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Match 6 (6th scheduled), 2015: June 14

Battersea Bohemians CC vs Pimlico Strollers CC

Bohemians bested once again by super Strollers
posted: June 16, 2015

The streak continues. At the end of the game, when pints had been ordered and Gideon had mixed up his macrobiotic brew, genial Harry Drew observed that he fondly remembered when the Battersea Bohemians used to beat the Strollers all the time. Not so anymore. Despite fielding only ten men in a game when an extra fielder would have made a deal of difference and being somewhat below strength, the Strollers emerged triumphant once more, inflicting on the Bohos their third successive loss at our hands (fourth if one includes the last match of the 2014 season — Ed). We are like England reborn in 2005, suddenly more aggressive and combative than before, the old-stagers, to whom losing had become second nature, galvanized by the fearlessness of a new, unscarred generation and tough, clever leadership. 

David lost the toss and the Bohos put us in on a rather worn and patchy Calthorpe pitch with a vast boundary to the pavilion and a shorter one in the other direction. But the outfield was like glass and, as usual, it was a pleasure to play anywhere but Ferme Park. Gav and George opened against the miserly, slow-medium wobblers (ooh, Mrs..) of Nick Stoop and the somewhat wayward seam of Adam Botterill. A lot of the latter' s deliveries were some way outside off stump, but umpire Boughey, a fully paid up on had member of the bowlers's union, declined to signal wide, to George's obvious consternation. But, by stepping out to them, he was soon slapping Adam through the covers to the shorter boundary, and then, in a shot that spoke loudly of the big man's new confidence, smashed it back past the bowler for a straight four. Gav, who had been given a life when dropped at mid on, managed to edge an away wobbler to the keeper who took a good diving catch - which he later described as 'more of a belly flop really.' Nonetheless it was one of the moments in a Strollers game when, for a second or two, it looks as if a proper cricket game had accidentally broken out.

In came Spencer who, when he hadn't made very many, edged Stoop to gully which Rob failed to hold on to, going away to his left. It was a difficult but gettable chance, and one felt that the Bohos might later regret that moment.

George fell for an excellent 24 to a well disguised slower ball from Nick Stoop and soon after Matt got a very good one that jagged back to hit leg from Huddlestone, by some way the pick of the Bohos bowlers. We were now around 45-3, and clearly we needed someone to partner Spencer. Gav opined that 180 would be a reasonable total on that wicket but at this stage it was some way away. David chipped in with 15, hitting one majestic six before holing out to mid-on off the subsequent ball while Tom made six before edging behind. It fell to Gideon to partner Spencer for the final ten overs or more, and he played a vital role. It was in these ten overs that the total leapt up by 100 runs, as Spencer took the attack apart as we know he can, launching one six over the longest part of the boundary in a blow so effortless it made no sound off the bat. Gideon played some lovely shots in his 27, going down the wicket to steer it though the covers and cutting down to third man. He was out, somewhat unluckily given LBW, and Jamie Morgan stayed with Spencer for another vital over or two to push the total to 203 - 7 off the 35 overs, almost half of which were supplied by Spencer with an imperious unbeaten 92. Not for the first time, and one suspects not for the last, did we owe a lot to Spencer.

The Bohos innings was to follow a somewhat similar pattern, with one player supplying the bulk of the runs. Josh Jones made 91 magnificent runs, punishing anything short and wide though the off side and milking runs round the wicket. While he was in, it looked like the Bohos would win. But in the end, the Strollers bowled and fielded just a bit better than the Bohos had. Gideon removed opener Roberts in his first over with a ball which might have been described as a swinging Yorker by the charitable, and as a having floaty full toss which bamboozled the batsman by the less charitable. Simon, from the other end, was running down the hill harder than he has done since the 1970s or so, but was indebted for his first victim to a smart piece of work by David behind the stumps to throw down the wicket with Spratt well out of his ground. In his next over, after getting a few to jump at Russell Leece, he got one to move back up the hill and took out the leg stump. Whereupon, after two consecutive wicket maidens, he took himself off to rest those weary and aged bones.

This brought lefty Kilpatrick to the crease and so commenced the partnership which, for a long time, looked as if it would win the game for the Bohos. Kilpatrick proved difficult to move, and with Josh scoring freely at the other end, they were well up with the rate. Tom eventually removed Kilpatrick with one that did him for pace, but it fell to the skipper to make the vital and decisive breakthrough. Giving the pads to Spencer, he brought himself on to bowl his little leggies (well, he's a little lad isn't he?) and, in his very first ball, bowled Josh off his pads as he attempted to sweep down to square leg, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Botham's dismissal at Lord's in 1981, for those old enough and autistic enough to recall such events.

It should also be said that this wicket fell after several overs in which the Strollers had built pressure like, well, almost a proper cricket team really. Spencer was blowing an immaculate line, racked up consecutive maidens and finished with one for just 17 off his seven overs. It should also be mentioned that Jamie and Chris often had the entire leg side to patrol themselves for long portions of the game and did so with real vigor and aggression, saving vital runs.

Huddleston, who could clearly bat a bit, chipped to mid on where Simon took out a smart tumbling catch, and David picked up another two wickets to finish with three off his three overs, while Gideon, brought back on, took the final wicket of the day when Adam Botterill edged behind. 

The Bohos ended 30 runs short, but it had looked to be a lot closer for long periods.  So, still without a loss mid-way through June. Glory days.

 

Simon Boughey
16.06.15

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