2012 match archiveGreat Missenden
Sunday April 22 at Great Missenden
Match abandoned
Strollers 164-7 dec
(Addis 70, Clough 26no, McDougall 22, Swan 16)
Great Missenden Pelicans 91-8
(Crocker 6-30, Hodgson 1-14)
If Warley in September represented Tom Wood's "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” then Great Missenden in April was an altogether different proposition: cold, damp, barren. The stage was set for the rites of spring. Fortunately the Strollers were stacked with antipodeans operating to their contrarian rhythm.
Captain Patrick Howard, eschewing his traditional method of texting in the call at the toss, appeared in person but to no effect. Invited to bat, James Mawson and Hamish McDougall put on 27 for the first wicket in difficult conditions. Batting was never easy on a damp surface, the ball jagging around, holding up, leaping off a length.
The innings was at a critical point when Jono Addis and Tim Swan, on debut, came together at 47-3. Both products of the University Club in Wellington, New Zealand, they showed their ability to put their heads down and focus. Swan was all gliding elegance, occasionaly snapping the ball back down the ground. Addis waited patiently for balls to his liking and wolfed 13 of them: eight clattering the fence, five clearing it. Their partnership of 78 for the fourth wicket put the Strollers in a position of dominance they would not relinquish.
Russell Clough had half an hour before the declaration to dispatch a pair of sixes over the sight screen and move the score on to 164-7. Of note for Great Missenden was the bowling of the young leg spinner Assad (Buckinghamshire under-15s) who took three wickets and impressed everyone with his extravagant turn. One to watch for next year.
Warren Crocker (11-2-30-6), coming downhill and downwind, bowled his off-cutters to great effect in a manner reminiscent of his master class at Stanton-by-Dale in 2011. Three victims were bowled, three caught by, respectively, Addis, Swan and Alastair Macaulay. At the other end Piers Ovenden (9-0-27-0), coming uphill and into the wind, sought to tempt the batsmen with an assortment of deliveries.
At 50-6 Great Missenden dug in, in the hope that the weather would be as bad as forecast. With dark clouds looming a catch was put down. Assad was run out by a direct hit from Ovenden. Jeff Ball was almost knee-capped at square leg by a ball that never got more than a metre off the ground, blending perfectly into the background. In the drizzle, men crowding the bat, Jim Hodgson (6-3-14-1) trapped Missenden's top scorer, Frank (20) leg before wicket. That proved the final act as, with 15 overs still to play, heavy rain came down.
The seeds for the 2012 harvest have been sown.
Capt: Patrick Howard. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Odney
Sunday May 7 at Cookham
Strollers lost by 90 runs
Odney 238-5
(35 overs; Hodgson 2-25, Calvocoressi 2-25, Ovenden 1-38)
Strollers 148-7
(35 overs; Ovenden 38no, Mawson 33, Calvocoressi 24, Sam Brodbeck 15, Hodgson 11)
“It is forecast to stop raining and we will get a game in,” said Odney’s ever-cheerful Mike Finlay. Despite the side driving through a downpour and arriving at the ground to find a damp and depressing scene, Finlay was right: the rain stopped, the outfield dried out and the all-weather strip came into its own.
Tom Wood, deputising for skipper James Mawson, who was somewhere entertaining Jo and six-month-old Alexander, won the toss and inserted the opposition. Alexander, proud owner of a cricket sweater specially knitted for the club’s youngest Stroller, looked on in admiration as his Dad led out a motley crew of finely honed athletes, resplendent in their new maroon baggy club caps, as supplied by Wood Enterprises.
That admiration did not last too long. With Odney at 57-2, courtesy of a good Jim Hodgson spell and a fine catch at slip by George Calvocoressi, things looked rosy. But it was all downhill from there. The ball began to disappear to distant parts and despite an impressive spell from Calvocoressi, the runs began to pour down. After the requisite 35 overs the total stood at a daunting 238-5.
To get close to such a target runs were needed from the Strollers’ heavy guns. But they only succeeded in shooting themselves in the foot: Tim Swan glanced the ball straight to the wicketkeeper, Andy Clarke misjudged the line and had a bail removed, Sam Brodbeck stepped back and away only to be bowled and Wood perished to an ugly heave across the line.
Captain Mawson bravely attempted to keep the ship on course but fell himself and Calvocoressi added to his all-round contribution with a busy 24.
The remaining honours were awarded to Piers Ovenden, who had been forced to stumble off when his knee locked while umpiring. But after some heavy grunting and stretching behind the pavilion he declared himself fit to bat and showed, even on one leg, how it should be done.
Ovenden rose, Lazarus-like, from what seemed terminal injury to give a veneer of respectabilty to the scoresheet with a dashing 38 not out. The Strollers fell a mere 90 runs short of their target.
The party then adjourned to Lullebrook Manor, centrepiece of The Odney Club, which is owned by the John Lewis Partnership. The fine mid-18th century country house was once rented by Colonel Francis Ricardo, the first car owner in Cookham, who was High Sheriff of Berkshire in the early 1900s and supposedly the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame's Toad, in the Wind in the Willows.
“Come along! Hop up here! We'll go for a jolly ride!” said Toad, who would certainly have approved of the maroon caps and Alexander Mawson’s stylish sweater. We got a game of cricket in when it had seemed impossible and Odney were their usual hospitable selves, but the Strollers’ display was not a very jolly ride. Perhaps Mole put it best. "I feel as if I had been through something very exciting and rather terrible,” he said. He must have had the Strollers batting in mind.
Capt: James Mawson. Wkt: Andy Clarke, Match fees: Tom Wood.
Jordans Taverners
Saturday May 12 at Seer Green
Strollers won by 49 runs
Strollers 180-6
(40 overs; Addis 102no, Mawson 32, Swan 12)
Jordans Taverners 131
(33.3 overs; Crocker 4-6, Ovenden 2-20, Swan 2-36, Patston 1-23, Brodbeck 1-29)
Hurrah! Put up the bunting! No, not for the Jubilee nor the Olympics, but to celebrate the Fleet Street Strollers’ first victory of the 2012 season. It was as welcome as the sunny day itself.
Batting first, the Strollers, under debutant captain Piers Ovenden, began their 40 overs on what proved to be a very grassy, damp pitch. Openers James Mawson and Tim Swan started cautiously against some accurate quick bowling downhill by Lewis Payne. With the score on 29, Swan was bowled by Payne for 12.
Jono Addis entered, saw off Payne (6-3-7-1) only to face a two-pronged Yolland attack: Robin tossing the ball up, with son Charlie skidding the ball through quickly uphill.
By the 17th over only 50 runs had been reached, but by halfway the total was 75. An effective bowling change was made after the short drinks break and with the score on 87, Mawson was bowled by Dave Anderson for 32, the second-wicket stand being 58. Off the very next ball Peter Patston was also bowled by Anderson (5-1-9-2). Newcomer Kelvin Davidson kept out the hat-trick ball.
Having been dropped at square leg when on 30, Addis was lucky again when dropped by the same fielder on the long-off boundary, though getting the four for his 50 and also posting the team’s100 in the 28th over. In the next over Donaldson was unluckily run out by a direct hit from deep midwicket. Skipper Ovenden joined Addis to take on new bowlers Keith Murphy, quick, and Tim Sonnex, medium-paced.
The scoring rate improved, then in the 36th over Ovenden, taking a wild swing, was bowled by Murphy for nine. We were 138-5. Warren Crocker came in next but Addis kept most of the strike in an all-out effort to reach his century, which he achieved off the first ball of the last over. Crocker departed having a swing, bowled by Murphy with only two balls left.
At the innings’ close, with the Strollers on 180-6, Addis remained 102 not out, made from only 99 balls including ten fours and two sixes. A tour de force on a tricky wicket.
Jordans Taverners’ response did not start well. Paul Dorrans opened the bowling very tightly down the slope, only going for 11 runs off six overs. Even more economical, the ever-reliable Crocker ripped through Jordans’ early order, taking three quick wickets, almost including a hat-trick.
Both bowlers kept our debutant (rusty) keeper Davidson working hard behind the stumps with their pace and the ball’s variable bounce. From being 10-3, Gavin Lyons, who eventually made 25 off 56 balls and Andrew Twells, who made 12 off 20 balls, restored some normality before Ovenden struck with two wickets in successive balls, leaving Jordans struggling again on 37-5.
With Steve Leybourne offering some stiff resistance, making only 11 off 33 balls, Strollers elders Simon Brodbeck and Peter Patston teamed up to try their luck. Each succeeded in claiming a wicket, Simon ending his full quota with 8-0-29-1 and Peter 4-0-23-1.
By now 80-7, Jordans sent in their burly opening bowler Payne. Straight away he set about the bowling, smiting 26 off Swan’s first over, only to be bowled by the first ball of Tim’s second over. In the meantime young Charlie Yolland was steadily building a promising innings, giving his team some hope. Having made a useful 32 off 35 balls, Charlie fell victim to the retuning Crocker, who finished with impressive figures of 5.3-0-6-4.The Jordans innings ended on 131 all out off 33.3 overs. Congratulations to Ovenden on winning his first game as Strollers captain by 49 runs. And thanks to Maggie for scoring.
Capt: Piers Ovenden. Wkt: Kelvin Davidson. Match fees: Simon Brodbeck.
Roehampton
Sunday May 20 in Putney
Match drawn
Strollers 192-7 dec
(Mawson 63, Sam Brodbeck 44, Addis 21, Ovenden 13no)
Roehampton 186-9
(Simon Brodbeck 4-41, Macaulay 3-72, Ovenden 1-11, Wood 1-29)
On an overcast day on bosky Putney Common the Strollers won the toss and elected to bat.
Skipper James Mawson and Hamish McDougall made a quick start with nine off the first over. However, Hamish was soon bowled by their best bowler, Hunting, for six. Mawson and Jono Addis kept the scoreboard ticking by taking full advantage of the odd bad ball until Addis was given out caught behind for 21 and departed muttering darkly about the declining standards of Strollers umpiring.
Mawson was joined at the crease by Sam Brodbeck and the momentum was maintained as they rapidly put on 73 for the third wicket. Brodbeck was eventually dismissed for a bright and breezy 44. A score beyond 200 looked on as the skipper carried on to his 50. However, at the other end wickets were falling as Russell Clough and Tom Wood could only delight with cameos. Mawson was eventually out for 63 and a final flurry by Piers Ovenden and George Calvocoressi saw us to a defendable total of 192. Local opinion was that 180 was a competitive score on a much improved pitch and so it proved.
Wood and Ovenden opened the bowling and each got a couple of early wickets to have Roehampton at 20-2. Wood's wicket was the result of a stunning low catch at short extra by Sam Brodbeck. Sam took two more catches and was to give a masterclass in boundary fielding as the innings wore on.
Alastair Macaulay was brought on early at the top end and soon found his rhythm, his flight and guile being treated with circumspection by the batmen. Roehampton No3 Abassi looked in good form and with Hunting put on 59 for the third wicket before Hunting clipped a ball from Macaulay to Wood at midwicket.
Simon Brodbeck came on at the bottom end and in tandem with Macaulay kept the runs down .With 20 overs to go Roehampton needed 100 with six wicket s remaining. Wickets then started to fall at regular intervals - Brodbeck picked up three wickets and Macaulay had skipper Mark Boag and Abassi bowled with two of the slowest deliveries he could muster. One barely had the energy to knock off the bails.
With three overs to go Roehampton needed 30 to win with two wickets left. The No10 Nathan Quick was really not a No10 and manoeuvred the ball around briskly. However, Brodbeck bowled him in the penultimate over leaving Roehampton 10 to win with one over left, which was entrusted to Ovenden. Roehampton could only manage a couple of runs and so a tight match ended in a draw.
Mention should be made of the Strollers fielding performance. A few tough catches were missed in the gloom and dark background but the chasing and outfielding from Sam Brodbeck, Ovenden and Addis were excellent.
A few beers were had in the Roehampton clubhouse and a few brave souls carried on for a very late curry in Putney.
Capt: James Mawson. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Tom Wood.
The Times
Saturday May 26 in Dulwich
Strollers won by 88 runs
Strollers 199-8 dec
(Wood 34, Ovenden 32, Loan 27, Hodgson 25, Swan 14, McDougall 12, Crocker 11no)
The Times 111
(Crocker 3-8, Hodgson 3-32, Turnbull 2-3, Dorrans 1-5, Brodbeck 1-37)
With the sudden, triumphal arrival of high summer, there was a bounce in the Strollers' step as they made their way to the King's College sports ground in Dulwich. Captain Piers Ovenden feared the worst upon losing the toss but was surprised to be invited to bat as the temperature in the outfield soared to 27 degrees.
It was a team batting performance with seven Strollers reaching double figures but none of them going on to the big score that the weather, at least, seemed to invite. The pitch, while harder than Roehampton's, was still deceptively slow, the ball liable to hold up in spongy patches of grass. Some credit must also go to The Times bowlers who bowled a tight line early on and to the teasing leg spin of Marcus Leroux who claimed three wickets in the second half of the innings.
