Winning streak stemmed as Strollers finally succumb to Bohos
posted: June 18, 2015

All good things must come to end and so it was yesterday evening at North Middlesex CC as the Strollers' remarkable early season winning streak came to an end as we recorded our first loss of the year in an exciting clash with the Battersea Bohemians.

In a match where heavy scoring opportunities proved elusive throughout, we managed to post a respectable if modest 140 from our allotted 20 overs — a total that was always going to prove a challenge to defend. Having won the toss, Dave opted to bat first and things started solidly enough with Gav and Charles Trevor (once again on loan from the Highgate Irregulars) notching up a 49 opening stand — largely due to an overdose of extras thanks to some frequently wayward bowling — before the big man fell in the ninth over in time honoured typical fashion by misreading a loopy Rob Archdale lob that got through his gate. Daniel Marshall (son of Patric) followed shortly thereafter falling to a well taken catch by Josh Jones at long on. This brought Marshall Snr to the middle who immediately looked to step up the flagging run rate with attacking intent. However Charles, having hit a useful 20, played down the wrong line to Yogesh and was bowled.

With only six available overs remaining and the score still some way short of the hundred mark Ron, next in, upped the ante significantly with some attractive shots and characteristically gazelle-like running between the wickets. Kyle Pittman (guesting for the Bohos) was introduced into the attack to stem the flow and surely managed to dismiss Patric who holed out to Burrows in the deep. Yash Singh — also drafted in from the HICCs — only managed a single before Pittman also did for him with a super sharp direct hit to run the dangerous wicketkeeper-batsman out. However this did not deter our progress as with Viral in next the aggressive strokeplay and sharp running continued until the last ball of the innings when Jones snaffled his second catch to dismiss Doshi. But, by then, we had at least reached a total that had got us into the game and offered us a sniff of a chance.

In response the Bohos' early progress was relatively untroubled, with their opening batsmen comfortably matching the required run rate of 7 per over. This was until, with the score on 56, captain Couldrey made yet another of his now customary inspired changes of bowling by bringing Paul Bowstead into the attack who duly made the first breakthrough when Hayley chipped a regulation catch to mid wicket where the skipper himself was waiting.

This brought Kyle to the crease — so often the bane of our scorecards in recent years and now seemingly a gun for hire for those teams looking to scupper the Strollers. Sure enough, young Pittman set about our bowling with his customary ferocity with Josh at the other end also starting to cash in with some big shots. However thankfully Tom, in his second spell, managed to halt the onslaught with a searing yorker that sent Jones packing and our spirits lifted. Alan Andrews, next in, found himself the unlucky victim of a rare double bounced LBW sent down by Daniel (now operating from the pavilion end) and, as wickets started to tumble, feelings began to filter through our ranks that we might yet prevail.

Those feelings were hugely amplified when Richard Meier, next in, called Kyle for an ambitious second run off Tom's bowling only to see the young dangerman sent packing by Viral who magnificently threw down the stumps from long off — a truly exceptional piece of fielding that had the potential to be a game changer. Keith Burrows — returning to the Bohos' ranks after a two year absence and who should be noted for now sporting a magnificently fashionable full beard likening his appearance to WG Grace in all his pomp — looked minded to attack but his lusty blows were cut off well in the field and he too was frustrated when, off the loopy bowling of Banerjee, Daniel held onto a well taken catch at deep mid wicket.

The tension grew around the ground as it became clear that all results were now distinctly possible and with a run a ball needed from the final two overs, nails were bitten both on and off the pitch. Paul turned in a penultimate over which, due to an unfortunate wide, conceded 7 runs. However with Ron's first two deliveries of the final over registering as dot balls the game hung in the balance. However, Meier, casting aside the usage of his runner (who had been called on after the Boho batsman had hurt his hamstring) hit two off the third ball with a mis-timed chip to mid on which tragically evaded Daniel, passing by no more than a matter of inches above his reach overhead. Sometimes it is by the smallest of margins that cricket matches are decided and, as a case in point, when a further two was hit off Ron's fourth ball, the Strollers' plucky effort to maintain the unbeaten start to the season came to an end.

Down but by no means disheartened, congratulations were sportingly offered to the Bohos for a well fought win in what was, by any measure, a cracking game of T20 cricket. After all, it would have been rude not to let them win at least one this year... ;)

Gavin Richardson
18.06.15

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