Strollers back on song as Beamers well beaten
posted: August 3, 2014

Following the sight of last week's somewhat surreal hybrid of a team that joined forces to take on the Game Cox XI, yesterday hostilities with our rivals-in-chief the Beamers were resumed in full as we joyously recorded a resounding away win in the fine surroundings of the famed Walker Ground, home of Southgate CC and occasionally Middlesex CCC.

With both Tom and Matt absent on overseas maneuvers, Big Gav stepped up to skipper a strong side including débutant Abhi Champaneri, the returning Pauls Bowstead and Murphy, Gideon - a late replacement for Simon (still suffering from an assortment of aches, pains and general malaise) - and, miraculously, Spencer whose Wayne Rooney-esque early return from surgery delighted all, except possibly the Beamers.

Gav however immediately displeased his team mates both by (a) losing the toss on a flat track on a hot day (therefore obviously being made to field first) and (b) somehow agreeing to play a 40 over game …never a favoured format for the Strollers. However, if there was to be a low point of the day, that was it.

Gideon looked sharp from the get go and Paul B, operating from the other end, also found his groove early on and, with only 8 on the board, snared Christian Woolmar with a sucker boundary catch well taken by Spencer at midwicket.

There then followed an attritional passage of play where neither bat nor ball dominated but, as time wore on, it was apparent that a change in attack was warranted. Viral came on first change for Paul and, after Gideon completed a fine if undeservedly wicketless 8 over spell that conceded only 23 runs, Gav turned to Paul Murphy for some loopy off spin.

With Doshi delivering demon-like pace from one end, the Beamers batsmen clearly targeted Murphy for scoring opportunities and managed to kickstart their innings with several well placed boundaries. However, the skipper persisted and, in time honoured fashion following a drinks break, the Beamers’ number 2 Phil was sent packing when he edged one from Murphy to Couldrey. Murphy claimed his second (and arguably streaky) wicket when Sutya, in next, attempted to pull a loose wide from outside off from Murphy, only to see it snaffled by Tim taking his copyrighted rugby style catch in the covers - and will doubtless still be kicking himself. Our success continued when Spencer came on shortly thereafter and promptly had Thomas stumped.

However Toby and Richard Verity managed to get the Beamers innings back on an even keel, taking them past the hundred without further ado and managing to see off Viral who, despite maintaining his menacing speed, remained unluckily wicketless. George took over and bore the brunt of some attacking strokeplay as the Beamers sailed past 150 in the thirtieth over. However it was Brown himself that struck the crucial breakthrough with a fast return from backward point catching Toby unawares and running him out on 71, effectively dampening the Beamers attempt at a late charge. Our authority was further established when Booth audaciously marched down the wicket attempting to lob Spencer only to swing, miss and get roundly stumped again by Davey.

But the best was yet to come when Bowstead returned to complete his overs in imperious fashion, firstly with the dismissal of Verity who, having escaped a flukey caught and bowled chance, hoiked another one to Tim,  who surprised everyone by taking a catch in regulation style for once. Mark Pittman then followed — Bowstead skidding one through the gate. With the Beamers having scrambled over the two hundred mark, Paul claimed two more quickfire wickets first with Dickie taking a well judged skier from Harvey at mid off on the penultimate ball of the innings and then, on the last ball itself, with Ralph Edney sprawling all ends up only to see his stumps shattered, earning Bowstead (pictured above) his first ever fivefer for the Strollers — a magnificent effort matched in spirit by the whole team who put in a superb shift doing well to restrict the oppo to just 215 from their forty on a good pitch for batting.

Following a lovely tea (that included ‘cake of the season’  thus far — Ed)  we set about demonstrating just how good a batting pitch it actually was. Whilst an early probing spell from Beamers skipper Pittman restricted runs from one end, at the other Gav tore into Thomas’ bowling with ferocity, pounding several boundaries all along the off side.

George unfortunately succeeded only in yorking himself, getting tangled up to a straight one that got through but Gav, now joined by Spencer, continued the onslaught now against Richard Verity whose offerings outside off stump were lustily dispatched. However, having hit 28, Gav’s progress was brought to an abrupt halt when Pittman sent down a quick off cutter that the big guy misjudged and allowed through the gate whilst attempting to drive through the covers.

But that was to be the last wicket of the day to fall as Tim joined Spencer in the middle — like two long lost compadres the duo instantly rediscovered the extra-sensory intuition of all seasoned batting partners and began running like hares between the wickets, including an all run four at one stage. Perhaps it was the mention of ‘hares’ that caused the curious arrival of a fox, audaciously patrolling the long on boundary by daylight before trotting on-field to become our first streaker of the season. As if to shoo it back, Spencer began to open his newly repaired shoulders notching up his half century and, as we took drinks, we were comfortably on the asking rate.

The only real cause for concern arose when, after drinks, old timers Ralph and Joe were brought into the attack, neither offering us any quarter with their wily off spin and, after a succession of low scoring overs, a ripple of concern spread through our ranks.

But we needn’t have worried for as soon as Fowler and Sturm got their sights back in, the runs were free flowing again as both batsmen punched boundaries and ran aggressively and the question was not if but how soon we would get over the winning line – neither batsman showing any sign of danger.

In fact, the only concern that occurred to the skipper as we approached the winning line, with Tim nearing his own fifty and Spencer a century, was that with the runs required evaporating fast the two batsmen might try to outdo each other in an attempt to reach their respective targets. Tim, on more than one occasion, sure he was within a single of a half century, called for a non-existant run.

But, thankfully the Beamers failed to take advantage of any potential run out scares and, in the end, Sturm was able to collect his well-earned fifty and Spencer, settling for a marvellous 90+ not out on his comeback, smacked a four to midwicket in the 37th over to tie the scores. Next ball, he knocked a single to mid off to secure both a memorable 8 wicket win and an unassailable second victory out of our three clashes with the Beamers for the season, with only one left to play.

A thoroughly satisfying win then and some fine form to take with us to Chippers in a fortnight … bring ‘em on!

Gavin Richardson
04.08.14

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