Tim Swan and Hamish McDougall set off at a fair pace, taking 20 from the first four overs. Once they were both undone by movement off the pitch the Strollers, in the form of a stalwart and a debutant, sought to maintain the momentum.
Tom Wood had moved forcefully to 34 when he holed out in the deep. Michael Loan, another Wellington Karori 1AB/Bakery alumnus*, showed promising signs in his 27. Resolute on the front foot, he also had the panache to hoist a pair of sixes over deep midwicket. Jim Hodgson and Ovenden moved the ball around nicely in the middle part of the innings to create the platform for some late fireworks from Warren Crocker and Dave Turnbull. This week it was the turn of Paul Dorrans to depart muttering darkly about the declining standards of Strollers umpiring.
Ovenden brought a halt to proceedings at the end of the 39th over and launched the Turnbull & Crocker inquiry.
It was the Young Somerset man, Turnbull (3-0-3-2) who struck first. Crocker lent a hand before a bowling change brought more success as Dorrans (3-1-5-1) claimed a victim. By the end of the sixth over, The Times had been reduced to 16-4.
To their credit the opposition resolutely stuck to their task and with the aid of some lusty hitting from their lower middle order worked their way into a position from which victory was not inconceivable. But they could not keep wickets in hand as Simon Brodbeck and Jim Hodgson chipped away - Hodgson almost completing a hat-trick with the assistance of Swan, who held catches from consecutive deliveries.
With ten of a possible 43 overs in the innings remaining, Crocker (4.1-0-8-3) was given the honour of cleaning up the last two wickets, which he did with some aplomb in only seven deliveries.
The Strollers lingered long after the final page had been turned to enjoy a few beers, shandies and lemonades with some of the supporters who had turned out. It was time to bask in the soft evening glow of summer and victory.
*Karori CC in Wellington run two teams in the 1A grade. Mike Loan, Paul Dorrans, Doran Wyatt and Piers Ovenden have all played for the side that was judged (very unfairly) the B side, which also went (for some obscure reason) by the name of the Bakery.
Capt: Piers Ovenden. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Tom Wood
Farley Hill
Sunday May 27 at Farley Hill
Strollers won by nine wickets
Farley Hill 136
(38.4 overs; Hodgson 3-5, Allsopp 3-40, Morgan 2-18, Patston 2-32)
Strollers 137-1
(34.3 overs; Howard 84no, McDougall 38)
Tom Wood, surprisingly axed from the side to play Farley Hill, turned up at the ground with Oonagh in tow. “I have a painter working in my living room,” he explained, “which means I can’t laze about there.”
So he took his ease at the delightful Farley Hill on what was the most glorious day of this blighted summer when it was a delight just to be taking part in such idyllic surroundings.
Farley Hill batted and felt the full force of a rampaging Jim Hodgson. He had spent the previous evening at the infamous Hop & Spice Indian restaurant in Balham amongst a group of sundry Strollers and declared himself to be in recovery mode. To aid resuscitation he came in off his full nine-pace run-up (“Didn’t you notice what a contrast that was to the previous day, when I was running in off only seven paces?”).
Whatever spice was still in the bloodstream, he certainly made the Farley batsmen hop and registered the impressive figures of 5-3-5-3. Peter Patston found some hitherto elusive rhythm and picked up two victims while Laurie Allsopp ensnared another three with Captain Mike Morgan claiming two.
Backing up the bowlers was some nifty glovework by Hamish McDougall (two stumpings), a juggling catch at deep square by Jono Addis and some idiosyncratic fielding by Piers Ovenden (pronounced Ov-en-den, not Ove-en-den).
Having mustered 136 all out, Farley then produced a magnificent tea with Hodgson, by now complaining of a heel injury, particularly keen on the pakoras.
Patrick Howard and McDougall set off in pursuit of victory against some nagging, accurate bowling but Howard soon began to find his range and drove fiercely. Anything in his half was dispatched with brutal power and although he lost McDougall (removed by the Allsopp finger after an opening stand of 119), Addis kept him company as the target was duly reached.
Howard finished undefeated on 84, but the main topic in the pavilion was Wood’s ability in the kitchen. “I am not strong in the gravy area,” confessed our hero. George Calvocoressi suggested that the best way to remove fat from one’s gravy was to lay kitchen towel over it. Wood revealed that Morrison’s meat counter was top notch while Hodgson could only offer the intriguing non sequitur: “I hardly ever dryclean anything.”
Man of the match Howard had the subs conjuring up a splash along the lines of Howard’s way…Castle Howard…Howard’s end…Howard the mighty fallen…and even Frankie Howard.
But the headline chosen was a more apposite, if more boring one:
Strollers win on a glorious summer’s day on a beautiful ground against hospitable and friendly opponents: what more could you ask?
Capt: Mike Morgan. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Thames Valley
Thursday June 1 at Sunbury
Strollers won by six wickets
Thames Valley 107-5
(20 overs; Thavam 2-20, Candlish 1-13, Allsopp 1-14, Swan 1-27)
Strollers 110-4
(19.3 overs; Thavam 17, Stubbs 16, Fiala 14no, Clarke 14, Boyle 11)
Kevin Pietersen’s retirement from one-day cricket has muddied England’s plans for the forthcoming 20/20 World Cup. The Strollers, however, have no such problems: Ivor Fiala is going nowhere.
Fiala, a veteran of 95 not outs, brought his skills into the midweek arena to make an unbeaten 14 and anchored the Strollers’ innings as they chased down the Thames Valley score of 107.
The Strollers had done well to restrict the opposition total. An early barrage from Graham Doggett, who took a liking to anything short-pitched, got Thames Valley off to a strong start, but having made 32 he sent the ball into the hands of skipper Tom Wood at long-on off the bowling of Steve Thavam. This brought Iain Doggett to the crease, but he could only score six as debutant Richard Stubbs (playing his first game of cricket in 20 years having succumbed to the robust wooing of a neighbour in Clarendon Drive) took a fine catch at midwicket, again off Thavam.
Key batsmen removed, the Strollers turned the screws. Laurie Allsopp sent down four tight overs, taking a wicket with his speciality half-tracker, and Stubbs, Tim Swan and Mark Candlish also showed some good control.
It was left to Edwards (25no) and Germany (22no) to drag up the Thames Valley score, then Simper came in for some late hitting and took 16 off a Swan over before getting bowled, giving Tim a deserved wicket. John Gibson also strode out for a bat, after being ruthlessly transferred by Wood with Thames Valley having only eight players, but was out lbw to Candlish off the final ball of the innings.
Thavam and Dan Boyle set about chasing the total, and both played carefully against the early overs of Doggett. Thavam was out in bizarre fashion; the ball hit him in the midriff then dropped on to the stumps as he turned to see where it had gone. Boyle, who had started playing some strokes, was then bowled by Simper. He left forlornly, seeing Fiala striding to the crease, having earlier reminisced about an epic partnership they had together (46 runs for the ninth wicket at Peppard in 2009, it turns out).
Taking inspiration from such deeds past, Fiala began to call the shots alongside Stubbs and indulged in some sprightly quick singles to keep the score ticking over (the groaning byes column cutting back the need for hitting big).
Stubbs fell with 30 needed off six overs, and Andy Clarke came out to hit some classy boundaries with a cover drive then a flick off the pads. He was bowled, and Swan got the winning runs in the final over to complete a good team victory.
Capt and match fees: Tom Wood. Wkt: Andy Clarke.
Pinkneys Green
Sunday June 10 at Pinkneys Green
Strollers won by six wickets
Pinkneys Green 44
(Duff 4-6, Macaulay 2-5, Cave 2-5, Crocker 1-12, Hodgson 1-13)
Strollers 45-4
(Addis 20no, Swan 10)
The Strollers arrived at Pinkneys Green, casting suspicious glances at the sky. Few of us thought that we would be playing, given the forecast two days earlier. The forecast still indicated rain later in the afternoon with a full day's play unlikely. Luckily, as it turned out, Pinkneys Green won the toss and decided to bat first in the 40-over game.
Warren Crocker and Jim Hodgson opened the bowling as PG got off to a steady start. Warren had the opener caught behind by debutant keeper Jono Addis and after 10 overs PG were 20-1. Dennis Cave cut his finger stooping to cut off a hard-driven cover drive and went off for repairs.
Ryan Duff was making his debut for the Strollers and replaced Crocker. His first delivery was a sighter, the second a full toss hit for four and the third swung away and caught the leading edge for skipper Patrick Howard to take a simple catch at short mid-wicket. The next batsman completely misread the line of the next ball, offered no stoke and was bowled round his legs. The hat-trick ball was negotiated easily enough.
In the next over Jim Hodgson has the aggressive Kenhat caught by Howard - a steepling catch at mid-off that everyone else was happy not to be under. Duff then took a wicket (lbw) in the next over. Alastair Macaulay came on at the pavilion end after Hodgson had bowled through.
First ball was a wide, second ball left by the batsman and the third ball was also a wide. However the batsman had been lured forward to try and swipe it and was promptly stumped by Addis. Stumped off a wide. They all count. The next batsman eschewed taking guard. The next ball Macaulay tossed it up, the batsman swiped and again Addis stumped him. Macaulay neatly avoided the hat-trick by bowling another wide. Duff took yet another wicket in his third over and was cruelly taken off by Howard to finish with figures of 3-1-6-4. Dennis Cave replaced him and quickly mopped up the last two wickets. The last nine wickets had fallen in 10 overs. Addis wished to point out that he had conceded no byes as well as his contribution to three wickets.
With moisture in the air, the Strollers were keen to get on with the game and the teams turned straight round. Shiv and Purchese bowled well and at one point had reduced the Strollers to 9-3 with Peter Patston, John Low and James Mawson barely troubling the scorers. Tim Swan made 10 before being lbw but Addis saw us home with a brisk 20 not out - a mere 10% of his usual contribution.
Tea (and beer) was taken after the match as the drizzle set in. By the time we left at about 6pm, we were very glad not to be still playing. Thanks to PG for their hospitality as ever and especially to Cathy Snapes for making the splendid tea.
Capt: Patrick Howard. Wkt: Jono Addis. Match fees: Warren Crocker.
Parrys Whippets
Thursday June 14 at Chiswick House
Strollers won by five wickets
Parrys Whippets 56
(10.3 overs; Swan 3-24, Addis 2-15, Stubbs 1-6, Allsopp 1-9)
Strollers 58-5
(11.1 overs; Boyle 15, Wood 14no)
When the historians of the future pore over the Fleet Street Strollers Chronicle, they will notice in the summer of 2012 the devastation caused by rain. But when our merry band assembled at Chiswick Park to play Parry’s Whippets, it wasn’t the weather that was the greatest threat to getting a game of cricket – more that no one could seem to lay their hands on a set of stumps.
John Gibson and Christian Troughton came up with a solution of a cricket bag propped up by a bat, but just as the players began to debate the possible effects of this on the lbw law, the caretaker turned up with the keys to the pavilion.
The Strollers took to the field, Tim Swan and Jono Addis opening the bowling. Swan’s first over was expensive as the Whippets went on the attack, but Addis produced a corker of a delivery with his first ball of the season to take out the stumps. The next ball was a legside wide. “That’s more like it,” he grimaced.
Whippets opener Payne led the charge, striking the ball hard and pushing his way to 27, and lost the ball in a prickly hedge in the process. Captain Tom Wood went searching for it, getting a cut to the face for his efforts. When the concerned opposition skipper asked after his health, he offered the reassurance: “It’s OK, I was in a holly bush.”
Meanwhile wickets were tumbling quickly, with Swan picking up two and Addis another – all bowled, and Swan even broke a bail…that admittedly was a twig put in use in want of a proper alternative. When Payne fell (bowled Swan for his third) it was left to Richie Stubbs and Laurie Allsopp to quickly wrap things up, the Whippets having only eight men.
The Strollers had 56 to chase, and Wood put in debutant Richard Addison (another victim of the ruthless Clarendon Drive press gangs) and Gibson. Addison lasted three balls to the useful Whippets opening bowler and Gibson edged to the keeper for one. When Ben Page, also playing his first game, was then bowled for two, the Whippets’ tails were up.
Troughton scored eight, with a couple of graceful cuts and drives, but the key partnership was between Wood and Dan Boyle. After the match, Boyle offered an insight into the batting mind of Wood: “You’re the boss. Just tell yourself you’re the boss.” Wise words, and Boyle took heed.
On his way to 15, he drove the ball nicely and played the shot of the match with a huge punt to deep midwicket for four. The next delivery he was bowled (“I really wanted to play a cut shot, but the ball wasn’t really there to cut”). Wood stood firm with 14 not out, and the winning runs came from a beamer chucked in the direction of Addis that went for four byes (extras contributed 18 in total).
The Strollers were satisfied, gaining a comprehensive victory in a match that is usually the toughest of the midweekers, and the watching Simon Brodbeck, who had suddenly and unexpectedly emerged from the Chiswick Park undergrowth, had a fine evening’s entertainment.
