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Match 18 (21st scheduled), 2011: 12 August

Pimlico Strollers CC vs Octopus CC

Strollers turn in textbook T20 performance to see off Octopi
posted: August 12, 2011

The Strollers turned in an exemplary all round team performance last night to claim a convincing T20 win over Octopus CC in the inaugural fixture between the two sides. H Joshi Esq, sometime skipper of Octopus alongside his duties as star batsman for the Strollers, was sadly absent, although in a cricketing sense this undoubtedly helped our cause as did Spencer who correctly called an important toss to win and had no hesitation in opting to bat first, knowing the late Summer evening light would become a factor later in the game.

Gav and George got proceedings off to a flyer, the former pummelling five boundaries in quick succession as the score raced to 32 off the first four overs. But Dempsey, persisting with his left arm seam from the pavilion end, dug one in at the start of the fifth over that lifted off a full length and Gav snicked behind where the keeper took an excellent diving catch to dismiss the big man for 23. Spencer, next in, looked to continue in the same vein but after a couple of powerful strokes played down the Bakerloo when the ball was heading down the Piccadilly and was bowled by Knowles for 9.

George worked hard to get the ball away and whilst lacking fluency made a good job of rotating the strike with Matt who immediately looked in fine form, continuing where he left off after his excellent 80 the previous Sunday. Nevertheless, as the innings wore on, scoring became harder as Octopus introduced their spinners into the attack who put the brakes on. Still, Matt managed to improvise cleverly and with quick footwork managed to find scoring opportunities square of the wicket. The hundred came up in the fifteenth over but the Strollers felt they needed more so George bravely turned to run a second but which wasn't really on and was run out.

This brought Tim to the crease in a feiry mood who belted his first ball back over mid on and followed that up with a series of stunning shots all round the park, including a big six that beat the fielder on the long leg boundary and a truly glorious straight drive back past the bowler at the Highgate end. Matt too continued to work the ball around well and the innings kickstarted back into life, racing towards the 150 mark. However, in the final over Tim came marching down the wicket, missed and was sharply stumped having contributed an invaluable 35 that had swung the momentum back in the Strollers' favour. Dave 'Sehwag' Couldrey followed in precisely the same manner next ball but Dickie, arriving at the crease with two balls to face had decided to run whatever the case and successfully added a couple more to close the innings on a handsome 148-5 with Matt impressively not out for 44.

After a quick turnaround, the Strollers kept up their momentum with some excellent pace from Messrs Boughey and Brown Jnr. The Octopus openers did well to see off the first couple of overs but Simon stuck to his line and it paid off in the third when he snicked Yao's off stump and then next ball delivered an absolute peach to bowl the Octopus number three in similar fashion. No hat-trick sadly but Rob got into the act as well when Davey, frustrated at being hemmed down, took an ungainly heave and scooped the ball up to cover where Tim was waiting to take a rugby style catch!

Harry got into the wickets column when Dave snaffled a sharp catch behind to dismiss Knowles before Paul Bowstead was brought on into the attack and continued to pile on the pressure, collecting the wicket of Winter when Spencer held on to a drive drilled straight to where he stood at mid off.

By now the light was failing and in the darkened conditions, wickets tumbled with regularity. Spencer brought himself on to bowl from the pavilion end and despite having a close LBW call turned down, kept his line and knocked over three wickets in quick succession. With only three Octopus batsmen making double figures, the result was now beyond doubt but not before Tim took another sensational low catch at square leg off Spencer's bowling - Sturm doing well to see the ball let alone catch it! For the final overs Spencer turned to spin in acknowledgement of the near impossible batting conditions, with George operating from the Highgate end and Gav requiring only three balls from the pavilion end in the final over to have Ingram caught behind to dismiss Octopus for a meagre 94 all out.

In the final analysis, light may have been a factor but the general feeling was the match was won before the sun went down with a strong finish to the Strollers innings (thanks to Tim and Matt) and some crucial early breakthroughs to carve up the Octopus top order. Textbook stuff and a good win to give the Strollers three victories on the bounce... marvellous!

Gavin Richardson
13.08.11

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