Strollers thwarted in wet Easter curtain raiser
posted: April 21, 2014

The 2014 campaign kicked off yesterday in decidedly damp conditions on a wet and windy Easter afternoon at North London CC, against old foes the Battersea Bohemians in a match reduced to a T20 thrash on account of the weather.

With drizzle teeming down from the onset and no visible advantage to be gained by batting first, oppo skipper Rob Archdale won the toss and put us in. However a spirited display including a solid 30 from Spencer and an explosive 43 from Ron permitted us to post a respectable 143 with the last wicket falling on the last ball of the innings.

For some time this looked to be enough as the Bohos batsmen struggled to get the ball away thanks to both the miserable conditions overhead and the miserly bowling of an in-form Harry Brown (0-9) and with only forty-odd on the scoreboard at the halfway stage, the Strollers felt confident of victory. However the Bohemian middle order rallied and some expensive overs caused the momentum to swing and with Yash Singh imposing himself in an ordered fashion the required rate of 8 per over was relentlessly met.

Yet, despite the evermore slippery conditions underfoot, the Strollers stuck to their cause and pushed their rivals all the way until on the penultimate ball of the game, requiring two for victory, Yash smacked a straight drive to the boundary and we were denied. But a cracking game — all the more unlikely due to the relentless rain — and signs of early season form to take on tour next week!

Gavin Richardson
21.04.14

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