Capt and match fees: Tom Wood; Wkt: Danny Boyle.
Hampton Hill
Saturday June 16 in Carlisle Park
Strollers won by 158 runs
Strollers 254-5
(40 overs; Boyle 96, Loan 36, Mawson 32, Clough 32, Ovenden 22no, Crocker 16no))
Hampton Hill 96
(33.1 overs; Loan 2-2, Ovenden 2-2, Crocker 2-11, Cheal 2-34, Calvocoressi 1-22)
There is a saying in football that if you don't care who wins then don't keep score. In cricket, however, keeping score is a vital way of marking how everyone contributes in a team game, even a friendly where the result - a Strollers victory - is less important than the spirit in which it is played.
Hampton Hill proved convivial hosts in a lovely part of south-west London (you can tell the area by the fact that all the kids playing football and tennis stopped at 5.55 to go home for tea at six).
With skipper James Mawson detained by traffic, Ivor Fiala won the toss and elected to bat first on a day where the wind was too strong for the rain clouds to linger for long. Mawson arrived in time to open with Mike Loan (who won the second-most important toss of the day, whether he or Kelvin Davidson would be the other opener). After a let-off for Loan in the second over, they put on 71 before Mawson (32) fell to his counterpart skipper at Hampton Hill during a nice spell of bowling.
Loan (36) fell shortly after Mawson, leaving Danny Boyle and Russell Clough to maintain momentum. Boyle, in particular, looked very elegant off front and back foot. Clough (32) fell to a catch in the deep, while Boyle increased his tempo despite incurring a serious groin strain. With Davidson (5) then Piers Ovenden, Boyle reached his 90s before falling to another good catch in the deep on 96 - frustration indeed as he had decided to wait until the end of that over before asking for his score.
With Ovenden (22no) clipping the ball round the park in front of his parents over from Wellington, New Zealand, (a home-from-home given the biting wind and occasional showers perhaps?) and Crocker (16no) they cantered to the finish of 254-5 off the 40 overs.
A nice tea - smoked salmon sandwiches being pick of the crop - saw a rapid turnround and Strollers start with Crocker into the wind and up the hill and Andrew Cheal gaining the better of both. Cheal's first over started identically to Hampton's equivalent with a catch on offer but with Davidson behind the stumps due to Boyle's injury the result was very different and the chance was held.
Cheal's second ball saw the No3 give a mighty swipe and Mawson fail to hold on to a diving chance. The hat-trick, therefore, was missed as Cheal's third ball saw another wicket with Clough holding on to a hard drive at short extra cover. Unfortunately, a cracked thumb put paid to Clough for the rest of the innings as he departed for hospital and so the Strollers were down to nine (John Gibson had also given a friend a lift to hospital before the match). To complement Clough's catch, the other fine outfield take was made by Boyle, while 'keeper Davidson took four in a flawless display behind the stumps.
With runs on the board and Crocker (8-4-11-2) and Cheal (8-1-34-2) remaining characteristically accurate, Strollers were able to continue with attacking fields. Ovenden (2-1-2-2) replaced Crocker after his spell and two quick wickets saw him replaced by George Calvocoressi (7-0-22-1). The ubiquitous Crocker, never out of the game for long, contributed a catch and a run-out.
Fiala (7-2-23-0) then tempted the batsmen before Loan finished off the Ham with 2-2 off 1.1 overs. Hampton Hill ended on 96 off 33.1 overs.
A fine team performance indeed by the Strollers but played in wonderful spirit throughout by the Ham.
Capt: James Mawson. Wkt: Kelvin Davidson. Match fees: Piers Ovenden.
West Chiltington
Sunday June 17 at West Chiltington
Strollers lost by two wickets
Strollers 140
(35 overs; Hodgson 33no, Sam Brodbeck 30, Addis 24, Morgan 11, Howard 10)
West Chiltington 142-8
(31.5 overs; Simon Brodbeck 3-11, Ovenden 3-31, Crocker 1-27)
The weather reports were grim.
WORST STORMS IN 50 YEARS thundered one newspaper; THREE MONTHS OF RAIN IN THREE DAYS claimed another.
But it was that salacious rag The Stroller that ended-up with the reddest face. Its front page crowed STROLLERS CERTAIN TO RETAIN CUP FOR FULL DECADE.
The Strollers got off to a solid start but quickly lost Patrick Howard to an unlucky deflection off the bowler’s outstretched fingers.
Jono Addis was well set before being caught for 24; Sam Brodbeck was bowled by a good ball and graciously left the field despite a dismayed West Sussex crowd imploring the umpire to call him back: “No ball!” they might have mouthed, “we’ve paid £50 to watch him bat solely, this is ridiculous, unfair and all that’s wrong with cricket.”
Jim Hodgson offered the only meaningful resistance, top scoring with 33, and played out the remaining overs – denying Peter Patston a chance to air his ancient bat.
Legend has it the blade was first used at the Strollers’ maiden outing to West Chiltington – when James Callaghan was prime minister and Simon Brodbeck had dark hair (but was still bald).
Warren Crocker bowled at lightning pace on one of the quickest pitches on the circuit as the Strollers took to the task of defending 140 meagre runs with gusto. West Chiltington soon settled to their task, however, when their stocky No 5, Tim Monday, began hitting everything to the legside boundary.
The caused looked hopeless until Mike Morgan snaffled a legside stumping off Piers Ovenden. “I’d rather have it down as caught behind – I am a fast bowler”, the floppy Kiwi muttered to himself.
Simon Brodbeck took 3-11 off four overs despite bowling almost no good deliveries but it wasn’t enough. With two wickets to take and 3.1 overs to spare, the hosts plodded over the line.
West Chiltington president Peter Jones conducted the after-match ceremonies. He recalled how John Marshall (a former editor of the London Evening News) had brought a side down to play the village way back in 1970. The game became an annual Fleet Street Strollers fixture with John and his wife Dave laying on a champagne reception in their house by the church in Thakeham.
Peter himself has turned out for the Strollers against the village; he appears in the club’s historic lists as Stroller No 42.
The Strollers have returned every year since the official birth of the club in 1976 and had a distinctly sombre sequence of results, losing eight times in their first 12 visits, with only one victory. Things have improved in recent years with Strollers generally having the best of things…until today when West Chiltington and their skipper Mick Armstrong deservedly claimed their first win since 2003.
Capt and wkt: Mike Morgan. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Kempsford
Saturday June 23 at Kempsford
Match abandoned
Strollers 177-7 dec
(McDougall 64, Mawson 42, Crocker 15no, Hodgson 14, Taylor 11, Macaulay 11no)
Kempsford 12-0
Ah, the Costwolds ... gentle hillsides, river valleys, water meadows, beech woods, sleepy limestone villages, historic market towns and some cricket on the green. Could it get more charmingly English? Maybe add a summer downpour and a dash to the nearest pub to negotiate an early opening time with the landlord.
But before the pints and the wine - and the outstanding suet pudding at The Green Dragon - there was the small matter of the Strollers witnessing a master class in sticky dog batting from Hamish McDougall and James Mawson. Invited to bat by skipper Mike Morgan the pair put on 112 runs for the first wicket with apparent ease and even some panache. There was a relaxed atmosphere on the boundary as players and wives (and the affianced) gambolled with the dogs and mused on the rugby results, the nags and the state of Brian Taylor's buttock.
Snapped from their reverie by the dismissal of first Mawson and then McDougall, the batsmen who followed were surprised to discover a rather trickier proposition than they had been led to believe existed. Wickets fell quickly until the doughty lower middle order restored calm and order to proceedings. They then flashed their blades as Morgan counted down the minutes to his declaration. Tea was taken and taken well.
There had been one interruption for rain during the Strollers innings. And there would be another one shortly after Kempsford's innings started. This time, however, there was nothing anyone could do to get the game under way again and the match was abandoned. Kempsford were tremendous hosts who had already done their utmost in difficult conditions and shown great willingness to give us a game.
So it was with heavy, damp and muddy whites that the Strollers and WAGs trooped off to seek solace in Wiltshire Gold, their ranks boosted by the sudden appearance of Mike Hart.
Heavy rain overnight put paid to any prospect of play at Buscot Park on the Sunday. So the Strollers tucked into their very English breakfasts and then wended their way home through wolds, fields, woods and valleys.
Capt: Mike Morgan. Wkt: Hamish McDougall.
Bricklayers Arms
Tuesday June 26 on Barnes Common
Strollers lost by nine runs
Bricklayers 118-5
(20 overs; Hodgson 2-8, Duff 2-20, Swan 2-27, Wood 1-22)
Strollers 109-8
(20 overs; Davidson 33, Cullen 16, Gibson 16, Addison 10)
Chris Locke woke early. He had drunk and smoked more than his fair share the previous night, and the carousing had gone on late, but he felt better than he had done in years. He turned over, and smiled to himself as he saw the note propped up on the bedside table: “IT WASN’T A DREAM. YOU BEAT THE STROLLERS.”
And a dream result it was for the Bricklayer's Arms. The Strollers, needing 119 to win, looked to have the match wrapped up with 16 runs required from four overs, but choked amid a flurry of wickets and bowling that proved near impossible to get away as the light faded.
Unusually for a midweek game, the Strollers began with 11 players – which became 12 when Laurie Allsopp emerged from the trees having got desperately lost in the darker regions of Barnes Common – and the Bricklayers began their innings playing shots, indicating that the aerial route was the best to take over the long grass of the bumpy outfield.
They took 47 runs off the spells of Tim Swan and Ryan Duff, who claimed a couple of wickets as the batsmen set themselves for another heave, but it wasn’t until Captain Tom Wood turned to the wily Jim Hodgson and his nagging line and length that the Strollers took a grip on the innings. Hodgson’s four overs cost eight runs, and he took two wickets. “Parsimonious,” beamed the skipper.
The Bricklayers accelerated again thanks to the hitting of Fraser Wright and a short leg-side boundary, but the target was not deemed to be overly challenging. There was no hubris as such, but the enemy of all Strollers batting performances was there in its malevolent presence.
Things began well. Kelvin Davidson took a liking to the all-spin opening attack, smashing the ball for three fours and three sixes in his innings of 33. Christian Troughton and Kim Ross were the victims of unfortunate dismissals – a top edge and a nasty grubber – having both looked in good touch, but the Strollers were flying along and the Bricklayers leggie Hawkins departed with 47 runs snatched from his three overs.
Richard Addison came in to hit a couple of big strokes and John Gibson nudged and nurdled around the anchor of Davidson, but once the opener got out the first signs of trouble set in. Neil Cullen made 16 but admitted he was struggling to time the ball, then Duff (batting for the first time in 18 years but striking the ball pretty well) fell to a running mix-up. Gibson called through a tight single, and his partner left his crease when standing his ground would have saved his wicket.
Swan, Hodgson and Wood were still to come, but none of the big guns could make an impact. Swan was bowled for nought, followed by Gibson, and Wood and Hodgson needed to take 14 from the final over.
They managed just five, and the Bricklayers completed only their second victory over the Strollers, when a young Chris Locke made a dashing century and took two hat-tricks and a stumping off his own bowling. Although perhaps that bit was really a dream…
Capt and match fees: Tom Wood. Wkt: Neil Cullen.
Chobham
Sunday July 1 at Chobham
Strollers won by 107 runs
Strollers 239-2
(40 overs; Mawson 63, McDougall 53, Addis 47no, Sam Brodbeck 46no)
Chobham 132-5
(40 overs; Crocker 3-9, Wood 1-14, Turnbull 1-25)
The brooding skies of Chobham played host to the Strollers on the day that Spain beat Italy 4-0 to retain the European Championship. Some of the assembled Strollers were getting ready for their own European odyssey (Le Trip to CERN is only a fortnight away), and in a demob happy spirit, they were not afraid to contribute occasional bursts of exuberant French.
On the way to the square, James “Am I really skipper?” Mawson asked the Chobham captain if he had a coin. As the man was wearing a pair of swimming shorts and nothing else, it seemed unlikely. A coin was found. The toss was lost and we were asked to bat.
And bat we did. Hamish McDougall and Mawson withstood some good hostile early bowling from Cawley but mixed caution and aggression very well and put on 140 in 26 overs. It was difficult to see how either of them was going to be dismissed, but James called Hamish for a sharp single and ran him out for 53. After a 50 and a full stint behind the stumps on the previous day, some would have thought that Hamish would be grateful for the chance to put his feet up for 13 overs or so. Speculation along these lines was wide of the mark however.
Mawson was out shortly afterwards and boldly made peace. There followed an unbroken partnership of 93 between Sam Brodbeck and Jono Addis. Sam would like to point out that Jono batted for six minutes longer than him for his 47. Jono points out that while that may very well be so, Sam faced more balls than him for his 46. Team game boys, well done.
It was Addis’s last innings before getting married. The very best of luck to Jono and Caroline on the 14th of July.
