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Match 10 (11th scheduled), 2015: July 5

Pimlico Strollers CC vs Agricola CC

Strollers in sparkling form with close win over Agricola
posted: July 6, 2015

After a fiery encounter last week which, thankfully, did not descend into fisticuffs perhaps owing only to the absence of certain more confrontational Strollers, it was with a degree of relief that we played host to the friendly Agricola CC at North London on Sunday.

With some morning showers having dissipated, the sun then shone and with the forecast set increasingly fair, we won the toss and decided to bowl. Viral produced a predictably pacy opening over which had their batsmen hopping about as the ball whizzed through to the 'keeper.

Abhi, at the other end, dropped far too short and his first ball was lofted by Joy over square leg for 6 necessitating an early replacement cherry. He then repeated the trick but when he tried it for a third time, he managed only to pick out our long lost Harsh (returning from Dubai to turn out for the Strollers whilst on his hols) who had stalked back to patrol the boundary and who clung on a couple of inches off the ground.

Viral continued to dominate both batsmen from the other end and it was a pleasure to watch him get his reward as Almond was good enough to edge one which flew to Sturm at slip who made no mistake. Slightly more might have been made of this had he not pouched that absolute stunner against the Gardeners a couple of weeks back. Still, it was unquestionably a moment of proper cricket.

At the other end, Abhi never quite managed to find his rhythm and was replaced by Spencer, bowling seam up, who soon managed to sneak one through the defences of Taylor. When he followed this up by trapping the wonderfully named Grindrod LBW before he could trouble the scorers, the Strollers were well on top.

Débutant Pete Madden replaced Viral and produced a mixed display. Some balls were of dubious line and length, while others were real beauties. It was one of the latter which clean bowled Lillywhite for just 1 and, at this stage, the Agricola innings looked on the brink of collapse.

When Mani came on and had the well-set Kugan stumped for 27, it seemed that Agricola would struggle to pass 100. And when Trugh was then caught at point by our other débutant (and first ever Mexican Stroller! — Ed) Mario Gutierrez-Jimenez just before drinks off the same bowler, it seemed a virtual certainty.

But after drinks, Agricola rallied. White batted beautifully for a well deserved half century and was well supported by useful contributions from the bottom three as the tail wagged effectively. The Strollers perhaps did not help their own cause with their natural sense of generosity allowing the lower order to prosper against some occasionally charitable bowling and fielding.  

We also called back one of their batsmen who had been bowled when he was apparently not quite ready and I daresay that certain Strollers might have wished us to have been a little more ruthless. Still, as things turned out, the 196 for 9 finally amassed by Agricola turned out to be a very competitive target and helped to set up what was a grandstand finish.

Having all repaired to the pavilion for a tea (that didn't quite stretch to Spencer), the Strollers prepared to set about their run chase with George opening up with Harsh who was making his long awaited return to the crease for the Strollers. The opening bowling was pretty effective on an awkward wicket and this perhaps caused George to mistime one off Gauntlett that was superbly held in the covers.

Spencer joined Harsh who was soon back into his stride, striking three crisp fours in one over and this writer had dreams of kicking back with a beer and watching the top two in the all-time Strollers' averages knock off the entire chase on their own. It was a nasty surprise then, when Harsh got the thinnest of edges off Patel to be well snaffled behind.

Tom joined Spencer in the middle but he never really looked in as he struggled to adjust to the pitch and, like George, chipped one into the infield off the bowling of Sellers. This then brought Tim to the wicket to re-form his historically fruitful partnership with Spencer. Indeed, these two played very well together, as they often seem to, and crunching boundaries punctuated scampered singles as they steered us back on course with the required rate dropping below 7.

Spencer's dismissal, for a fine 75, prompted wild celebrations from Agricola but the Strollers' distress was tempered by the fact that this brought Viral to the wicket and we knew that if he stayed there for any length of time, the required run rate would quickly plummet. He duly produced a succession of huge shots and had nearly caught up to Tim's score by the time he was caught for 29.

We now needed only a run a ball but when Couldrey came and went without troubling the scorers, a tense finale was assured. Abhi joined Tim and showed no sign of feeling the pressure as he quickly got going and managed a string of boundaries to edge us ever closer to our target. Finally, with the scores almost level and off the final ball of the penultimate over, he went for one shot too many and was caught on the square leg boundary.

This brought Pete to the wicket to watch Tim manage only a dot off the first ball of the last over as the Strollers (plus fan club) fretted on the sidelines. But Tim seemed the coolest man on the pitch as he guided the next one to the rope and the Strollers had won with four balls to spare. Another great effort chasing with the bat then - Spencer and Tim were the real heroes and were ably helped over the line by Viral and Abhi later on.

So the Sunday winning streak continues but it was a great game and many thanks must go to Agricola CC who provided stern but friendly opposition and who I hope will be given the chance of revenge next year.

Next up, Sandon...

David Couldrey
07.07.15

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