Beamers batsmen on top at baking Ferme Park
posted: May 28, 2012

A boiling hot day on Sunday as the Strollers were sent out to bowl for 40 overs on a flat Ferme Park wicket after losing the toss. James Connell got things off to a great start after removing the dangerous but affable Mark Pittman with his first ball. The Beamers’ number 3, Hyam,  struggled somewhat against some reasonably tight bowling and Spencer was unlucky not to have him LBW after rapping him on the pads in front twice in a row.

At the other end Dixon was batting fluently with a combination of offside drives, boshes down the ground, and some wayward balls dispatched square or behind square on the leg side. The Beamers were amassing runs at a fair rate of knots, although things slowed down slightly after Harry broke through to dismiss Hyam, and Spencer eventually got one to keep low to trap Dixon dead in front, but not before he had completed a well-deserved century.

Rob kept things reasonably tight in the latter overs, and Strollers virgin Tom Harvey showed promise, but the scoreboard leapt in sporadic bounds as an over here or there proved to be expensive. Overall, the Strollers performance in the field was excellent with the team remaining positive and energetic for the full 40 overs despite the sweltering heat. Nevertheless, the Beamers finished up with a daunting total of 3-316 off 40 overs, meaning that the Strollers would need to score at 8 an over to win.

After barely cooling down over tea, Gav and George started well with both players peppering the offside boundary with some pleasing shots and trudging through for the occasional single. The score ticked over at the required 8 an over for the first few overs although it was just starting to taper off a little when, with the score on 66, George sportingly walked after feathering one behind. The scoring fell further behind the required run rate at this point and with the pressure building Gav was forced to go for an almighty hoik and was bowled for what proved to be the top-score of 41. Tim and Spencer settled into a partnership but at drinks at the halfway mark the required run rate was up to 10 an over and there was nothing to do but hit out. Tim upped the ante with a series of boundaries, but Spencer eventually fell at the other end and Tim followed shortly after.

One might have expected the team to fold at this point, but Dickie was having none of it. With characteristic verve he belted and blustered and made merry with the Beamers fielders, running everything and peppering the boundary fence, keeping up a good run rate. Tom and Dave also scored quickly but the asking rate ultimately proved too high.  With a few wickets falling and the result no longer in question, Harry batted out the final overs for a stylish, undefeated 27. The Strollers finished 80 runs short of the target but, as with the fielding, it was a positive performance by virtually all of the batters, demonstrating a creditable never-say-die attitude and remarkable forbearance in response to the continual carping in the field from certain members of the Beamers.

Tim Sturm
27.05.12

<< scorecard