The innings was marked by some exemplary work on the scoreboard. Rarely in the history of the club can the men in the middle have been kept so thoroughly and accurately up to date with the progress of the game. And tea was excellent. A cricket tea without malt loaf has missed a trick. Not an error made here. Country slices too.
And so to the Chobham innings: Dave “Big D” Turnbull charged down the hill at star man Cawley, who defended the first two deliveries before claiming 12 off the next four. Mmm, perhaps not as straightforward as we thought. Not to worry: Warren Crocker at the other end, with new cherry in hand, was in lethal form and had the other opener caught behind after four balls.
Mawson reinforced the off-side field for Cawley and went 7-2. Turnbull bowled to it, frustrated him, and eventually got him, bowled in the ninth over for 28. Proper cricket. Well done Dave. And skipper.
At the other end, Crocker had been making serious inroads, removing numbers 3 and 4 cheaply. It was time to bring other Strollers into the game. Jim Hodgson kept up his parsimonious midweek form. Simon Brodbeck threatened. The game looked won. Time for Tom Wood and Peter Patston. Number 5 Milbourne smashed it around for a while, but when Addis caught him at deep long-on off Wood in the 27th over, the game was, for all practical purposes, dans le sac.
Limpet-like lefty Ian Lackey (32no), a familiar face at this fixture, hung on with Evans (3no) for the remaining overs. The fact that one of those was bowled by Kelvin Davidson meant that each player avait fait quelquechose. An enjoyable après-midi.
Capt: James Mawson. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Thames Valley
Thursday July 5 at Sunbury
Strollers lost by two wickets
Strollers 110-9
(19.5 overs; Cullen 28, Page 14, Wood 14)
Thames Valley 114-7
(18.5 overs; Wood 4-19, Fiala 1-14)
As the summer sun began to set over Sunbury-on-Thames, the tall, lean figure of Christian Troughton stepped out of the long shadows to address his sullen Fleet Street Strollers team-mates. Drawing their attention to the cross-section of the sausage roll he was eating, he remarked: “There’s room for a bit more filling in there.”
The Strollers paused between mouthfuls of the sumptuous post-match tea kindly provided by Mrs Doggett to consider the weight of these words, nodding as they recognised the point he had made with a subtlety usually reserved for his disguised slow-ball yorker: there had been too much flaky pastry from the Strollers that night, not enough substance.
Batting first, several Strollers played themselves in but failed to go on to post that all-important 25-run maximum permitted before enforced retirement. Richard Addison looked to have the measure of Srivastava before being bowled by the wily spinner for 10. Ben Page assuredly made his way to 14 before forgetting to abide by the basic principle of protecting his stumps, allowing himself to be trapped lbw by Walder Senior. “I had to give it otherwise I would have been lynched,” Troughton, who raised the finger, explained afterwards, on this occasion choosing not to illustrate his point with the aid of VAT-exempt baked goods.
Swashbuckling skipper Tom Wood, having arrived late as part of a cunning plan to lull the opposition into a false sense of security, smote mightily on his way to 14 before he was needlessly run out, one of three to befall the same fate over the course of the innings.
Only wicket-keeper Neil Cullen stood up to be counted, reaching 28 before retiring. After a gentle wag of the tail from John Low (six), Richard Stubbs (five) and Ivor Fiala (six), Cullen returned in the final over, only to be stranded at the wrong end for four balls then bowled trying to make up for lost time, leaving Thames Valley with a target of 110 to chase.
It is not only Mrs Doggett’s cricket teas that are the talk of Sunbury; her two sons come with lofty reputations as destructive batsmen and neither disappointed as they set about putting the Strollers to the sword.
Stubbs (1-37) suffered the brunt as Doggett the elder quickly got his eye in and began to loft the ball back from whence it came, with considerable interest.
Page (0-23) initially had better luck tying down the other end, though without reward, but once Doggett retired on 29, his younger brother, deceptively nicknamed “Pup”, took up the mantle and punished every bad ball on his way to an unbeaten 28, albeit with a few less fireworks.
With their main threats out of the way, although waiting in the wings to return if required, Thames Valley lost some of their early momentum and the Strollers’ first-change bowlers began to take command. The medium pace of Troughton (19-0) kept it tight at one end while the looping off spin of Fiala (14-1) caused no end of trouble at the other, forcing a run-out before having another victim caught behind.
Wood, bristling from his missed opportunity with the bat, then gave the stand-out performance of the match with the ball. Steaming in from the “Doggett-the-elder-lost-balls-graveyard” end, he took four wickets for a miserly 14.
His success was to prove counter-productive, however, as it ushered the return to the middle of Doggett the elder. He eased his side over the line in the penultimate over to finish on 41 not out, although it was A Jackson who hit the winning runs with a swipe to the boundary, taking his own tally to 25 in the process.
Capt and match fees: Tom Wood. Wkt: Neil Cullen.
The Bounders
Saturday July 7 in Dulwich
Strollers won by 10 runs
Strollers 209-5
(37 overs; Mawson 65, McDougall 59, Sam Brodbeck 19, Hodgson 10, Ovenden 10no)
The Bounders 199-9
(37 overs; Ovenden 3-26, Crocker 3-29, Macaulay 2-50, Read 1-17)
The Bounders had beaten us soundly on the two previous encounters, on their usual ground out in rural Surrey, so the Strollers were hoping that a change of venue to equally leafy (but hardly rural, thanks to the adjacent South Circular) West Dulwich might bring a change of fortunes. The weather was the main threat to these hopes, which accounted for the G20-length captains’ summit (the longest in recorded Strollers history) in the middle, hammering out a compromise agreement on a (first ever?) 37 overs per side game.
Having won the toss, skipper James Mawson, having survived a very confident early appeal for caught behind, and his trusty sidekick Hamish McDougall proceeded to lay about the opposition bowling, which was weakened by two (very) late arrivals.
In their contrasting batting styles the two smote the ball around the ground at a 20:20 run rate, quickly rattling up a century opening stand, the third in a row for the club (another record!), and the partnership eventually reached 148, admittedly helped by a healthy dose of extras.
Indeed the only break in the flow of runs came when the Bounders skipper was Tsonga’d by a ball in the outfield and spent several minutes alone sprawled over the adjacent tree, while his team mates chatted on unconcerned in the middle, spirits no doubt sagging at the run fest and lack of wickets, in contrast to the constant cacophony of the nearby beer match where wickets were falling at the rate of one a minute.
Once the openers were eventually out, the run rate inevitably declined and wickets began to fall, helped by the eventual arrival of the oppo’s best bowler but in the process Sam Brodbeck, Jim Hodgson and Piers Ovenden all added useful runs, resulting in a defendable but also gettable total of 209.
Off-field entertainment in the meanwhile was provided by the Youth Policy offering tuition to the Elders on the management of the eccentric hand-rolled scoreboard, making up for his lack of success with them earlier in the week on the finer points of email etiquette.
While an excellent tea was taken, Warren Crocker insisted on staying on the pitch, clearly not sufficiently warmed up by having subbed most of the innings in the field for the Bounders and then gone into bat; his place at the table was more than adequately filled by a welcome cameo appearance from Evan Samuel.
The opening attack of Crocker and Julian Read, aided by the looming presence of McDougall standing right up to the stumps, took two quick wickets and just as importantly kept the run rate to no more than two an over, which meant the Bounders were always chasing the game.
Runs picked up again with a good third-wicket partnership but with the advent of the slow guile of Alastair Macaulay (two wickets in successive balls) and medium-pace of Ovenden the middle wickets again tumbled.
The run rate again picked up with a free-scoring sixth-wicket partnership but any hopes the Bounders had of a late sprint were ended by the reintroduction of the miserly Crocker with two late wickets, leaving them with too much to do in the final overs. Skipper Mawson adroitly manoeuvred his troupe around many different field positions - his application for a grant for job creation in that area is in the post to the DOE. McDougall took three catches, one at virtually mid-off when he let it be known to the entire population of all the Dulwiches that the catch was his.
All in all, a fine game exemplifying the classic ebbs and flows of cricket and played in good spirit. Most importantly, with no break in the game, we all beat the weather.
Capt: James Mawson. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Martch fees: Warren Crocker.
Peper Harow
Sunday July 15 at Peper Harow
Strollers won by 57 runs
Strollers 168-9
(40 overs; Mawson 58, Calvocoressi 23, Loan 19, Boyle 18)
Peper Harow 111-9
(40 overs; Read 3-3, Duff 2-22, Boyle 1-9, Russell 1-15, Calvocoressi 1-20, Rice 1-35)
The player of the year almost always recognises an exemplary bowler or batsman, with due doffing of cap to a great catch. This season, however, it is probably the groundsmen who deserve most praise as a fine game at Peper Harrow would not have happened without hard work off the pitch.
Unstinting use of the Peper heavy roller to draw up the moisture both in the early morning and then just before the game itself dried out the pitch enough to start. To have failed to pay at one of the oldest grounds in the country - first recorded match 1727 - and certainly one of the grandest, with its sweep of Capability Brown landscape providing the backdrop, would have dented the Strollers' calendar of trophy events.
And while many games were called off, Strollers took to batting first having lost the toss. Skipper Mike Morgan had been unsure which way to decide if he had won the call and in the event it was a good loss as James Mawson and Mike Loan continued the rich vein of opening batting for the Strollers this season and posted another 50 opening stand.
With Loan's departure for 19, in entered Danny Boyle, hero of his previous match. He looked solid before clubbing the ball forcefully past the bowler for four (second of the day as the outfield was slow despite its recent cut). As he said, he felt a bit constrained by a strong Peper attack and lashed out. A few more followed before Boyle went for 18.
With John Low coming in and strong running between the wickets to make up for a lack of boundaries, Mawson reached his 50 and the score 120 off 22 overs or so.
With Mawson falling leg-before for 58 to the left-arm spin of Stephen Fincham (who took six wickets all-told), George Calvocoressi took up the reins with strong hitting to reach 23. After his departure, and despite support from Julian Read and Morgan at the end, Strollers closed on 168-9 off the 40 overs.
The total felt defendable as the sun dried the bruised pitch into a more dappled surface over tea but a little below-par given a shortish boundary by the sheep and away from the manor house. The Strollers, however, this year has been blessed with a very strong and deep opening bowling attack with Read joining luminaries such as Big D Turnbull, Piers Ovenden and Warren Crocker. While Dave, Piers and Warren were away, Read took up the mantle and coming down the hill was, frankly, near-unplayable. The Peper skipper told one crestfallen teammate that he had been out to a ball that would have got most batsmen out, and that could accurately have described almost all of Read's bowling.
Three for three off eight overs and six maidens meant the heart of Peper's batting was back in the pavilion - and he took a great running catch to remove the opener and help Calvocoressi to a wicket. Read set a high standard for fielding but he was well-matched by most of his peers as Ryan Duff, Loan and others all provided exemplary ground fielding - in fact there was not an error by anyone all game, with Morgan taking a stumping despite his broken rib.
While Peper rebuilt the innings after Read's spell closed, Morgan shuffled his bowling well with Duff taking 2-22 off six overs (and two maidens), Brendan Russell 1-15 off eight overs (two maidens and some great channel bowling) and Calvocoressi ending with 1-20 off his five overs. Spinners Tim Rice and Boyle tied up the meadow end in great style (1-35 off eight and 1-9 off five, respectively, was very impressive) and despite some fine hitting by Peper's tail they drew to a close at 111-9 off the 40 overs.
Another commanding victory for the Strollers’ Sunday team as the team's scientists visited CERN to contemplate the nature of the universe and batting on a plastic pitch.
Capt and wkt: Mike Morgan. Match fees: Tim Rice.
CERN Saturday
Saturday July 15 at CERN
Strollers lost by 17 runs
CERN 202
(40 overs; Wood 2-15, Dorrans 2-39, Walder 2-42, Macaulay 2-45, Hodgson 1-22)
Strollers 185
(38.4 overs; Davidson 71, Walder 35, Howard 30, Macaulay 10)
Fortunately, the four members of the Fleet Street Strollers touring party that assembled at Gatwick Airport were not overly superstitious, otherwise there may have been some difficulty boarding flight 111 on Friday 13th to Geneva. With the majority of the squad travelling by car from various parts of Europe there was potential for a logistical disaster, but in fact, by 5pm, the whole squad avec wagons (with the exception of late inclusion and Friday night London party animal Kelvin Davidson) were present and correct and enjoying a demi pression ou un verre de rose in the pleasant afternoon sunshine just outside the Hotel de France in Ferney-Voltaire.
When Piers Ovenden took the opportunity to provide the squad with their sartorial additions in the shape of tour shirts, the slightly bemused residents of the quaint French town were treated to the sight of a truly professional looking outfit…. for at least the next hour or so anyway. As the evening progressed an excellent five-course meal, with accompanying wine, was organised by team dietician Mr Tom Wood. The decision that since no particular wine had found unanimous support several bottles of each should be retried was particularly welcomed, and the performance-enhancing qualities of the grape formed the subject of much discussion.
