Strollers suffer chastening defeat as HICCs chase down mammoth total
posted: June 23, 2016

A sense of bemused bewilderment settled upon the Strollers yesterday evening after, in our latest T20 clash at North Middlesex CC, the side somehow contrived to lose to the Highgate Irregulars having posted a record 196-3 from our allotted overs. Not only did the oppo successfully chase down the mammoth target but they did so without the loss of a single wicket, a truly chastening experience for all concerned.

It had all started so well with Spencer, making his long awaited first appearance of the season, carrying his bat with a magnificently measured 67. However, this played second fiddle to Viral who, in full demolition mode, thumped a stunning unbeaten 84 — the pair of them adding in excess of 120 runs for the fourth wicket.

Perhaps over-confident that the huge total could be defended, concern soon crept in as a couple of expensive overs early on in the Irregulars' innings had us rocking on our heels as they smashed their way to 40 off just the first twelve balls. We were then unlucky not to claim two quick run outs, which were controversially not given, but these were to be our only chances to make inroads into the Highgate innings. With only 9 Strollers at our disposal plus oppo skipper Giles Elwes (who kindly offered to field for us himself at square leg throughout) the Irregulars batsmen found the gaps all to easy to come by and runs came thick and fast - with both Singh and Gallagher hitting the ball to all parts. By the time the winning runs were hit in the penultimate over a due sense of resignation had descended upon the team who just 90 minutes earlier had felt assured of victory.

Again our inability to field a full XI cost us dearly and, whilst it was great to have the likes of Spencer and Simon finally back in our ranks, batting aside, this was clearly not a good day at the office and one this writer will hope to soon forget as we look to return to winning ways.

Gavin Richardson
23.06.16

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