was unlucky not to claim a second wicket when a speedily edged nick just got away from David’s grasp.

With Spencer leaving the field to rest up, young Harry Brown took to the pitch to substitute at third man, marking the second father/ son appearance in a Strollers side in as many matches!

The pressure on the batsmen to score fast eventually told when, in a fine display of teamwork, it was Brown Snr’s sprawling dive to slow up a boundary-bound square cut that allowed Jake to race round and return the ball sharply to David who whipped off the bails to run out the very batsman he had let off earlier. The third wicket fell shortly thereafter as, having pitched short a faster delivery, number four Press was caught in typical fashion by Chris ‘bucket hands’ Lucas at short cover.

Taking drinks with fifteen overs to go and the Fallopians still some way short of the hundred mark, the Strollers rightly felt confident they could finish the job, but with Graeme and Mikey about to complete their allotted overs there was still the task of deploying the Strollers’ third line bowling attack without allowing the batsmen to get away.

Skipper Gav needn’t have worried as he turned first to Mickey to take over at the lower end and then David’s friend Sam, making his first Strollers appearance took up duties bowling at speed from the top end. Mickey wasted no time in making inroads as number three Sweet was bowled for 24 and he then had Tennant caught behind for just a single.

The Fallopians crawled past the hundred mark but then Sam struck for the first time, his impressive pace and accuracy being rewarded with an LBW decision to dismiss the opposition’s last recognised batsman, Clifford for 30.

By now it was just a formality and Strollers coasted to victory with Sam and Mickey claiming two more wickets apiece to mop up the tail and dismiss the Fallopians for just 129 in under 30 overs – just reward for the excellent bowling and sharp fielding that had been on display from the Strollers all evening. After what had been one of their more clinical - dare I say professional (?) – performances, the Strollers returned to the dressing room after a great all round team effort suitably elated and eager to perform just as well in the remaining matches of the season. Stroll on.

Gavin Richardson
03.09.07

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