At the conclusion of the meal, a posse was formed to head into town to search out the much spoken of Irish Pub, an establishment so popular that one local resident had followed Patrick Howard around the town in his car and waved him down simply to tell him about it. Why captain Howard was flagged down instead of some of the more obvious imbibers of the squad is a mystery, although the UK number plate on his car and overseas reputations might account for it.
Alas, upon leaving the hotel that night the weather had turned from the glorious sunshine into something much more reminiscent of home, and parapluie were diligently acquired. Poor Ivor Fiala fell victim to a patch of black ice on the pavement that had somehow materialised in spite of the sun, and the rain, and the temperature, but no permanent damage was done.
He was clearly reinvigorated at the Irish Pub with a medicinal Jamesons and a pint, and set out to explain the laws of cricket to each and every person in the Pub. Since, however, there were just too many individuals for him to cover he decided to start by explaining just to the females. Celeste will, it is rumoured, be enrolling on an ECB Umpiring course in September under Ivor’s tutelage.
At breakfast the next day the squad reassembled, with some looking slightly more circumspect than others. A trip around the splendid town centre market and copious sausage purchases reinvigorated many, whereas a swift demi resuscitated the few. Tour shirts were de rigeur and the team made the short journey to the Higgs Field. Apparently, there is a particle physics joke in that name, which Wood would be happy to explain to anyone and everyone who is interested.
The ground was an artificial mat laid on a concrete foundation and it looked very quick. The outfield had benefited from the unseasonable rain and a broken lawn mower, and so it did not. Despite the best efforts of our hosts, who it is rumoured have some little experience of engineering, the lawn mower was unresponsive and so it was decided to commence the game with the long outfield. Captain Howard lost the toss and the Strollers were invited to field, a task they took to with relish since it was the first chance all summer to field in glorious sunshine. A 40-over game was the agreed format, with a maximum of eight per bowler.
Paul Dorrans took the new ball from the “Timperley-Hospitalising” end (with appropriate safety instructions), while Jim Hodgson opened from the Pavilion end. The CERN openers played the first few overs watchfully, negating the swing, before starting to play a few shots. The buzzing of the newly revived lawnmower perhaps acted as a reminder of the long outfield, which opener Kegwin decided to best avoid by dispatching anything full back over the bowler’s head. Indeed, his first scoring shot was a steepling six back over Dorrans’ head, setting a pattern of six-hitting which was to continue throughout the day despite the fact that the outfield was being mowed as the game continued. Fortunately, the argument of whether five penalty runs would be scored for hitting the lawnmower and its pilot did not require resolving.
Hodgson made the first breakthrough in the sixth over with the score on 28 when Curtis drove hard at a swinging ball and got a thick outside edge. Ordinarily a shot that would fly away to the boundary, but Curtis hadn’t counted on the cat-like reflexes of Fiala in the gully, who continued his rich vein of form from the night before by nonchalantly plucked a two-handed catch from above his head. Dorrans then got into the action having expertly adjusted the field, causing Kegwin to hole out to the bucket-like hands of Howard at long-off. Dorrans then hurried the hosts' number four for pace and he obligingly looped the ball to Ovenden in the covers to leave the score at 52-3 off 13 overs and the game evenly poised.
Chauduri and Mozaffar then set about building a partnership. Mazaffar clearly had a very good eye and a preference for the leg side, whereas Chauduri was a classical batsman who had obviously played a good level of cricket. Aaron Walder and Ovenden replaced Dorrans and Hodgson and both kept it tight for their first few overs. Unfortunately however, while the hard pitch assisted Walder with bounce and turn the older ball had stopped swinging for Ovenden and two hard-hitting batsmen were timing balls to the boundary from a good line and length. As such his figures do not fairly represent his perfectly decent spell on a very good batting track. The margins for error for bowling were not high and Walder also received a good degree of punishment, at one point having three fielders on the legside boundary.
The partnership was finally broken in the 22nd over when Chauduri was undone by the Walder googly and lost his middle stump. At 100-4 the run rate was impressive, but the hosts were losing regular wickets. Walder took another wicket in the traditional leg-spinner manner, with Ovenden completing the catch at deep square leg, and Howard also completed an excellent day in the field by combining with Walder to affect a sharp run-out at the bowler’s end.
Considering there was something there for the spinners, the captain turned to Alastair Macaulay to replace the unlucky Ovenden, and but for an extremely poorly positioned lamp post just inside the boundary rope, he would have taken the much prized wicket of Mozaffar in his first over. Unfortunately, however, the result was six more to the Mozaffar account and two overs at the first aid kit for Brian Taylor as a result of an entanglement. Fortunately Brizey was able to soldier on after being bandaged.
It didn’t take much longer for Macaulay to undo Mozaffar with his flight and guile though, and captain Howard, in more or less the same position but crucially now aware of the dangerous lamp post, made a high chance look easy. Mozaffar departed for a well played 59 just as he was looking to up the scoring rate.
The Strollers might have been considering they were on top of the game at 155-7, which then became 155-8 as Wood joined the attack in his favoured role as death bowler, but they had not counted on Bolton lowering himself down the order to number nine. A serene 31 off 28 balls, including four sixes was the injection CERN needed to arrive at a very competitive 202 all out off 37 overs. Wood bowled gun barrel straight to claim an lbw and a bowled, and Howard made it three catches for the game to assist Macaulay in his second.
The Strollers fielded exceptionally well, with some initial assistance from the long outfield, and bowled fairly tightly. Five an over on such a good batting track would certainly be gettable, providing CERN did not have anyone too quick and the Strollers got off to a good start.
Alas neither of those hopes materialised. Peter Patston, unable to get on top of a rising delivery, edged the first ball of the innings to gulley and was dismissed by Campbell. At the pavilion end, the second over with the new ball was taken by Chauduri. He was later to confess after intense cross-examination that he had played some State cricket in India, and had also represented Singapore at international level.
While he looked very able with the bat in his hand, with the ball on a fast track, he bowled with speed and, when necessary, with menace. While his first five-over spell did not claim any victims, it only went for five runs, and added various colourful bruises to the body of Kelvin Davidson, who adopted a Brian Close-esque style to the shorter deliveries. Many of the incoming batsmen could be seen politely enquiring as to the likelihood of obtaining helmets.
Davidson and Howard did well to see off the new ball, but after 10 overs the Strollers were only 18-1. However, the next 10 overs showed the value of getting in on a good wicket as both Howard and then Davidson joined in on the six-hitting bonanza to get the total up to 87 at drinks. Unfortunately though, the increased tempo drew one shot too many from Howard and he was caught in the deep for 30. Thus, the Strollers needed 115 from 20 overs with eight wickets in hand.
Alas, however, some tight bowling, and an lbw decision that was responsible for much of the evening’s conversation, saw a collapse of the Strollers talented middle order of Wood, Ovenden and Jim Hodgson all departing, adding only six runs between them. At 104- 5 at the start of the 26th over the Strollers needed 99 off just 14 overs at a rate of over seven per over. Davidson was still there and seeing the ball well; could someone stay with him?
Walder strode out to bat not fazed by the increasing rate, knowing that runs could come easily on this track. His confidence was appropriate as two left-handers began to dominate the bowling, taking 63 off the next seven overs. CERN could see the game slipping away from them and so turned back to quick man Chauduri. The way Walder chipped his first ball off the front foot to the mid-wicket boundary for a one-bounce four might have suggested Walder was settled and in control. The next few balls corrected that view as Chauduri took off the handbrake and sent the next one past Walder at considerable pace. Walder finally fell fending a well-aimed bouncer to gully. He scored 35 off 22 balls, Davidson was still there and only 36 runs were needed off eight overs, but Chauduri had to bowl two of those.
At the other end returning opener Campbell made the breakthrough CERN wanted by bowling Davidson for an excellent 71 off 73 balls. Taylor came to the wicket but fell to a good catch in the deep also off Campbell without adding to the score and the balance had returned to the home side – 168-8 off 34 overs.
Dorrans then strode out and negotiated another quick over from Chauduri. At the other end, Macaulay played some lusty blows and rotated the strike in between. However, when Dorrans finally nicked an edge off Chauduri to the keeper the Strollers were 174-9. Fialia strode to the crease and runs continued to be scored until Macaulay was finally caught in the deep by Curtis. The Strollers were all out for 185 and the hosts had won by 17 runs.
After an excellent game of high standard cricket that went right to the wire there was lots to talk about. Davidson was awarded the coveted CERN playing shirt for his innings of 71, and Chauduri was voted man of the match by the Strollers for his 34 with the bat and 2-14 off eight overs with the ball. A total of 15 sixes were hit during the day notwithstanding all the boundaries were regulation length. The CERN opening bowlers bowled 16 overs for 30 runs. Howard took three catches and was responsible for a run-out. All 22 players batted. 387 runs were scored, but only two batsmen passed 50. What would tomorrow bring?
Our hosts provided an excellent barbeque for dinner as well as much beer and wine and the conversation continued into the night before both teams headed into Ferney-Voltair to see what entertainment awaited them for Bastille Day. However, despite the festivities the sting of defeat would linger and the Strollers would be looking for revenge the next day.
Capt: Patrick Howard. Wkt: Kelvin Davidson.
CERN Sunday
Sunday July 16 at CERN
Match drawn
Strollers 220-3 dec
(Ovenden 101, Howard 63no, Davidson 36)
CERN 182-4
(Hodgson 1-12, Macaulay 1-33, Wood 1-37)
The village of Ferney-Voltaire welcomed the Strollers with a magnificent firework display on Saturday night. Granted they closed all the bars in town so we had to go up to the Chataeau for the display anyway. The whole town turned out and a Spanish covers band played a two-hour set of crowd pleasers. The Strollers mainly stood at the back quietly tapping a toe. Apart from Ivor Fiala of course, who disappeared into Le Moshpit, his pale pate and Strollers sweater bobbing and weaving as he showed the young people a few moves.
The evening continued for the usual suspects back at the hotel in the Patstons’ room. Memories were hazy the next morning but all were agreed on one thing. Someone had attempted to get into almost everyone’s room in the wee small hours. Even Tom Wood was abed and admitted that any interloper would have seen him naked with full moon visible. So at least it wasn't Bradley Wiggins looking for somewhere to park his bike. Suspicion fell on serial dozer Jim Hodgson but he denied all.
And so the following day we went back to CERN. Skipper Piers Ovenden had had the whole night to ponder his tactics. A time game was decided on and the Strollers were to bat first. After his cruel dismissal the previous day, Piers took on the responsibility of opening the batting with Kelvin Davidson.
Choudhuri renewed his duel with Davidson, bowling a couple of yards faster at Kelvin than anyone else. Kelvin was prepared to take on the bouncer and, although he played and missed a few, he put away a few to the boundary. At the other end Piers looked untroubled and in good form.
The openers put on 82 for the first wicket when Davidson eventually fell to a catch off Choudhuri for a bright 34. Eighty-seven off 20 overs became 163 off 30 as Piers and new bat Patrick Howard picked up the pace. Piers got to 50 off 89 balls and he and Patrick eventually put on 119 for the second wicket. Piers carried on without offering a chance and reached the magic ton off 132 balls. Afterwards none of us could believe that it was his first ever, such was its quality. Clearly he wore the burden of office lightly. At this point a declaration was nearing and he was out for 101, caught at deep extra cover off his only loose shot.
The rain which had threatened all day stated in earnest and to their credit CERN played through it. The Strollers eventually declared on a handy total of 220-3.
CERN were facing a good target and the openers struggled against Paul Dorrans and Wood. Wood got an early wicket and this brought the dangerous Choudheri to the wicket. Even then the scoring did not pick up dramatically. After 10 overs the score was only 20-1.
Dorrans was particularly parsimonious, eventually bowling unrewarded through 10 overs for only 17 runs, beating the bat on a number of occasions. The other opener, Rod "Rocket" Curtis, was run out in an unfortunate mix-up and this brought Muzzafer in. The Strollers knew that CERN had five key players and that if we could get them out we had a chance. A bit of carrot had to be dangled to keep CERN interested so Alastair Macaulay and Peter Patson were introduced.
Muzaffer skied a ball off Macaulay to keeper Davidson but few other chances were created. Hodgson eventually has Choudhuri lbw for 78 but Campbell did not look troubled at the other end. From 15 overs to go the game looked to be headed for a draw and despite the run rate rising, that is how it ended.
The Strollers awarded our man of the match fizz to Rocket for his run-out and CERN could only award the prized CERN shirt to one person. Captain Piers gave his acceptance speech and was effusive about the opposition bowling until it was pointed out that he had still scored a ton against it.
We said farewell to our gracious hosts and headed back to Ferney-Voltaire where the only restaurant open to us was the Indian next to the hotel. Normally expectations are not high for Indian restaurants in France but the Karma was just fine. The evening was topped off by Fiala extremely generously buying the drink for the evening in honour of his recent 70th birthday. Ivor was duly toasted and congratulated on another not out as he edges, blocks and nurdles his way to a century of asterisks.
All in all, the view of the tourists was that, yes we'd like to do that again. Good hotel, nice town, friendly opposition and good standard cricket.
