Bohemians inch past Strollers

Wednesday evening saw a hastily arranged Twenty Twenty fixture against old rivals the Battersea Bohemians on the main pitch at North London. With several regulars out due to illness, injury or simply missing in action, the Strollers side that lined up included no less than five débutants, including fast bowler and NLCC first teamer Tom Amadee who was spotted bowling in the nets next to the pitch, fancied a game and came with a strong recommendation from K*****'s brother, Kelvyn.

Ringers were sorted but, at 6.15pm, most of the remaining Strollers were still en route so Bohemians' skipper Richard asked Gav if the Strollers could bat first in order to get the game underway for fear of losing the light later on. Gav agreed and opened the innings himself alongside Spencer. Some wayward bowling from the Bohemians got the scorecard ticking over but after a couple of overs opening bowler Tim Bentley got his radar back online and managed to snick Spencer's off bail and the first wicket went down with 19 on the board.

This brought Eddy to the wicket who, making his first appearance for the Strollers since scoring a memorable century against Stumps two seasons earlier, wasted no time in continuing where he left off and with Gav set about ramping up the run rate, finding the boundary with evermore frequency. Passing the 50 mark both batsmen had their eye in, Gav driving well and Eddy scoring heavily square of the wicket, and this prompted the introduction of Bohemians veteran spinner, Rob Archdale into the attack who duely dislodged Gav for 23, deceiving him with flight.

What followed was nothing short of a collapse, with Chris, Trevor, Aidan and Eddy's brother Allan all dismissed cheaply. With the score 67-6 after 10 overs, the prospects of posting a defendable total were looking slim. However Alex, one of Simon's pals drafted into the game batting at number 8, saw the bigger picture and did a fine job of holding an end up allowing Eddy to flash the bat again which he gladly did, this time with more frequency and venom as demonstrated with a towering six over mid on, bringing up the hundred. After a couple of cagey overs Alex too began to hit his straps, his neat running between the wickets matched by some expert strokeplay including a Pietersen style onside smash, smoked for six over midwicket.

With just two overs to go Eddy reached a well earned and stylish 50 but with no hesitancy about protecting his wicket promptly ran himself out in a laudable attempt to push for another quick single. Marc, another mate of Simon's, came out to join Alex for the last 8 balls which were seen off without incident, the latter finishing on a valuable 25 not out and the overall score a respectable 137-7.

At the turnaround, the Strollers took to the field rightly confident that their total could be defended. Simon opened the bowling from the top end and hit the slot from the get go as the Bohemians openers were continually bolted back into their crease. At the other end Tom, seemingly running in off a curtailed run, was able to generate remarkable bounce and lift, well not so remarkable given his six and a half foot plus frame. Thanks also to some very tidy fielding, particularly from kiwi Allan at midwicket, the Bohemians batsmen were noticeably struggling. Kanwar was decidedly lucky to survive two very close LBW shouts off Simon's next over, the second of which was as plum as any this writer has seen. Nevertheless survive they did and with only 30 off the first six overs, Simon completed a very tidy spell and Tom asked for a breather.

Trevor took over at the bottom end began well, pitching on a good length whilst Spencer, opting for his medium pace brand of attack, ran in from the top end. It was Spencer who finally made the breakthrough bowling Bohemian's skipper Meier for 13. He followed that with a sharply taken caught and bowled an over later, dismissing Kanwar for a streaky 33. However this brought Cooke to the wicket who had a look of intent about him. The left handed number 3, White, had reached 13 and was also looking dangerous before Trevor got one through and dislodged his centre stump. Cooke on the other hand was unfazed by Trevor's variation and began to open his shoulders. With his side just topping 60 after 10 overs he saw a job needed to be done to reach their target.

Upping the ante Cooke began to take Trevor on, opting for the aerial route with success. Lancaster at the other end attempted to follow suit off Spencer's bowling and looped an attempted off drive high over his head. Gav, at mid off, ran back to his right to position himself under the ball but, having successfully covered the ground, saw the ball bounce agonisingly out from the heel of his hand and he began grabbing madly at the ball which tantilisingly yearned to be caught. However after seconds that seemed like minutes and at least half a dozen failed snatches, the ball plopped to the ground like a pez dispenser to whoops of laughter from the embarrasingly busy gallery now assembled outside the pavilion. Spencer, maintaining his poise politely suggested his skipper could always get work as a circus juggler... thankfully the error was not expensive as two overs later, Simon took the tidiest of catches at midwicket to dislodge Lancaster and earn Spencer his deserved threefer. A case of the vice skip showing the skip how it's done...

This brought Tim out to bat who joined Cooke in an onslaught against the Strollers' bowling. Amidst the mayhem Trevor completed his spell and bowling changes were necessary at the bottom end. With eight overs to go, the Bohemians were still just shy of a hundred so Gav brought on Aidan, a medium pacer and also the Bohemians 12th man who had been kindly lent. Sadly Aiden's line and length were decidedly lacking and Cooke murderously despached four boundaries square of the wicket (but let there be no talk of inside jobs). Taking 18 off the over, the complexion of the game dramatically changed and with less than 30 now needed to win the Strollers were on the back foot again.

Sadly Spencer saw two more chances spilled off his bowling and although Alex was brought on for Aidan, he could not stem the flow as Cooke made hay. Still the Strollers kept to their task - with 10 needed to win Tom was reintroduced to the attack and finally dismissed Cooke with a searing yorker. Alex's second over saw yet more drama as Tom at deep mid on also dropped a skied drive but made up for it instantaneously by hurling the ball back in to run out the hapless Eugene. Nevertheless, Tim refused to panic and with a well timed on drive to the boundary saw his side to victory with two overs to spare.

The Strollers returned to the dressing room somewhat deflated, feeling this was definitely one that got away, but the game had been well fought throughout and, thanks to some good performances from the new faces, we can again feel encouraged that we have more to see from the swelling ranks in the side.

Gavin Richardson
14.07.07

<< scorecard