Strollers beaming as Beamers dispatched in tense T20
posted: July 17, 2014

The Beamers are a longtime opponent of course, and it is always a pleasure – a real pleasure – to play them. They are such a cheerful, sporting lot and, most strikingly, they seem to enjoy their own company so much. Even after suffering a narrow T20 defeat in gathering gloom at North Mid, they walked off proudly, their Olympian spirit and sang froid undisturbed.

Playing at North Mid, after the trials of Ferme Park at NLCC, is an entirely un-ironic delight. The wicket has something in it for bowlers and batters, there are good sight screens at both ends, the outfield is well cropped and true, the boundaries are spacious, and one is always sure of a warm welcome in the pavilion rather than being treated as if you are something the cat has dragged in.

The Strollers were below strength, not for the first time this season, and additional players were rustled up from NLCC in the shape of Tariq, Zahoor and Tennakoon, all of whom proved very valuable recruits. Tom won the toss, and, on a warm sunlit evening on which a game of cricket seemed the perfect diversion, elected to bat and opened with Gav. The skipper didn’t last long and was in fact back in the hutch before this writer arrived at the ground, but Tariq and Gav started to find the boundary against tight bowling (particularly Harris). The big guy finally holed out to the long on boundary for 22 but that brought Tim to join an increasingly belligerent Tariq at the crease. These two put on around 80 runs together and the Beamers’ fielding – normally so keen and athletic – got a little ragged. There was double teapotting going on from the Beamers’s bowling, particularly from the likeable Alan Dixon.

The Strollers finally amassed a very creditable 166 from their 20 overs, Tariq departing near the end for an excellent 71, upon which the innings was based, while Tim was unbeaten on 39. Tim played very well, two shots standing out. One a classic square cut, going all the way to the long boundary, and then, an over later, he hit the bowler back over his head and the shot sailed straight into the sight screen where it made a nice smashing sound. This brought a grin of undiluted satisfaction to Tim’s youthful (not  that youthful — Ed) features.

Christian Wolmar, famous as a train spotter, London mayoral candidate and incredibly fair-minded wicket keeper, opened the batting with Andy Blount, a notorious Stroller killer in the past. Christian didn’t last long, getting a good one from Simon that jagged back to hit middle and off. Blount was given a life in the next over when Simon, holding one back, induced a lofted drive to mid-on. Alas, Gav, juggled the catch in his midriff, the ball bobbled around for a bit therein, before falling to the earth. One felt that this might come back to hurt us.

When Kyle, a player whose abilities we all know and respect, joined Andy at the crease, the score began to go up by leaps and bounds and the total looked well within their grasp. When Kyle was also dropped by Tim, it looked as if we had used up all our chances. But then Mickey took the ball for a match changing spell. Firstly, with the match running away from us, Kyle smacked the ball long and flat to the long on boundary. There stood Gav, who stuck up both hands to bring off a stunning and quite frankly quite astonishing catch. It was a game changer.

In the next over Andy Blount went down the wicket to Mickey and was stumped in a smart piece of work by Matt. In the over after, Harris was bowled by Mickey and, the very next ball, Mark Pittman departed the same way. The match had turned.

Dixon played some nice shots at the end, and though there were a few scares, the Strollers got home safely with six runs to spare. To our delight, the previous incumbents of the pavilion had left a large helping of uneaten food behind, which allowed us a victory feast as well.

Simon Boughey
24.07.14

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