Capt: Piers Ovenden. Wkt: Kelvin Davidson.
Old Wimbledonians
Saturday July 21 at Raynes Park
Strollers lost by two wickets
Strollers 194-7
(40 overs; Hodgson 57, Crocker 54no, McDougall 31, Wright 25)
Old Wimbledonians 195-8
(39.2 overs; Dorrans 3-30, Ovenden 2-21, Brodbeck 2-51, Crocker 1-26)
Before we begin, it is perhaps worth considering that the previous encounter between these two sides had ended with the Strollers being finally dismissed on the last ball of the last over after a doughty final-wicket stand between Ivor Fiala and Simon Brodbeck.
Returning to the pleasant surroundings of the Wimbledon College playing fields, skipper Piers Ovenden considered the conditions and elected to open the batting with himself and Hamish McDougall. With the unfamiliar sensation of sunshine on their backs, the pair proceeded to set about their task. The wicket and the opposition did not offer much but whilst attempting to move things along, the skipper sent one skyward to be taken by a grateful midwicket. John Gibson came in at number three and tried the umpire's patience and the opposition's vocal chords until mercifully being given out lbw on the third attempt, for one. It was not looking good.
Fraser Wright (from Chris Locke's Bricklayers team) joined McDougall and helped to steady the ship, scoring a creditable 25. McDougall fell for 31 to a very well-taken catch behind, allowing the partnership of Jim Hodgson and Warren Crocker to bring the match back to the Strollers. With well-struck half-centuries apiece they put on 106 for the sixth wicket. Thus the visitors finished on what seemed a respectable 194, against some accurate bowling. The consensus was that on a drying pitch and with a good line-up, we were in the game.
Crocker opened the attack with well-directed aggression, but the opening pair of Vik Nigam and Eddie Gardner would not be easily moved. The wickets finally began to fall and the run-rate looked promising, with some sharp fielding helping the toiling bowlers.
Old Wimbledonians have nicknames on their kit and, being also known as the 'Poets', as the sun moved across the sky and began to sink they may well have had Dylan Thomas in mind as a certain 'Princess' (otherwise known as Kaine Patel) proved to be anything but fluffy, clubbing the ball to all parts - the game was well and truly on.
Falling wickets and mounting runs saw the number nine and number 10 approach the last over with two required. Was it to be a mirror-image of a year previously, but with the roles reversed? The skipper came back into the fray, with two dot balls bringing rising hope.
It was not to be, with the Wimbledonians’ Garfield Fontaine thrusting his bat into the path of the ball to edge one over the fielders, allowing two scrambled runs to win the day.
The odd misfield, dropped catch or mistimed shot are often all that may stand between victory and defeat, although the fact that all the hosts' batsmen scored runs was, in this case, perhaps the most important. Whatever the outcome, a close match and convivial company on a warm evening quickly brought the smiles back.
Capt: Piers Ovenden. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Laurie Allsopp.
Tadworth
Sunday July 22 at Tadworth
Strollers won by 139 runs
Strollers 231-7
(40 overs; McDougall 75no, Sam Brodbeck 65, Mawson 33, Wood 13, Ovenden 10)
Tadworth 92
(25.4 overs; Simon Brodbeck 4-5, Hodgson 3-4, McDougall 2-18)
On a big day in the world of sport it is debatable whether or not the Strollers’ victory at Tadworth or Bradley Wiggins’ triumph in the Tour de France was the more glorious. What is not debatable is that both were as comprehensive as each other. (Nor it is debatable that both were superior to England’s toil at the Oval and Adam Scott’s collapse at The Open.)
So to the game. Given the bright sunshine, good pitch and smooth outfield at the lovely Tadworth ground, the first success of the day was skipper Tom Wood’s winning of the toss and decision to bat first.
James Mawson and Kelvin Davidson made their way to the middle and were greeted with some accurate opening bowling, though the few bad balls were able to be put away. Davidson was the first to be dismissed, followed by Richard Addison to an unfortunate run-out.
No matter, because next up was Sam Brodbeck, and he was obviously keen for the challenge and in fine touch. He and Mawson began to work the ball around, Brodbeck also lofting into the onside and cutting through the offside with power on several occasions (strokes perhaps even reminiscent of Hashim Amla, who on the same day at the Oval scored South Africa’s first test 300). The two put on an excellent partnership of 65 before Mawson was dismissed for 33.
That brought Hamish McDougall to the crease, but there was no let-up for the Tadworth bowlers, as he also began to play strongly through the offside. In tandem with Brodbeck, the scoring kept along at a good clip until, with the partnership at 63, Brodbeck was finally dismissed for a very well-compiled 65. In the remaining overs of the innings, McDougall accelerated the scoring even further, ending on a superb 75 not out, and with the help of several cameos, the Strollers eventually finished on 231-7. Chairman Kimball Bailey, who had emerged on crutches - after his recent hip operation - to oversee proceedings, certainly seemed impressed.
The players then retired for an excellent tea and in general discussion it was noted that Tadworth had bowled and fielded well, and it was felt that the score was gettable, though obviously it would require a good scoring rate from the outset and the retention of wickets. Hence Skipper Wood’s call that the Strollers opening bowlers operate with “naked aggression”.
Thankfully neither Piers Ovenden nor Jim Hodgson took that call literally, but they did bowl with extreme accuracy. Ovenden was unlucky not take a wicket in his three overs, but Hodgson reaped the rewards at the other end, claiming two lbws and also an excellent caught-and-bowled, which brought to mind that great 1990s New Zealand one-day all-rounder Chris Harris, also a master of that form of dismissal. Hodgson finished his spell with figures of 5-2-4-3.
That put Tadworth in a tough position and Laurie Allsopp and McDougall carried on the good work (the latter claiming figures of 2-18) before Simon Brodbeck took the ball and prompted the collapse of the Tadworth tail. Brodbeck, playing Ernie Els to Tadworth’s Adam Scott, ended with the outstanding figures of 3.4-0-5-4. Tadworth were dismissed for 92, meaning a 139-run victory for the visitors.
That just leaves two final points of note. First, the keener-eyed of readers may have noticed that the Strollers only claimed nine wickets. This was due to a strange incident of a young Tadworth batsmen coming to the crease and promptly vomiting at the non-striker’s end during Alastair Macaulay’s bowling spell. This forced him to retire hurt, with Saturday night’s exertions or heat-stroke being mentioned as potential causes. But there was no doubt that the real reason was sheer fear of Macaulay’s venomous deliveries.
Second, the day also saw an unfortunate injury to Jatin Karia of Tadworth, who stood on the ball while fielding and damaged his knee. But it did also prompt a lighter-hearted moment. In lieu of a stretcher, the only item that could be found to get him off the field was a rather large and heavy wooden picnic bench. It then took at least six fully-grown men a considerable period of time to carry Karia, perhaps not the most svelte of athletes, along with said bench back off the field. We wish Karia a speedy recovery.
Overall, a great day was had by all and, after the game, as the Strollers enjoyed the sunshine, a beer and the company of the opposition, even the birds did not miss out on the fun – finding a certain tasty morsel that had been left behind by that young Tadworth batsmen at one end of the pitch ...
Capt: Tom Wood. Wkt: Kelvin Davidson. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Marlow Park
Saturday July 28 in Marlow
Strollers won by 109 runs
Strollers 310-2
(40 overs; Wood 143, Boyle 105no, Ovenden 38)
Marlow Park 201
(39 overs; Hodgson 4-48, Allsopp 2-42, Dorrans 1-40, Simon Brodbeck 1-42)
While your correspondent was vainly attempting to arrive on time, blaming a lorryload of hay bales shed on the M5 near Taunton for his tardy arrival, skipper Tom Wood lost the toss and was pleased to be asked to bat.
Before a ball was bowled we already had a very strong candidate for man of the match in match manager Paul Dorrans who had found himself four players down due to injuries and illness - Dennis Cave (gout), Warren Crocker (groin strain), Dave Turnbull (summer flu) and Justin Frederickson (knee) - but undaunted by this successfully organised an XI for the match, notwithstanding several arriving late.
The senior pro, Simon Brodbeck, had been assessing the batting line-up and was concerned enough about the lack of depth to address the troops with a sagelike “Just keep your heads down and don’t get out”. With this cautionary advice ringing in his ears Piers Ovenden promptly dismissed the first two balls for four with flamboyant strokes. This set the tone for the whole innings.
The Marlow Park opening bowlers Hancock and Coote were keen and brisk but anything too full or short was punished and the scoreboard clicked over very quickly. Wood, fresh from his training camp in Cornwall and Devon looked in great form, hitting the ball very hard both straight and on the cut. One of these cuts surprised a snoozing Oonagh on the boundary with a rap on the paw, while an Exocet-style straight drive very nearly decapitated the umpiring Julian Read.
It was as all this excitement was happening on the pitch that a lovely moment of small worldness happened on the boundary. A silver-haired gentleman exercising his small dog, wisely avoiding a growling Oonagh, stopped to watch a few balls. Simon’s ears pricked up at the mention of Nottingham and in the ensuing conversation it transpired that both had been born in Sherwood and attended Nottingham High School. Peter Llewellyn, the dog-walking Old Nottinghamian, had also been at school at the same time as Jim Hodgson’s father and uncle and had known both well. In addition to this, Peter’s wife was a journalist, editing the Homes & Property section of the Evening Standard.
Back at the cricket Piers slapped a juicy full toss to cover to depart for 38 and one look at his face left no doubt that he appreciated the opportunity he had just left behind. Danny Boyle came to the wicket and continued to keep the scoreboard rattling along with a succession of classy drives, cuts and pulls. Wood cruised past 50 and accelerated towards a ton, making the most of a lightening quick outfield.
The Marlow Park bowlers toiled away but it was really only the finger spin of Billy Shafqat that asked any questions of the rampant Strollers. So as Wood and Boyle cantered past the 100 and 50 marks respectively, the crowd started to eye the stats sheet for club records in danger, and well they might.
In the last over Tom chipped a catch to end his innings on 143, passing his previous highest of 130. This was his sixth century for the club, drawing level with Marc Friday at second in the standings. Boyle was undefeated on 105, his maiden century for the Strollers. The total of 310-2 is the second-highest in Strollers history and the second-wicket partnership of 237 between Wood and Boyle eclipsed the long-standing record of 205 between Brian Taylor and Terry Scragg at Sutton on the Hill in 1995.
The Strollers’ batting success tempered the tea news that Mark Cavendish and the GB cycling team had failed to deliver the nailed-on road race gold medal. The weary batsmen and Marlow Park fielders revived themselves with an excellent tea, including a debut from fruit salad and ice cream.
The Strollers started in the field with another cautionary changing room note to curb any over-confidence. Back in 2005 we had scored 287 against Whiteley Village and lost! Read opened the bowling with a quick and accurate spell and was unlucky not to take a wicket. At the other end Jim Hodgson, fresh from the same West Country training camp as Wood, picked up four quick wickets, including a very good diving catch at second slip by Read and a smartly taken chance at first slip by Wood.
The home side were never able to get close to the required rate and wickets continued to fall with Read taking another good catch off Simon Brodbeck, this time in the deep and straight out of the sun. John Gibson also took a sharp catch at mid-on off Laurie Allsopp, who finished with two victims.
Although Marlow Park were never really in the game, Jordy Turner scored a resilient 83 before an unfortunate mix-up saw him run out in sight of a century, and the home side were shortly all out for 201.
Beers flowed in the clubhouse as our hosts were magnanimous in defeat and as the sun set across the park it was reflected that we might not have won the Olympic road race, but a club partnership record and two individual batting records was not a bad haul.
Capt and match fees: Tom Wood. Wkt: Mike Loan.
Prestcold
Sunday July 28 at Binfield Heath
Strollers won by eight wickets
Prestcold 103
(36.3 overs; Morgan 3-11, Walder 2-18, Wood 1-1, Ovenden 1-12, Hodgson 1-17, Fiala 1-18, Duff 1-24)
Strollers 105-2
(Jones 35, Mawson 28, Howard 22no, Wood 10no)
With the course for the Olympic women’s road race lying between London and Binfield Heath, it was a day for old school map reading skills and creative thinking. Tom-toms and sat-navs remained in glove compartments. The crowd-wary cricketer was rewarded with the isolated and tranquil setting that is Prestcold's home ground at Binfield Heath. Despite the passing squalls of rain, pitch conditions were good thanks to the covers and the local hair dryer treatment; our hosts deploying a leaf blower to ensure no time was lost waiting for the sun to do its job.
Skipper Mike Morgan, having agreed a 40-over match, lost the toss and was a little surprised, given the yet prevailing humidity, to be invited to field. Ryan Duff opened the bowling from the tree end (a local feature being the tree swathed in white cloth at mid-off) while Jim Hodgson, in the midst of an excellent run of form (3-4 at Tadworth and 4- 48 at Marlow Park) was assigned to the stallion end (there being several rather spirited horses in the paddock at the far end of the ground).
