Strollers bowled over by Beamers

This match could very aptly be described as a game of two halves. At the last minute the fixture had been shunted off the main pitch at North London for the less salubrious setting of Ferme Park and, having lost the toss, the Strollers were first tasked with defending it’s notoriously short boundaries against the Beamers’ batsmen who strode out to brave a wicket that looked to offer a bit of everything.

To begin with Jake experienced uncharacteristic problems finding line and length and posed the Beamers’ openers little to worry about save a few head high deliveries, notching up a brace of extras in the process. However Bruce, opening the bowling from the other end, hit a more consistent rhythm and, after a couple of probing overs with the score on 24 claimed the first wicket, jubilantly celebrating what he insisted to be “the first LBW decision of his life!”

The breakthrough clearly inspired Jake to get in on the act who dug in a short one to the Beamers’ number three who mistimed and drove into the waiting grasp of Chris Lucas in his trademark position at short cover. Jake’s variation reaped further reward shortly afterwards as Kemp, swiping at a wide delivery, was caught on the third man boundary by Spencer with the score now 47-3 and looking good for the Strollers.

Débutant Paul Williams was brought on to replace Bruce at the lower end and immediately looked impressive bowling some tidy wrist spin into the increasing rough. Still, opener Jones and his partner Hyam dug in and saw their side past the 100 mark without trouble. But skipper Gav didn’t panic and, with George now bowling from the top end, enjoyed the rare treat of deploying two leg spinners bowling in tandem. The dividends of the applied pressure were soon evident when first Jones was finally clean bowled for 60 by one of George’s well flighted deliveries, and then Paul collected his first wicket as Hyam mistimed a pull and was caught by Bruce at midwicket – both valuable dismissals and the Strollers sensed an early tea.

However the Beamers’ number six, Miller, had other ideas and made his intentions clear with first a towering six off Paul and then several more boundaries in quick succession. Having raced to 32, Miller took an enormous swipe off George’s bowling and did himself a mischief in the process, rupturing a calf muscle.

Needing to stem the flow of runs Gav opted to return to medium pace and Spencer, replacing George at the top end, dismissed O’Neil first ball with a dolly catch to Chris. North Londoner Mickey Leighton (also making his first appearance for the Strollers) was brought on to take over from Paul, who had completed his spell, and also found instant success taking the prize wicket of Miller who, clearly struggling, was bowled.

From here on in it was merely a question of mopping up the tail which the Strollers duly managed with ease, Mickey and Spencer each collecting another wicket whilst Andy, on wicket keeping duty, orchestrated the run out of Noutch ending the Beamers’ innings on 195 all out. Thanks to some persistence with the ball and some fine fielding, particularly from sweepers Bruce, Sean and substitute Ben, the opposition had been contained to a sub 200 total, never an easy task on Ferme Park, and the Strollers took tea feeling rightfully pleased with their efforts.

After the turnaround, Gav and Spencer stepped out to open the innings, but were immediately hemmed in by some very accurate bowling from the Beamers’ attack.

With the score on just 6, Spencer edged a catch to the limping Miller at slip. Gav however rode his luck and, having skied a couple of half chances, attempted to dig in as best he could with number three Mickey, collecting singles here and there.

However Gav’s resistance was undone when Andrew bowled him with one that turned sharply – 23-2 and the pressure was on. What followed was nothing short of a major collapse as the Strollers middle order was literally blown away to the point that the sixth wicket was claimed with only two more runs having been added to the score! This mainly thanks to more penetrating off spin from Andrew, but also a badly called single that resulted in the run out of George.

Only Chris Lucas provided any real resistance who, with partners disappearing fast, decided the only form of defence was attack as he belted on drive after on drive to the boundary, narrowly avoiding maiming some young tennis players in the adjoining courts after one monumental blow for six.

Despite knowing the game was surely theirs, the Beamers were visably rattled and Sean, batting at number nine, took full advantage, joining Chris in on the act with a couple of well timed drives evoking shades of his fine 2004 season form.

But it was too little, too late. Sean was bowled for 14, followed by Paul and, in one last effort to send the ball into next week, Chris was finally dismissed for a laudable 43, leaving the Stollers all out for just 91 – their lowest total and indeed heaviest defeat for some considerable time.

Yes, the Beamers’ bowling had been a good deal better than their name suggests – Andrew eventually claimed a stunning 5-14 –  but the Strollers batsmen had also contributed to their own demise and once again failed to bat out their overs, an all too frequent occurrence.

Still, the side can take heart from having been the first to bowl an opposition side out this year, a fine achievement. With their bowling and fielding in good shape, it is just left for the Strollers’ batsmen to step up to the plate and then, surely, the good times shalt certainly roll.

Gavin Richardson
13.08.07

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