Strollers stumble against The Village
 
The 2007 season started early for the Strollers on a glorious Spring Sunday at Ferme Park that bore more resemblance to midsummer than mid April. The day began in unsurprising fashion with an eleventh hour withdrawal from the side but, after some frantic phone calling on the part of new skipper Gav and vice skipper Simon, a worthy replacement was found in the shape of 18 year old allrounder Spencer Fowler – another discovery from last year amongst the Strollers’ growing youth academy.

With the majority of the side arriving encouragingly early for a pre-match net all looked set fair and Gav sized up the wicket, which looked to offer some variable bounce. With a strong bowling attack on hand, he decided to put newfound opposition The Village CC in to bat having won his first toss of the year. This despite Matt’s late arrival which prompted the typically unorthodox Strollers move of taking the field with a sub keeper in the form of Andy, who did a fine job for the first 6 overs.

Jake and Simon got straight down to business charging in with pace and accuracy in their opening spells, but neither were able to capitalise and the Village openers Pontin and Bomb (!?) began to get their eye in. This prompted a double bowling change. Jez struggled to find his line from the top end as both batsmen began to strike out, but Graeme coming up the hill managed to rein in some control, particularly coming round the wicket to the left handed Bomb (…still not sure about that name – Ed). Some sharp close fielding particularly from Simon and Dickie also saved runs.

Spencer came on for Jez and offered some tidy off break bowling, but the short Ferme Park boundary was difficult to defend and both openers began to find it with regularity, taking their side past the 100 mark. Finally on 112, Graeme made the breakthrough, bowling Village skipper Pontin through the gate. The second wicket followed soon afterwards in precisely the same fashion and this brought in The Village’s number four, sometime Stroller John Lucarotti, who clearly had the singular intention to slog.

Having managed to maintain some control, Graeme completed a valuable spell, and Spencer switched ends to take over. Clive, making his return to the team after a two and a half year absence, took up the reins from the top end. Lucarotti, having blasted his way to 28 courtesy it seemed of a single shot, the cross-batted forehand on drive (or cow shot to most of us) finally fell to Spencer’s persistent line and length. Horwood also collected his first wicket at the other end with the incoming Bomb, H (surely not) edging to slip where Graeme took a neat reflex catch.

In strode The Village’s somewhat ‘larger than life’ number six, Richardson, who wasted no time in setting after the Strollers attack, and together with opener Bomb took the side sailing past the 200 mark… and then 250. Having bludgeoned his way to a very fast 50, Richardson decided he had had enough and walked off, with The Village now looking well set to post an ominous total.

Opening bowlers Jackson and Boughey returned for the final overs, each collecting a wicket from the Village tail, but Bomb had his sights set on a maiden century and, opening his shoulders he hit a towering six from the final ball of the innings reaching three figures for himself and closing The Village on 280-6.

After a good tea, The Strollers failed to make the best of starts to their innings when Gav, attempting to cut a short pitched second delivery from opening bowler Ireland, top-edged to third man on the boundary and was dismissed for a duck. Deavs, batting at three, also succumbed early to Ireland, playing down the wrong line to one that kept low. At 18-2 things were not looking good.

However, opener Spencer maintained stoic resistance in the early overs whilst incoming number four Graeme attempted to up the pace to the required run rate. Despite some accurate bowling from The Village, both batsmen regained some composure to the Strollers innings, picking up runs at at pace. Having put on a valuable 66 partnership with Spencer, Graeme was eventually dismissed for 21 after a couple of close calls, with the score at 84-3. This brought Matt to the wicket who began by playing a supporting role to Spencer who was by now in full flow, hitting 14 off one over. Sadly, having reached his maiden 50 for the Strollers, Spencer was bowled by the slingy action of The Village’s Richardson, and the pressure was back on.

Dickie came to the wicket but was promptly dismissed in the first of the evening’s two controversial LBW decisions. Clive fell shortly afterwards and by now concerns were rife that the target may be too big an ask for the remaining Strollers. However Andy, coming in at number eight, played a stylish cameo with some effortless boundaries which were mirrored at the other end by Matt who was seeing the ball well despite the fading light. Passing the 180 mark with 9 overs to go there was a glimmer of hope.

This prompted The Village to reintroduce their best bowler, Ireland, to the attack and unfortunately Andy was done for pace. Jez was then unlucky not to survive a shout for LBW and this brought Jake to the wicket, eager to make a fight of it. Sharing Jake’s enthusiasm, Matt called for a misjudged single and unfortunately gave himself too much to do, and was run out just shy of a half century after another fine knock. At 198-8 the game was clearly lost, but Simon and Jake gladly saw the side past the 200 mark to gain the innings an air of respectability, despite closing some 74 runs adrift when Jake was eventually caught at slip.

Despite the loss, there was plenty to feel positive about, including some accurate slow bowling from Graeme and particularly some good middle order batting in the run chase that followed. Stroller of the match has to go to Spencer who shone both with bat and ball following his late call up to the side, and we can go into the next game feeling there is much to build on.

Gavin Richardson
23.04.07

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