Bowlers bring Strollers within a whisker of unlikely win at Maida Vale
posted: July 9

Our inaugural clash with newfound oppo Maida Vale CC at Paddington Green on Sunday perhaps failed to deliver on the batting front – skittled as we were for just 94 – but our bowlers brought us back into contention in a match noted for an abundance of tremendous single-handed catches.

Amongst these was a nonchalant one-handed grab to remove Gaurav, and an absolutely unbelievable low diving catch at gully to dismiss Richard (guesting for us from the oppo). Spencer returned fire later with a one-hander of his own in the covers.

Ultimately however, Maida Vale reached their target with 3 wickets remaining and 14 overs to spare. Perhaps proceedings can be best summed up by this poetic offering from Master Andy Bates, who writes...

There lies the pitch; the wickets rebuff their bails
There glooms the dark astroturf. My Strollers
Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me—
That ever with a frolic welcome catch took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads—you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some wicket of noble note, may yet be taken,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods
The lights begin to twinkle from the scoreboard:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends
'Tis not too late to seek a winning total

Andy Bates
07.07.2019

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