Spencer signs off with a ton
posted: May 19, 2014

Not even a spectacular parting century from Spencer — whose season sadly today comes to a premature end thanks to planned shoulder surgery — was enough to notch up another win yesterday over the Highgate Irregulars but my, was it close!  

With beautiful weather set fair at the sunny Old Cholmeleians gound in Mill Hill all that was needed was a cricket match to paint the perfect picture. But playing in even this most idyllic of settings proved a big ask for the Strollers as, come 2pm, only four of us had made it to the pavilion — with over half of an already depleted side stuck in traffic (or the pub? — Ed) in Camden. So, in order to get started, the Irregulars kindly agreed to let us bat first and we had the vaguely laughable situation of two Strollers striding out to the middle to bat and the other two padded up marching out to umpire. 

Without a, you know, batting order to back them up — openers Spencer and Gav played notably within themselves to avoid early wickets, compounded by the latter still nursing a bad back picked up in Vis. As such progress was stilted and, whilst the opening bowlers had been seen off — Spence removing Kyrakides from the attack having pummelled him for 12 off three balls — by the time the others arrived at the ground, we had only progressed to thirty-odd off the first ten overs. What's more Steve Gray was now bowling from the pavilion end with more deadliness than has been seen by this reporter in some years and this eventually paid off, with Gav skying a leading edge behind. 

Having hit a delightful (and rare) straight drive for four, George shortly followed in similar fashion looping one to gully. This brought Tim to the crease who, with Spencer, now managed to up the run rate. With a long boundary and a slow outfield this could only be achieved by good running which the new slimline Spencer was well able and willing to do and suddenly the innings took on some momentum, the score passing the hundred mark without further incident, Spencer notching up his 50 in the process. 

Unfortunately this was brought to an abrupt end when Tim misjudged the line to Chipperfield and this brought first Hamza (making a welcome return to the side) and then débutant Chris Pierce to the middle, although sadly neither were able to trouble the scorers. In next came Davey, fresh from a quick umpiring stint (beer and fag in hand) who checked with Spence on his way "So we're batting, right?" But the kitten's lackadaisical walk to the middle was clearly a ruse as he put his foot down and with Spencer ran like a hare between the stumps — the pair of them at one point running an incredible FOUR whilst the ball got stuck in the grass. 

The 150 came up but then Chipperfield struck again, this time getting one through a knackered kitten's gate. Tom looked to continue in much the same vein but was on his way back to the pavilion shortly afterwards having been triggered out LBW to one that straightened. Young Ben Mortimer and Tom Fielding (both also Strolling for the first time) came and went, which left only Dickie to come in last to soldier on through illness and help Spence notch up his hundred (a spectacular bat-carrying effort) and we closed on a respectable 192 all out, Betts dismissed on the final ball of the innings. Spencer's knock had accounted for over half our total and, despite the shenanigans at the start, had made a game of it. 

In response, the Irregulars faltered with Tom dismissing Holmes early on and young Ben, bowling beautifully, earning just reward with the dismissal of Agnew, J (yes really).

However, this brought Kyle Pittman, guesting for the Irregulars, to the middle — Kyle being the architect both with ball and bat of many a Strollers nightmare in recent years. Seemingly without effort, Pittman started working the ball around with assurance, stamping his authority on the Irregulars innings. At the other end, Gray Jnr looked less assured for despite hitting some lusty blows to cow corner he rode his luck, first with a looped chance to square leg that sailed perilously closely above Gav’s reach and then with a plum-as-you-like leg before to Spencer that was infuriatingly not given.

Gray’s watch did not last much longer, though, as Spencer got his just deserts with a well placed yorker and this brought skipper Tony Mitchell to the middle who joined Kyle to mount a calm and measured partnership that took his side to 90 at the drinks interval. Tom was also faced with a problem. With only a threadbare attack at his disposal, the absence of a genuine second string of recognised bowlers was all too evident and whilst the newcomers were rightly all given opportunities with the ball, the cost was all too dear as numerous wides and no-balls piled up.

However, just as the Irregulars seemed to be sailing towards victory, the skipper turned to George to reinstate some control and this was rewarded almost immediately with the prize wicket of Pittman who holed out to long off, where Tom took a great low catch.

With only thirty odd required and wickets in hand Highgate still had the advantage but, inevitably, they wobbled as Tim then took a trademark rugby catch at cover to send Chipperfield back to the hutch. With eight required from the last two overs, Spencer gave us the best possible chance to claim an unlikely victory by only shedding two from the penultimate over.

But Tony kept his head, and with a fine four off the first ball of the last over, the momentum swung back to his side and, with a final square cut, the victory was theirs. For a third time this season, we had suffered a final over loss and whilst the win would have been unlikely, it was another one that had only just gotten away.

Special mention must, as always, go to Spencer for his contribution to the game — both with bat and ball — that put us in with a real shout and we wish him a speedy recovery from his op. How much we will miss him for the rest of the season and how much will it now be up to the rest of us to step up and contribute!

Gavin Richardson
19.05.14

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