Rains, pains and awesome cream teas
posted: July 31, 2012

After a week of blazing sunshine it was almost inevitable that the rains should start on Sunday at 1.45pm, just as we were pulling up at the lovely Cholesbury Common ground in Buckinghamshire. The proceedings therefore commenced with a long wait as we wondered whether the accursed rain would ever stop. The mood was glum and we had forgotten to bring the cards. The oppo helped us to pass the time with a few games of pool, but — a portent of things to come — our players kept sinking the black by mistake.

Eventually however, the skies cleared and the pitch dried up, so the captains agreed to a reduced 30 over match. They also agreed without a toss that the Strollers would bat first, on the grounds — ludicrous in hindsight — that the weather would stay clear and the oppo could prepare a barbecue towards the end of the game.

Poor old Gav was first in the firing line, with bowler Cath getting the ball to zing and zip off the pitch and cut through Gav's defences in the first over. Ringer Nick Hamilton — on loan for a small fee from the Highgate Irregulars (i.e. nought) — and Graeme Holmes sought to settle things down until Graeme, looking fine up until that point, contrived to drag a full toss from wide outside off on to the stumps, and Nick followed shortly after falling to a sharp catch at cover. Chris Lucas was unlucky to be out stumped after the keeper dropped the ball and it fell on the stumps. Four down for just 31 and the scoring rate was slow.

A recovery of sorts followed, with Richard Betts and Tim Sturm combining for a partnership of 62. The partnership was interrupted early on by a rain break, at which point the Strollers were treated to a very fine tea indeed, particularly the scones with cream and jam, perhaps the highlight of the day. After the resumption of play the runs flowed freely, even after a runner was introduced after old man Sturm came clattering down with a torn calf muscle. Sturm soon sunk the black however, pre-meditating a ludicrous sweep shot and being deservedly bowled by a yorker for 36, and Betts followed shortly after, running himself out having clobbered a swashbuckling 31.

Thereafter Dave struck a couple of fine fours and was unlucky to be caught at deep long off from one he had middled sweetly, and despite looking very promising Tom soon got himself out after missing an ungainly heave.

All out for 118, and it was never going to be enough. Graeme and Tom opened the bowling and were quick to find a good line and length. However opposition Skipper Holdsworth wasn't hanging around and clubbed a couple of fine off drives. The innings was interrupted by at least two heavy downpours. At one point it looked like the game might actually get rained off, leaving us with an undeserved draw even by our standards, but the rain stopped and we dutifully carried on, sliding around in an outfield that was now like a bad day out at Glastonbury.

Simon Boughey finally made the breakthrough with the help of a class stumping by Dave Couldrey. Trevor Pile and Chris also troubled the batsmen, Chris inducing a mis-hit from Holdsworth which Sturm, hobbling around from mid-wicket, eventually managed to cling on to. But other than the mud, the rain and the Strolling wounded (Richard Betts also sporting a dickie calf muscle), it wasn't really a memorable innings from our point of view.

A quick pint, our thanks to Hawridge and Cholesbury for being great hosts and having a beautiful ground and very fine teas, and we headed off home into the now clear blue skies…

Tim Sturm
31.07.12

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