The Strollers got off to a flying start. The first shot in anger, belted at backward point off Hodgson, was intercepted two-handed by a horizontal Duff, in Superman pose. The following over Duff nipped one back through the new batsman's defences to clip the bails.
With Hodgson straining an adductor, Aaron Walder was introduced to maintain the pressure. With frustration at the low scoring rate building, Walder induced Prestcold's No4 into an attempted hoick over midwicket that was skyed to mid-off. Piers Ovenden dropped a clanger. Morgan, the arch-psychologist, immediately introduced Ovenden at the tree-end. Channelling his self-loathing and rage to good effect he bowled unchanged (8-3-12-1) and eventually winkled out the batsman he had dropped, stumped courtesy of an excellent piece of work by Hamish McDougall.
Walder, meanwhile, was still finding turn and erratic bounce to worry the batsmen. His two wickets, in successive balls, seemed meagre reward for an excellent spell (8-2-18-2). Leg-spin however was clearly the order of the day. Morgan replaced Walder and demolished the bottom half of the order (5-1-11-3) in tandem with first Ivor Fiala and then Tom Wood.
Max Jones and James Mawson, conscious of the inconsistent bounce, started cautiously in their chase of 104 but soon had the scoreboard ticking over. Mawson, following a long tradition stretching from Brian Close to Kelvin Davidson, weathered a spell of spirited short-pitched bowling from round the wicket by simply chesting the ball down into the covers. Their partnership was worth 73 when Jones was caught attempting to finish the task in style. Soon afterwards Mawson received the daisy cutter that was always a risk on a pitch that none of the batsmen ever felt comfortable on. In their place Patrick Howard steered Prestcold to distraction through the gully area while Wood tried to add to his record of animal abuse (the previous day at Marlow Park he had hit Oonagh lying angelically at the point boundary) by trying to hit the horses.
The teams retired to the Flowing Spring to news of Lizzie Armistead's silver medal and to compare tickets for forthcoming Olympic engagements.
Capt: Mike Morgan. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Ryan Duff.
Peppard
Sunday August 5 at Peppard
Strollers lost by three wickets
Strollers 150
(39.5 overs; Read 67, Walder 20)
Peppard 151-7
(38.5 overs; Walder 3-33, Macaulay 2-26.)
Peppard is one of the Strollers’ longest-standing fixtures and is usually a close game. This year was no exception. In keeping with tradition here, skipper Aaron Walder missed the toss as the Strollers were put in or a surprisingly firm track. Heavy rain in the morning in London and the West Country led many to doubt that we would play but the pitch was fine and the weather held off.
Peppard were a man short (eventually two) so a fielder was lent. Mike Morgan stepped into the Strollers’ breach when Patrick Howard pulled out at the last moment (possibly to help Phillips Odowu with his preparations). Mike and Sue’s three-hour drive from Brighton was mitigated with the offer of B&B (bed and Bordeaux) chez Tom Wood.
The innings did not start well. Accurate bowling at both ends accounted for Kelvin Davidson, Mike Loan and Mike Morgan to make the score 9-3. Wood fell for 12 and at 25-4 the Strollers were looking at damage limitation. Peter Patston was then joined by Jules Read. Peppard's change bowlers were not as good as the openers and slowly the score started to rise, Peter nudging singles and Read taking a more aggressive aerial route. Peter was eventually out after an hour having played a valuable role in keeping the innings together.
Read was joined by Walder and took us past our respectable target of 120. The last few overs of the innings saw the Strollers reach the giddy heights of 150 as Read, Walder (20) and then Brendan Russell (14) were hard on anything short. Ivor Fiala notched up yet another not out.
Read was out for a career-best 67. He had assured us that he could not bat but it is extraordinary how many Kiwis join the Strollers only to score their highest ever scores. Clearly our coaching programme and fanatical approach to maximizing incremental gains is the key...
150 was still a below-par score but as Peppard were only batting nine we only needed eight wickets. Read opened the bowling and was described by Peppard as the best they had faced all season. He beat the bat on many occasions and the old saw about not being good enough to get an edge seemed true. His figures of 8-3-14-0 did not do him justice. At the other end Russell had one of the openers caught behind by Davidson. Skipper Walder replaced Russell and soon had the No 3 well caught on the square leg boundary by Loan, who went on to take three good catches.
Opener Tim Wright was batting well and he and Muniyasany at No 4 were pushing the score along. Wood replaced Walder, who had gone for two consecutive sixes, and had the latter caught of a full toss by Loan. At 83-3 off 20 overs, Peppard looked comfortable. Walder came back on and Wright eventually fell for 57 to the Walder/Loan combo to make the score 109-4.
Loan has a wicketless spell and was replaced by Alastair Macaulay. Walder picked up another wicket (finishing with 3-33 off eight overs). Macaulay lured the No 6 out of his crease and skipper Rob Dyer came in. Dyer made 23 and Peppard were on the brink of victory when Dyer chipped Macaulay to mid-on. Suddenly it was five to win and one wicket to get. However, Peppard’s No 9 flipped the ball to the square leg boundary to seal the win.
In the end the match was closer than seemed likely at three o'clock. A quick beer with the opposition was followed by a bolt for home to watch the 100m final.
Capt: Aaron Walder. Wkt: Kelvin Davidson. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Concorde
Sunday August 12 at Send
Match drawn
Strollers 219-8 dec
(Addis 70, McDougall 34, Howard 24, Mawson 22, Read 21, Morgan 15no)Concorde 90-9
(Ovenden 3-28, Brodbeck 2-7, Read 2-17, Duff 1-13)
The grand historic Sendholme Homestead with its tall proportions, gables galore, rendered edge bands and rounded apexs, stone quoins to angles and plinths, two hipped-roof dormers, five-light mullioned and transomed windows, patterned brick work and brick dentil bands, and sphere finials provided an impressive backdrop. And for the antipodean contingent, there was the alluring presence of sheep mooching and meandering around surrounding pastures. Nestled behind the sleepy village of Send, Surrey, this marvellous little ground (complete with clock tower and dedicated score tower facilities) provided the setting, as it did last year, for what was a tense encounter with Concorde CC.
Vivid memories lingered in the humid air, of heroics performed yesteryear stirring in the consciousness of the Strollers, notably the chivalrous one-legged gallantry and game-saving batting display from one Paul Dorrans, ably supported by Kimball Bailey’s gritty duck. Could the Strollers turn it around, and gain the ascendancy on this occasion?
Losing the toss and inserted to bat first on a greenish surface, the opening pair of Max Jones and James Mawson were greeted with a menacing and well-drilled opening bowling combination, lead by the reputable all-rounder Cudworth. With the thermostat rising, so too did the velocity and ferociousness of the bowling. Jones' contest with Cudworth ended in the fifth over, the batsman undone by a swinging delivery that kept low. The arm-wrestle had begun.
Mawson and Jono Addis endured, settled, and eventually tamed the opening bowling attack, breaching fielding placements and making the most of a low-cut and expeditious outfield by finding the boundary with regularity. Working well in tandem, Addis provided the initial aggression and Mawson the tradesmanlike, stylish stokeplay observers have become accustomed to. The pair put on a breezy 68 for the second wicket, before Mawson departed for 22.
Addis, who showed no sign of exhaustion despite having recently returned from his honeymoon in Peru and Cuba, and Hamish McDougall both showcased equal measures of patience, placement and aggression, putting on 53 for the third wicket. Addis departed for a well-constructed 70 to the applause of onlookers, which included a special guest appearance from Chairman Bailey, demonstrating that his rehab from a hip replacement is going well, as he hovered freely around the batsmen in waiting.
McDougall continued his onslaught, assisted capably by Patrick Howard, who exhibited his trademark drives, which included a towering six into the heights of the trees beyond the long-on boundary. Having gained the ascendancy, a flurry of wickets soon followed. Howard was out to a fine catch at slip (24) while McDougall departed to a brilliant diving catch at gulley (34). Despite positive intent, Piers Ovenden and Tom Wood came and went in quick succession, before a combination of Jules Read and skipper Mike Morgan restored composure to the innings. Read continued his rich vein of batting form, clearing the ropes on a couple of occasions before departing in the second-to-last over of the innings for 24, while the shrewd Morgan kept the scoreboard engineers busy (15 no), with Simon Brodbeck until tea, and respite for all from the sticky summer temperatures.
The defence of the total was spearheaded by the combination of Read and Ovenden, both producing sublime opening spells. Supported by excellent fielding around the circle and glovework by McDougall, the screws tightened immediately. While Julian ‘unplayable’ Read steamed in from the southern end, it was the accurate and equally miserly Ovenden who profited initially as the batsmen were induced into playing shots out of frustration at the absence of movement on the scoreboard.
Ovenden removed his first victim thanks to a diving take by McDougall behind the wicket who, as a result of intense deliberation with Ovenden after the previous over, moved back from the stumps on the principle that “if the batsmen nicks it, the keeper might catch it”. The second victim came as a typically good length ball was driven forcefully into the covers and into the waiting hands of Jones, who pouched a well-taken catch to his left. Danger man Cudworth made his way out to the middle.
Read was rewarded shortly after, with a ball that appeared to hit all three stumps directly, such was the twisted mess that resulted – overdue reward for fine opening engagement with the home batsmen. Teetering at 5-3 in reply, Cudworth took exception to anything bowled short or wide (basically anything bowled really), providing much-needed impetus for the home side.
Unfazed, Ovenden steamed in again and another bullet flew off Cudworth’s bat, a sterling effort from Addis at long-off almost snaring the big No.4. Shortly thereafter, and not for the first time this season, it was Ovenden’s balanced concoction of rage and self-loathing that produced a ball that Cudworth was unable to dispatch – full, straight, and swinging, to remove the potential match-winner, laying waste to the stumps, and securing his third wicket in the process.
Ryan Duff replaced Read at the southern end and unleashed a couple of baffling balls to open his spell, but eventually settled into his rhythm and located the stumps on the final ball of his opening over to remove the next home batsmen. From this point on, it was clear, with victory virtually beyond reach, that it was to be become a battle for survival for the home side.
With plenty of time remaining and the Strollers in the ascendancy, Morgan took it upon himself and his sparring partner Brodbeck to bring about the desired result. Brodbeck built pressure with every over he bowled from the northern end, while Morgan fished to induce a rash stoke from the other end. As time went on and as the as fielders gravitated to encircle the batsmen, resolve broke and Brodbeck was rewarded with a delivery that chattered the stumps. Read was reintroduced into the attack, trapping the batsman lbw.
.
There was an air of inevitability about the demands that Brodbeck was applying. Sure enough he struck again and the home side were eight down. With time remaining for five overs to play, Ovenden was reintroduced. Duff, fielding at third slip, intercepted a bottom edge that threatened to intersect him and gully, and threw down the stumps from short range to take the game to an exciting climax. However, it was not to be for the Strollers, and Concorde’s last man, Howard Smith, staunchly stood his ground, and held out for the draw.
Vivid memories may linger about the heroics performed by hosts and visitors alike in the humid air of that fateful Sunday in 2012 for years to come. Well perhaps. It was another enthralling contest with splendid hosts, and as always, played in the spirit we have come to expect and in a fixture that will be eagerly anticipated again in 2013.
Capt: Mike Morgan. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Byfleet
Sunday August 19 at Byfleet
Strollers won by 86 runs
Strollers 210-6
(40 overs; Morgan 53no, Davidson 35, Mawson 32, Ovenden 30, McDougall 16)
Byfleet 124
(36.5 overs; Brodbeck 6-16, Ovenden 3-23, Macaulay 1-28)
With the arrival the previous day of a future Stroller (Lachlan Anthony Crocker – congratulations to Warren and Theresa!), the current crop travelled to a new fixture in Byfleet with good omens and high hopes. And in the event, a comfortable victory was achieved, though not without a decent fight by hospitable opposition. Speaking of fights, the day even involved a canine scrap on the sideline, with Tom Wood’s trusty companion coming out well on top.
To the cricket, and skipper Mike Morgan started the day off in the best possible fashion by winning the toss and – given the heat, flat wicket, short square boundary on the pavilion side and fast outfield – electing to bat first. Given the Kevin Pietersen-related events of the previous days, it was even suggested that all mobile phones be relinquished, just in case any errant players felt the need to inform the opposition of the best way to dismiss the Strollers’ top order.
With those issues out of the way, the reliable pair of Hamish McDougall and James Mawson opened the innings and got the team off to a flyer, with the former unfurling a series of cut shots to the boundary. Unfortunately McDougall was soon bowled for a quick 16, but Kelvin Davidson and Mawson were able to continue the momentum and had the Strollers nicely placed at around 75 at the first drinks break. Davidson fell for 35 soon after, to be followed by Mawson (32) and Wood in fairly quick succession.
However, Piers Ovenden and Morgan allowed no respite for the Byfleet bowlers, with Ovenden unlucky to be caught off a full toss for 30. In tandem with cameos from Jim Hodgson and Ryan Duff (now, officially, to be known as Duffers), Morgan held firm and managed to bring up a well-made half-century (53no) with a boundary off the last ball of the innings. Morgan’s innings even involved a maximum over the pavilion, to which his better half promptly noted that “he hasn’t hit a six in a long time”. The end result was a solid score for the Strollers from their 40 overs of 210-6.
