Stumps shattered by Strollers

The Strollers rounded off one of their most successful weeks on Sunday, completing a hat-trick of three wins on the bounce in just 8 days with a stunning first ever victory over local rivals Stumps at Hampstead Garden Suburb.

The Stumps lineup is often noted for the omnipresence of the Dhokia dynasty in it’s ranks, but this year many of the family were conspicuously absent — apparently at a wedding. By contrast, with the Strollers side bristling with one of the strongest bowling attacks available to him in his time as skipper, Gav had absolutely no hesitation in opting to field first when he won the toss — and with blustery conditions overhead and a pitch offering variable bounce underfoot, it was clear that the incoming Stumps batsmen were in for a torrid time, although few could predict just how torrid! Simon got proceedings underway with a leg side wide, but this was merely subterfuge ahead of what was to be one of the most devastating spells ever turned in by a Stroller bowler …read on!

The first breakthrough came in only the fourth ball of the innings when Simon clipped the top of Murray’s off stump, bowling him for a duck much to the delight of his team-mates as the side made a near perfect start. Mikey, at the other end, struggled as he bowled into a stiff wind but Simon applied the pressure harder as, in the third over, he trapped Pountain LBW, also for a duck.

Despite the struggle to keep deliveries on line, Mikey wasted no time in getting in on the act too as he then bowled the Stumps’ skipper Hugh through the gate and the Strollers sensed that this could be their day. But, with the wind building, in his next over Mikey struggled ever harder to keep the ball straight and, with a few extras shed, the Stumps scoreboard began to just tick over.

But with Simon probing at one end, Graeme found easy pickings when he was brought on to replace Mikey - Riyaz had made only 8 before he chipped one back towards the bowler and, despite Chris Lucas’ best efforts to snatch the chance himself at short cover, the banshee-like yell from the bowler saw Holmes take the catch off his own bowling.

Simon’s aggression paid off again when he claimed his third wicket next over as he had danger-man Fahid caught behind by Bill, despite the batsman’s protestations. But the celebrations for the fifth wicket paled by comparison with those for the sixth as, next ball, Simon knocked out Umaid’s middle stump – Boughey took off Panesar style and it seemed as though he needed to be restrained by the slip cordon from running off the field! Gav mused how strange it was that Simon seemed to sprint faster in his celebration than in his run-up…

The field closed in for the hat-trick ball but close though it was, with Simon pitching up and into Riyaz’s pads, it was not to be – no matter. Not to be outdone, Graeme turned the screws further when he also looked on track for a hat-trick with wickets in successive balls – first with Rajesh nicking an easy catch to Mikey at gully, and then with a plum LBW to dismiss Abid.

After a break of one over, Graeme couldn’t quite bag the third dismissal and, with a few desperate heaves, Stumps crept the score over 50. But Simon allowed no further quarter to be yielded as, in the final over of his spell, he collected a brilliant fiver-fer with the dismissal of Lakshman, again neatly taken behind by Bill. Surrounded by his applauding team-mates Simon held the match  ball aloft to all corners of the ground in time-honoured fashion, celebrating career best figures of 7-1-16-5.

The excitement threatened to overshadow the cricketing comeback of the summer — no, not Freddie Flintoff’s return to the toiling England side, but that of Strollers’ vice skipper Jake Jackson — fresh in from Belgium — back in action for the first time this year. Although this was to be merely a cameo performance, it was as though Jackson had never been away as, having sent down five speedy deliveries right on the button, he had Harishad caught at mid on by George who is now making that position his own! Stumps had been skittled out for just 63 and the Strollers, rightly led off by Simon, took tea in near disbelief at what they had just done!

With Chris having brought numerous friends to family members to watch, Gav felt it only right to give the gallery what it wanted and picked Lucas as his partner to open the innings and the two Strollers batsmen marched out with an unusual air of confidence.

Despite some early remonstrations from Gav at Chris’s apparent desire to run absolutely everything (the required rate being less than 2 per over), both batsmen wasted no time in unleashing the big guns. Gav had survived some nippy initial deliveries from Fahad and saw an early snick behind spilled, before lashing out with a couple of well struck boundaries including a searing on-drive for four. Chris too chimed in with some wristy shots around the park to notch up twelve off the second over.

With virtually nothing to bowl at, Hugh felt compelled to make an immediate bowling change so brought on Umaid. Failing to allow himself a sighter, Gav cross batted an attempted heave over midwicket at Umaid’s first ball, but misjudged the bounce and was bowled for 13, cursing himself for his impatience as he walked off.

Mickey, in at three, offered more resistance and, after a trademark swivel-pull for four off his first ball, virtually shut up shop allowing Lucas to accelerate to attack speed and begin carting the ball around the ground. The Strollers’ fifty was reached after eight overs but then the progress hit a bump in the road as Mickey too played above the line of a grubber from Umaid and was also bowled.

But for Stumps it was too little, too late. Despite their desperate appeals to nearly every delivery, the Strollers were undaunted as Chris, now accompanied by K***** — also making a welcome return to the side — continued to work the ball around edging the side’s total towards it’s target and, with a four, brought the scores level. A nurdled single from S**** took the Strollers over the winning line, Chris laudably carrying his bat on an unbeaten 28 and those on the boundary rejoicing over a win secured in just three hours!

Adjourning to the pub unusually early for celebratory drinks, the Strollers drank to one of the most comprehensive victories in the side’s history and, although the opposition may have missed a few regular players, the satisfaction of the Strollers’ first win over Stumps was undimmed. I just goes to show that, at full strength, the Strollers of 2008 are quite some outfit — with the likes of Chippenham and Ibiza yet to come, could greatness await..? Stroll on…

Gavin Richardson
21.07.08

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