Strollers win thrilling victory
Congratulations to all those Strollers who took part in one of the most exciting games in the club's history, chasing down an imposing target of 276 off 35 overs to secure a brilliant if unlikely victory off the very last ball.

Horwood as usual lost the toss and on a dry pitch with a tiny outfield, Chudley Ales not surprisingly decided to post a total. Strollers got an early breakthrough with Holmes bowling the left-handed
opener off his legs, but we then suffered as 2 and 3 set about the bowling, the ball heading hard and often to and over the short Ferme Park boundaries.

But we hung in there admirably. Gillies picked up his second three-for of the season; Holmes came back and took a wicket plus a run-out of their opener, who had reached the 80s. Horwood picked up a couple of the late middle order. Eddy Whatt took his first wicket for the Strollers.

But the Chudleys still posted a daunting 275 for 9 total (there seemed to be a 20 run discrepancy in the scorebook), leaving Strollers requiring a mammoth 8 an over for the run chase.

Whatt succumbed to a mistimed pull in the first over, but Marshall and Fallon J kept the scoreboard moving at the required rate, before Fallon became bogged down and was eventually dismissed, again to the mistimed pull.

Then Marshall was joined at 61-2 by George Brown, and they set about the oppo attack with some style posting a century partnership. Marshall took the lead, playing shots to all parts of the wicket, reaching his maiden 50 for the Strollers with an almighty six, and quickly taking his total to a personal best of 74 before being caught at deep mid on.

S**** joined Brown at 167-3, who then took up the lead role and secured his own maiden half century for the Strollers. A truly historic day for two Strollers stalwarts. S**** was keeping the scoreboard ticking over; we were still on or about the run rate, but needed every single. Strollers were 137-2 off 18; then needed 90 of 12. A quick single was called, but Brown fell to a direct hit from cover.

Morgan joined S**** at 212-4, and struggled to time the ball at first. But S**** showed a rare array of attacking shots, and also kept the target on track with some excellent running between the wickets by the fifth wicket pair.

But the day was drawing in, dark threatening skies causing the light to fade to grey, then something akin to black. It was getting hard to see the ball. The target was 64 off 8, then 31 off 5, then 24 off four, then 17 off three, then just 9 off 2, then four off the last over. A couple of quick singles
left two needed off four. S**** played and missed, then skied one departing for an excellent 57. Horwood joined Morgan. Chudleys brought the field in.

Two needed off two. Morgan hit one hard to leg, hit the fielder, but the run was made. One ball left, one run needed. Down the ball came, Horwood swung and thick-edged it over the infield to the cover boundary. Strollers erupted. A famous victory.

Clive Horwood
13.09.04

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