Match 26 (30th scheduled), 2011: 2 October

Battersea Bohemians CC vs Pimlico Strollers CC

Bohemians clinch end of season mini test finale posted: October 4, 2011 The last match of the regular season saw the Strollers up against a Bohemians outfit bolstered by a smattering of Highgate Irregulars in a knock-about “20/20 test match” at Alexandra Palace. Unfortunately the Strollers’ performance couldn’t match the glorious late-season sunshine and the Bohemians took the cricketing honours. Spencer won the toss and elected to bat. The format was for two innings of 20 overs, with the batting to be reversed in the second innings. The Strollers started their first innings briskly enough, with George and Richard piling on some quick early runs with George in particular pulling off some attractive shots until he fell to a good catch while trying to punish a wide ball. Richard soon followed, again trying to force the pace but being foiled by a loopy one (ironically, much like those he bowls himself). Spencer joined Matt at the crease and the two formed a solid partnership. Scoring was hard to come by however with the long boundaries and some tight fielding, although there were some delightful shots through the gaps from both players and one massive six over square leg from Spencer. Spencer eventually fell, and coming in near the end of the innings James also fell to the gentle yet familiar guile of Rob “Arch-Nemesis” Archdale. In response, the Bohemians opened with Charles Trevor, a well known Highgate Irregular stalwart. Trevor and teammate Lowen got away to a bit of a flyer, with Lowen in particular using his strength to bosh a number of fours around the park. However Bates and Spencer successfully slowed the scoring rate down, with Bates in particular being unfortunate not to pick up one or two wickets as a couple of difficult catches went down. Spencer finally broke through Lowen’s defences, but Trevor carried on, hitting a number of straight fours and eventually reaching his 50. Having toiled manfully in the peak of the day heat, the Strollers finally retired to lunch with a 1st innings deficit of 31. The Strollers opened the second innings with the two youngsters, Daniel and Jamie. Both players thrilled the large crowd of Strollers supporters (i.e. about 6 or 7 of them) with a couple of attractive cut shots before Daniel fell going for glory off a straight one. This brought Tim to the crease who immediately tried to up the run rate, hitting a series of fours around the park and farming the strike away from the promoted lower order batsmen who were falling with some regularity at the other end. This worked for a time, however after Tim fell the run rate slowed significantly as the lower order batsmen struggled to reach the boundary and wickets continued to fall, the Strollers finishing up with 99 for 10 off their 20 overs (the rules of the day having allowed up to 12 batsmen). Having set the Bohemians set a paltry 69 off 20 overs, Boughey then managed to grab a wicket off the first ball of the innings before Raymond and Archdale settled things down. Ever the gentleman, Archdale shrugged off a couple of wild beamers in good humour and cracked a couple of meaty fours. Spencer then nearly turned the game on its head with a stunning spell of straight bowling laced with off cutters, taking 3 for 8 off 4 overs. However, chasing such a low total the Bohemians were never really in trouble, although there was one final piece of excitement and rule-book nerdery as Highgate Irregular Elwin managed to get himself out obstructing the fielder - surely a Strollers first - as he gloved one up in the air and then whacked it away with the bat as the wicket keeper was about to take the catch. A great day out to end the regular season, with Malta yet to come... << scorecard

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