It was back to winning ways today, with the Strollers romping to a decisive 9 wicket victory over the Salmagundi Gardeners. With the main pitch at at North London CC retaining much of the recent rain, on winning the toss Spencer naturally put the oppo in to fare as best they could on the wet wicket. However the Gardeners' openers had little success — with the score on just 7 Wood was the first to go when he attempted to drive a fullish ball from Rob but off the sluggish surface he succeeded only in holing out to George who took the first of two excellent catches at mid on. Davies followed this up by trapping Jordan LBW whilst Monaghan was sent packing for no score when James bowled him with a well flighted yorker, a deserved reward for a probing opening spell.
Caughlin appeared to be the only batsman in the Gardeners line up capable of dealing with the difficult conditions as he continued to shed partners. Graeme was brought on first change and trapped Hollingsworth early on. George took an even better forward diving catch at mid on to see off Amesbury, getting Spencer's name into the wickets column. Dickie, ever sharp at point, linked up with stand in keeper Paul to run out Gostick before Harry, now operating from the pavilion end, had Caughlin finally caught behind for 35. Then came perhaps the defining moment of the game when Tim took an outstanding reflex catch low down at silly mid off to see off Packham (who had looked threatening with a few strong shots to leg), earning Rob a well deserved three-for in the process (a career best 3-22).
The Gardeners finally limped over the hundred mark in the thirtieth over but any hopes the oppo had of mounting a rearguard action in the last stages of their innings fizzled out as, with the Strollers field now crowding the folorn batsmen, Matt took another stunning one handed catch high up at short cover to dismiss Brasted and Higginbottom, seemingly lucky to survive a catch opportunity, succumbed when Rob gathered the ball he had failed to grasp and returned double-quick to Bowstead who dislodged the stumps and ran him out, dismissing the Salmagundis for a paltry 119 all out.
After tea the only damper on the Strollers optomism was the onset of bad light and drizzle, negating the now nicely dried out wicket. But with only light rain to contend with the Strollers openers ploughed on and whilst the Salmagundi attack bowled accurately, with Packham in particular asking the batsmen questions with his vicious away swing, both Gav and George were reading the bowling well and got the ball away to the boundary with more frequency than the Gardeners had managed at any stage with an array of shots all round the wicket.
But the prospect of a rare ten wicket whitewash was thwarted when, with the score having raced to 42, Gav took a greedy heave off a ball from Packham that was not there to be hit and was bowled through the gate for 18 — the big Strollers opener berating himself on missing out on what could have been a great knock. But Spencer, joining George, was in no mood to throw his wicket away and happily picked off the bad balls as they arrived and the score marched on.
George continued to work the ball well around the park but as he approached his fifty offered up a couple of looped chances to the Salmagundi field who thankfully failed to take them. The only question now was whether George could notch up his half century before the target score had been reached. But Spencer kindly farmed the strike and in the twentieth over, Brown notched up his well deserved half ton before Spencer, in the following over, hit one back over midwicket to take his side comfortably over the winning line, himself ending on an unbeaten 39.
A conclusive and crushing win then in every respect — particularly pleasing following a first rate all round fielding display and tighter bowling than we have produced for some time. Let's keep up the good form to the end of the season!
