Strollers make it a fantastic five at Ferme Park
posted: August 4, 2025

In what appeared to be almost a carbon copy of last weekend’s substantial 6 wicket win over the Bohemians, we recorded our fifth victory in a row yesterday to see off the Tetherdown Trundlers for the second time this season.

The only discenable difference was in our personnel with our numbers boosted by new recruits formed of friends, friends of friends and even Adam’s Dad – dragooned in to keep wicket for us – but regardless, the outcome remained the same.

Once again Harry won the toss, once again he chose to field and, once again, we refused to let the oppo settle, Adam making our first breakthrough at 37-1 as he had Trundlers’ skipper Adam snicking off to his Old Man behind in textbook fashion. The Trundlers rebounded somewhat, cruising past the 100 mark until Vinay delivered a devastating spell to see off Smith who had just carded his half century. Bowling Hayward a few deliveries later he set up a potential hat trick as he cleaned out Plimley’s stumps with a searing yorker.

Unfortunately, Vinay’s progress stopped there but Spencer, now operating from Ferme Park’s pavilion end, was not to be undone as he too collected a brace with consecutive deliveries –firstly bowling Romain and then trapping Ritterband plumb LBW next ball. Alas, Spencer’s hat trick was again not to be and he ended his spell.

Nevertheless the collapse continued as débutant Drew Blinch took over from Spencer and made an instant impression with some tidy seam from the far end that proved too good even for dangerman Olly Buxton who was undone by one that shaped away to snick his off bail.

Kash came on at the far end to wrap up proceedings firstly by removing Phillips, who had remained calmly stoic at the crease, and then by cleaning out the tail with a couple of regulation return catches. And, with that, the Trundlers were dismissed for 172 …always a below par total for Ferme Park.

Again eschewing the delights of the North London tea (and doubtless having made good use instead of the adjacent bar at Highgate CC) we returned to the middle, George joined by Bobby Cooper to open our innings. Unfortunately, neither remained in place for long – Bobby looked in good touch with a couple of lusty boundaries until he was caught in the deep (to what looked suspiciously like an above-waist no ball from Romain) by Adam lurking at deep cover. George was next to go when he suffered an unlucky stroke of misfortune when a straight drive from Ali brushed against the bowlers hand and onto the stumps ...Brown Snr finding himself out of his ground and run out for 8.

Ali made amends by showing off some belligerent pounding to propel himself to 22 until he took one big swing too many to Olly and was bowled. Tim, who had somehow managed to safely negotiate a second Strollers appearance in consecutive weeks, was sadly next to go when, having made it double figures, he snicked one from Gordon behind to Steve Phillips who safely took a regulation catch.

Despite 101 still required, we needn’t have worried as in keeping with last week’s game, our fourth wicket was our final one to fall as Harry found himself joined once again by Kash who marched out to the middle. It looked for all the world like the previous seven days hadn’t happened as the skipper continued a counter-assault to the Trundler’s attack with some powerful hitting whilst Kash calmly settled into a supporting role.

Harry notched up yet another fifty from only his 39th ball faced and from here on it was plain sailing, with neither batsmen encountering difficulty. We romped home in the 27th over and shook hands after what turned out to be a good natured but ultimately one sided game, enjoyed not only by those at the ground but also those tuned in to the live YouTube webcast kindly set up by the Trundlers allowing Strollers around the globe – looking on from deepest Georgia USA to the summer tides of the Ionian Sea – to savour the win and for your frustratingly still-injured match reporter to write this account, whilst simultaneously chewing his fingernails off watching England spunk away wickets to India in the climax of the thrilling Oval test. His and our sincere thanks go to the Trundlers for providing a very welcome distraction …we look forward to seeing them again next year!

Gavin Richardson
04.08.2025