Strollers survive scare to avoid deadly Hicc-up
posted: June 25, 2014

Nerves were frayed and fingernails thoroughly chewed but in the end, the Strollers held their nerve to win last night's T20 clash with the Highgate Irregulars at North Middlesex and secure a much needed third victory of the season.

It all started very promisingly after, having been put in, openers Kyle and Gav managed to hit an untroubled 88 off the first ten overs, both opening their shoulders to splay shots past the deep set boundary. However, still suffering from the nagging thigh injury that has bogged him down most of the season and with running becoming even more of a painful chore than usual (...and that's saying something — Ed), the big man called it quits on 29, summoning NLCC 1st elevener Roshan Tennakoon — making a welcome return to the Strollers — to take over.

With youth and aggressive abilty on their side, Kyle and Rosh kicked the innings up a gear, lofting the ball for fours and sixes from both ends. For a while, those watching dreamt of even surpassing the mythical 200 mark in a T20. However, with the score now north of 150, Kyle having hit a superb 61 fell victim to a good catch. Matt and Davey — heroes of last week's midweek match — came and went, unable to add much to the total and the run rate dipped even more sharply when Rosh was finally dismissed off Mitchell for 41. However, skipper Tom gave himself a licence and continued his streak of fine form with the bat as he ferociously belted the ball to all parts, including a massive six into the nets at deep midwicket. Paul Bowstead, gladly also back in the side, ran well between the wickets and, with Tom unbeaten on a hastily made 25, we were able to close on a fantastic 189-4 ...a record T20 total for the Strollers!

Thus, when we took to the field, there was little fear of defeat and this sense of security was amplified with the dismissals early on of openers Osborne and Evans, both falling victim to the wily Rob Archdale — on loan from the Bohos — the former scooping one up to Alan Andrews, also guesting from the Bohemians. However, this brought to the wicket the imposing combo of threatening Edward Woodward lookalike batsman Tony Mitchell (the Equaliser, remember) and Alex Gray, who both set about the Strollers attack with such ferocity that the steep asking rate of 9+ per over was not only met, it was regularly surpassed and, when Matt put down a difficult chance from Gray in the deep, the worry began to set in.

When the 150 came up in only the fifteenth over with Gray clubbing a huge six over the fence to Kyle of all people, a foreboding sense of doom spread amongst the field with at least this writer asking himself how could we possibly conspire to lose from such a commanding position? It would hurt like hell...

But the Strollers admirably refused to let panic take over and with the field doing everything possible to save runs — Jamie Morgan in particular displaying wonderful energy and commitment in the deep, saving several odds on fours — the pressure still remained on the batsmen to score. Another near chance from Gray sailed agonisingly over Matt's head, but that was to be the last good fortune the Hiccs had and the wickets began to tumble, firstly with Paul taking a fine catch in the deep to finally dismiss Mitchell and, shortly thereafter, Gray — on 66 — lobbed a catch behind to the eagerly awaiting Couldrey and the kitten did not fail to snaffle it up. A huge wicket. This brought Giles Elwes to the crease — another capable big hitter — but he fell promptly to the looped Rob Archdale stock wicket ball, and Tom managed to get through skipper Hayden's gate to expose the tail.

The relief was muted though as with two overs to go 18 were still needed which, in T20 language, still ain't much and further scares were to come as Tom in the penultimate over leaked four wides. Just 11 were now needed off the final over but the skipper had played his cards right and kept Kyle back to bowl at the death and when Woolard was pleasingly triggered out LBW off the third from last ball we finally began to relax. With two clear boundaries required the tension evaporated as the penultimate ball was nudged harmlessly to midwicket and, as we finally secured the win (by only 6 runs!), the relief was palpable.

A fantastic game and an even better result for us, although the celebrations were tempered by the agonising thought that it could so easily have gone the other way. But a great win nonetheless to start the celebrations of next week's Silver Jubilee!

Gavin Richardson
26.06.14

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