Strollers foxed by Journeymen
posted: August 11, 2025

All good things must come to an end and, unfortunately for us, our winning streak concluded yesterday with a narrow loss to newfound oppo The Journeymen at Ferme Park.

With Spencer having lost the toss, we took to the field bathed in sunshine with a much-changed lineup including Dickie and Gav, both happily returning from illness and injury. They were joined by no fewer than four débutant Strollers in the shape of father Tom and 15 year old son George Griffiths (who kept wicket superbly) guesting for us from Highgate CC, alongside Daman Mody and Suresh Kumar, recently recruited from The Fixture List pool.

Our early overs proved challenging for the returnees, with Gav failing to cling on to a outstretched chance at slip in the second over and Dickie, immediately in the firing line at point, doing a fine job fending off a barrage of shots heading swiftly towards the boundary. However, with persistence, our first breakthrough came when Patel skied a leading edge off Kash to Spencer at mid off.

Frustratingly, this began a pattern of further leading edges from The Journeymen that promisingly looped skyward, only to descend in no-man’s land …we counted at least six! However Suresh, replacing Spencer who had to come off with an injured finger, came on to send down some fearsome inswingers and managed to trap Bloch LBW shortly after drinks. Then George came on at the Ally Pally end to turn in an inspired spell of loopy spin, collecting a trio of wickets – most importantly that of Dharmendra who, on 66, skied one to Tom who safely took the all-important catch.

Nevertheless, the Journeymen continued to ride their luck by going aerial and managed to pass the 200 mark – the bare minimum on Ferme Park – before Spencer returned to bag a brace of late wickets and the oppo closed on 235-7.

After a leisurely tea break, we set about our response. With Gav still struggling with troublesome knee issues, Daman opened up with George. Both looked in solid touch and set about building a firm platform from which we could build. The first few overs were something of a stalemate with neither side getting on top until, shortly after the 50 opening partnership had safely been reached, the Journeymen struck with Hayes trapping Daman LBW for 34.

This brought young George Griffiths to the middle who immediately looked at home playing some beautifully correct and clearly well coached shots. Those Strollers looking on from the boundary savoured the sight of the burgeoning George/ George partnership although were alarmed when Little George unleashed a ferocious on drive that literally knocked the cap off Big George’s head (not the face again!?! – Ed) and sent him tumbling to the ground.

Perhaps it was that which caused the Journeymen to send back the field and from here the runs started to dry up. The oppo’s cause was temporarily aided by a seemingly fearless fox who wandered onto the pitch and cunningly planted himself at long on in front of the tennis courts… was there no way we could get through? With still over 150 required after drinks concern mounted at the rising required rate, George Snr evermore frustrated as almost every shot found a fielder. Eventually Brown was undone, gamely swinging and missing to oppo skipper Uday, and departed for a respectable 35. Next in came Tom who joined his son, dispatching a handsome straight drive for four. Unfortunately though his watch didn’t last long and Uday also bowled him out for 10.

Shuffling the order around with a view to light the touchpaper Spencer sent Vinay in next with a licence to swing but, alas, the gamble didn’t pay off and he was duly stumped for a single. Little George ploughed on regardless, bringing up a well-earned 50. Kash, in at six, carried with him a lot of expectation to carry on in his rich vein of form from the previous couple of games and, when he hoised a huge six over midwicket, caused our pulses to quicken and our hopes to rise… only to be dashed when a couple of balls later he was undone by one that kept low from Dharmendra.

Skipper Spencer made his way to the middle but, like the others before him, struggled to find a pathway through the field. George Jnr continued the charge as best he could but with the score just creeping past 200 with little more than an over remaining, we inevitably admitted the game was beyond us. All that remained was the question of whether the youngster could reach a fully deserved ton. But with Colthup offering nothing and bowling a miserly line the young lad had to settle for a nonetheless superb and unbeaten 90 …a personal best in only his third season playing the game!

The game concluded and we found ourselves 30 runs adrift – on reflection a fair result and, on another day, those skied opportunities the oppo offered us might have gone to hand. But it had been a thoroughly enjoyable contest, hopefully the first of many against our new friends, the Journeymen.

Gavin Richardson
11.08.2025