Strollers cruise to victory over Croxley in season opener
posted: April 28, 2025

The Strollers started our 2025 campaign in some style yesterday with a convincing 5 wicket win over the Croxley Guild. With our home fixtures for the season returning to North London CC, we found Ferme Park bathed in warm spring sunshine ready for a picture-perfect curtain-raiser.

Unsurprisingly, the oppo chose to bat first having won the toss and came out of the traps with all guns blazing as they raced to 50 in just 8 overs. However, when skipper Harry broke through Dalgleish’s defences, Croxley’s upper order crumbled with a quickfire collapse – Spencer came on first change to see off the dangerous Danny Dallas who holed out to Viral, who expertly positioned himself at cow corner to take the catch. Harry took his second, trapping McGill LBW for 36 and then claimed a third, clean bowling Fawsett for a duck. Spencer took a second textbook dismissal when Woodford snicked to slip where Gav safely held on.

With that, Croxley had lost five wickets for just 21 runs and we pinched ourselves thinking that we might roll them over. However, Croxley skipper Cusack and their number seven Morrison rallied to steer a good recovery for the sixth wicket and, mounting an impressive hundred partnership, took the Guildsmen to 199-5 from their allotted overs with both batsmen closing just one shy of a half century each.

After tea, Gav – making his first appearance in over 18 months, having just about recovered from surgery and numerous rounds of physio to repair his nearly-knackered left leg – proudly made his way to the middle to open with newcomer Amir. Unfortunately, having spanked a square cut for four and pinched a single, the big man didn’t last much longer as he stepped back to have another go at Derek’s off cutters, only to see the ball trickle under his bat and onto the stumps. Ho hum… spinners.

Amir’s timing, thankfully, was much more on point as he set about the Croxley attack with a series of venomous blows to the boundary. Kash, in at three, nurdled the ball around but was dubiously undone by a straight one from Edd and was trapped LBW for 7. Ali’s main contribution to the match – other than gamely scampering around the outfield all afternoon to save numerous boundaries – was to bring along his mate Harrison who, making his second Strollers performance, came in next to give an explosive cameo lasting just four deliveries – a dot, four, six and out!

However, any thoughts of taking the foot off the gas were swiftly cast aside when Viral marched in to join Amir in a fearsome onslaught that had the oppo rocking back on their heels. Our hundred came up in the 15th over and the blitzkrieg continued with fours and sixes raining down from both batsmen. Amir carded his fifty and mowed on until, on 79, he found himself superbly caught by Shiv at deep mid off to bring an end to a sparkling début knock.

Matt, having recovered from a solid stint behind the stumps, came in next to play an equally solid supporting role to Viral who carried on at top speed as he too reached fifty. Croxley could only look on as one ball after another flew over the boundary fence but they took some heart when Matt, eager to reach the finish line, stranded himself to take a single that wasn’t there and ran himself out for 19.

But, for the oppo, it was all too little too late. Ron came in and bizarrely refused to run in an attempt to give the winning hit to Viral but, with a no ball given for an above-the-waist delivery, his plan was thwarted and victory was ours with nine overs to spare. Viral closed unbeaten on 65 and took the deserved congratulations from the gentlemen of Croxley who, sporting as ever, had given us a game to the end.

So, a great way to start what hopefully will be another great season. Well done to all involved. Stroll on!

Gavin Richardson
28.04.2025