After an excellent tea, the Strollers took to the field and, by comparison, with the opposition’s opening bowlers, Ovenden and Hodgson turned the screws on Byfleet’s batsmen right from the outset. Both opening bowlers got through unbroken eight-over spells, and on this occasion Ovenden reaped the rewards, claiming 3-23. Hodgson also bowled immaculately, however, to concede just 20 runs. This brought Dennis Cave and Duffers to the bowling crease and, while they both bowled tightly and kept the pressure on Byfleet’s middle order, they were not amongst the wickets.
So as Morgan turned to the wiles of Simon Brodbeck and Alastair Macaulay, with Byfleet scoring slowly but only three wickets down and a big hitter at the crease, observers may have considered the game to finely balanced. As it happened, this could not have been wider of the mark. Both Brodbeck and Macaulay used all their experience to demolish the Byfleet line-up, with the latter claming 1-28 off his six overs and the former recording the stellar figures of 6-16 off 6.5 overs. That bowling masterclass of full, straight deliveries left Byfleet all out for 124 in the 37th over and gave the Strollers victory by 86 runs.
The beer flowed nicely in the aftermath of the game, with discussion focused predominantly on cycling and the upcoming Three Counties Tour. Hopefully the weather, cricket results and socialising will be as favourable as the events at Byfleet.
Capt: Mike Morgan. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Wall
Saturday August 25 in Lichfield
Strollers won by 42 runs
Strollers 157-6
(35 overs; Duff 37no, Wood 21, Morgan 19, Sam Brodbeck 18, Hodgson 13no, Taylor 13)
Wall 115
(35 overs; Wood 2-8, Macaulay 2-13, Sam Brodbeck 2-28, Duff 1-12, Ovenden 1-15, Simon Brodbeck 1-19)
As the Strollers motored through the Watford Gap, they entered the unknown. The mercury dropped, the thunder growled, the lightning crackled and forked across the sky and the rain poured down. To add to the uncertainty, Wall CC had moved from their traditional rural home to a new ground in Lichfield itself, of which knowledge was scarce. Would the game go ahead? The answer was yes; a triumph of the collective will.
The Strollers arrived at the ground to find the opposition manfully toiling against nature to cut the outfield grass, sweep the artificial pitch and generally make the best of a sodden situation. The conditions prompted the WAGoNS (Wives and Girlfriends or Nieces) to circle around a well-stocked fridge inside the Morgans’ caravanette, a position occupied for several (not entirely attentive or sober) hours.
The Strollers batted first and initially struggled to get things moving thanks to a sluggish outfield and some tight Wall bowling. Hamish McDougall departed for four, lucky not to be called to the Match Referee for displaying more than the permitted quizzical eyebrow. Fellow opener Brizie Taylor, who is neck and neck with McDougall on the club’s all-time run-scorers’ list, battled through to 13. Eventually Sam Brodbeck (18), Mike Morgan (19), Tom Wood (21) and Jim Hodgson (13no) all made handy contributions at a decent clip. Top scorer was Ryan Duff with 37 not out, an all-time personal best. The southern man managed to reach and clear the boundary several times with some impressive hitting and get the team through to a competitive 157-6 from 35 pluvial overs.
Wall CC, to whom credit must be given for battling on through the elements, then provided what was unanimously declared the tea of the season thus far, comprising plentiful home-made cakes, scones, coronation chicken sandwiches, sausage rolls and meringues. Magnificent.
The Strollers bowling benefited from some impressive early catching, most notably by Peter Patston taking a sharp chance at slip and Piers Ovenden taking an impressive full-length diving grab at point. The regular fall of wickets kept the run rate subdued, with Alastair Macaulay and Sam Brodbeck prising out two apiece. Wood’s bowling spell of two wickets for eight runs was notable for seven wides; he was able to surprise the batsmen with the very rare deliveries that landed on the wicket.
Despite some lusty hitting towards the end, Wall were not able to threaten the total, and eventually fell 61 runs short. The Strollers kicked the tour off with a win, and retired happily to the Royal Hotel in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Dinner at the Thai restaurant was very good. Several stocks of red wine were emptied, although to be fair the purchasing manager had failed to take the Fleet Street reputation into account.
Despite the odds and the elements the first tour day had passed successfully. All minds, especially those of our Nottinghamshire veterans, turned to Stanton by Dale. After several years of Southern dominance, could this be the year that the David Tranter Cup stayed north of the Watford Gap?
Capt: Tom Wood. Wkt: Hamish McDougall.
Stanton by Dale
Sunday August 26 at Stanton by Dale
Strollers won by 31 runs
Strollers 201-7 dec
(Ovenden 57, Sam Brodbeck 57no, Hodgson 39, Mc Dougall 19)
Stanton by Dale 170
(Wood 4-20, Duff 2-33, Ovenden 2-44, Hodgson 1-25)
Following their victory against Wall the previous day and a refreshing evening in Ashby-de-la-Zouch the Strollers arrived in Stanton-by-Dale confident but wary. There were rumours that Stanton's cricket supremo Brian Taylor had unearthed fresh talent to reinforce his middle order. And that he had been spending time in front of a white board, plotting fielding positions to constrain Fleet Street run-machine Hamish McDougall. Nothing, however, could prepare either side for the ebbs and flows of an epic contest. Twice Stanton would appear to have a decisive advantage. Twice the Strollers would escape Stanton's grasp. Possession of the David Tranter Cup would be settled in a tense finale in dappled late afternoon sunshine.
Having won the toss, skipper Mike Morgan chose to bat. From the first over Piers Ovenden was in full flow, cutting and pulling anything short. As the bowlers pitched the ball up, searching for swing, he punished them with the straightest of bats, through cover, mid-off and several points in-between. Ovenden raced to a chanceless 50 off 33 balls out of a total of 58-0.
McDougall wondered who the person under the blue helmet at the other end really was, such was the quality and speed of run scoring. All was revealed when Ovenden, in an act worthy of Pussy Riot in its vandalism of the orthodox cathedral to batting that he was constructing, shanked a wild slog to long-off and was caught. “Hmmm,” mused a spectator “he's thrown that away.”
Much later, and possibly under the influence of champagne and claret from La Zouch's cellars, Morgan would extol: "He batted like a god".
As one spell was broken another was cast, this time by Stanton’s Simon Holmes (13-3-57-4) with his booming in-swingers. From 78-1 in the 12th over the Strollers subsided to 107-5 by the end of the 23rd. With over an hour still to go to the tea interval, FSSCC’s hold on the Cup was looking dangerously weak.
Sam Brodbeck and Jim Hodgson dug in. Playing with utmost caution they absorbed the pressure and scampered ones and twos. As the match came back in to the balance, they sought to give the Strollers the advantage again. Both batsmen began to play their shots, Brodbeck dispatching one ball straight down the ground for six. Their partnership for the sixth wicket was worth 86 when Hodgson was caught for 39. There was just enough time left for a brief but purposeful cameo from Ryan “x-factor” Duff (8). The Strollers declared at tea on 201-7.
After a magnificent tea designed to sabotage the visitors’ bowling and fielding abilities, Stanton began their chase in positive fashion. There was no doubt as to intent: Stanton was there to reclaim the Cup and you could forget about a draw.
Ovenden (11-0-44-2) and Hodgson (7-0-25-1) opened the bowling and weathered the early onslaught. Both then claimed wickets to temporarily impose control on the run rate. Ominously, Stanton opener Phil Gregory was proving hard to dislodge and ruthlessly effective at punishing the bad ball.
As the Strollers fought to stay in the match there was some desperate fielding. Tom Wood and Jono Addis claimed fine running catches, holding on to the ball as they tumbled forward. Addis ran out Taylor with a strong, flat throw from the deep to the non-striker's end. Duffers impressed with his commitment, clattering full speed into the boundary boards to save a run or two.
Nonetheless, with Gregory aided by a belligerent middle order, Stanton reached 140-4 with plenty of overs to spare. The hosts were once more, tantalisingly, in sight of victory.
But the course of the match changed again, definitively this time, with the introduction of Duff (8-1-33-2) and Wood (5.4-0-20-4). Wood removed the big-hitting Mark Carling (29) courtesy of a good catch by Simon Brodbeck at his bootstraps. Duff found some away swing to give Morgan his second catch of the day behind the stumps. The runs suddenly became very difficult to come by. Fours turned to singles. Duff bowled a maiden, only the second of the innings. Wood turned the screw at the other end. Gregory, becalmed in the 90s, suddenly lashed out in frustration. Duff, in his follow-through, casually intercepted a ferocious straight drive one-handed, to the great relief of the umpire and the chagrin of the batsman, two short of his century. Wood cleaned up the last two wickets in clinical fashion.
A delighted Morgan was able to lift the Cup and beam his smile at the paparrazzi (otherwise known as Sharon Anderson, Caroline Addis, Kathy Brodbeck, Helen Bamforth and Sue Pinnick). The Strollers had retained one of their most prized possessions for another year. A short stroll down the hill and both teams settled into The Stanhope Arms to relive the twists and turns of a great day's play.
Capt & Wkt: Mike Morgan.
Sutton on the Hill
Monday August 27 at Sutton
Match drawn
Strollers 238-3 dec
(Addis 82, Taylor 53, McDougall 46, Sam Brodbeck 32no)
Sutton on the Hill 137-8
(Hodgson 7-57, Patston 1-9)
The journey from Ashby to Sutton on the Hill still remains unremarkable on the best of days, and August Bank Holiday was not the best of days. As per last year, end of tour tristesse, late night fatigue, and a few hangovers combined with the lowering skies to make the prospects of play unappetizing.
On arrival, Sutton, normally one of the prettiest of grounds, appeared forlorn. The wicket was wet and despite attempts to cut the grass, the outfield was much longer than usual because of the recent heavy rainfall, more of which was forecast for three o’clock. It was no surprise when half of the WAGs contingent forsook the cricket in search of National Trust hand cream at Calke Abbey.
Not all were unhappy. Just as with Stanton the previous day, access to Sutton’s ground is gained by traversing a field liberally scattered with sheep droppings (which apparently is how Australians describe New Zealand), so at least half of the party - the Kelvins - felt comforted with thoughts of home.
It is believed that Piers Ovenden lost the toss and that the Strollers were put into bat by a sympathetic Sutton skipper, Nigel Harding. Some captains use motivational rhetoric to get the best out of the guys; not so “Pies” Ovenden. Just a quiet, calming word, a raised eyebrow perhaps, nothing de trop. And things looked up.
Initially Hamish McDougall and Brian Taylor saw off the new ball in conditions which were conducive to seam and swing bowling. Opening bowlers Chris Booth and Ollie Day achieved some movement and scoring was initially slow but gradually the rate increased when later bowlers were unable to maintain the consistency of the openers despite at times beating the bat. The opening partnership reached 92 when Hamish holed out for 46. The stage was set for Jono Addis and he did not disappoint, unleashing shots all around the wicket, off front and back foot and including innovative improvised over-the-shoulder shots to high full tosses. Taylor reached what some might describe as a stately 50 in 91 balls, just before Addis off 55 balls. Their stand of 71 was followed by one of 75 between Addis and Sam Brodbeck as the Strollers accelerated towards tea. One particular shot of Sam’s – a high-elbowed, straight-batted pull for six – was remarkable.
Fortified by the impressive Sutton tea, the Strollers donned every available shirt and sweater in order to field in the rain, which had now arrived about an hour after predicted.
Sutton’s top three batsmen maintained the required rate of six runs per over but could not sustain their innings, each getting out too soon (for 21, 32 and 30 respectively), although Dan Harding looks to be a lad of considerable potential with both bat and ball. It was the fall of Dan’s Dad, Nigel, which took the game away from Sutton. Two early catches at mid-off by Tom Wood were more difficult than they appeared; the ball was now resembling a bar of soap; it was like “fielding in a car wash” opined Alastair Macaulay although others thought it was more like fielding in rain.
Despite the rain, the Strollers were now in animated mood. Whilst bowling, the captain was buoyed by supportive shouts of “Come on you Pies” which particularly appealed to the Meadow Lane faithful amongst the fielders. At the other end Jim Hodgson was embarking on an epic spell of bowling which threatened to bring victory.
As per usual on tour, Hodgson had not gone to bed the previous night, gaining rest from catnapping wherever he was sitting. Nevertheless, his bowling was unaffected by lack of sleep, although some fielders reckoned that he was actually catnapping between balls - a disturbing image. His nagging length and accurate line in difficult wet conditions led to an excellent analysis of 20-2-57-7. At the other end, it was only Peter Patston who took a wicket, inching ever closer to his 700-wicket career landmark. However, the Strollers were thwarted by an obdurate ninth-wicket stand between Richard Trevatt and Nigel Duffill.
All told, we did well to play, and thanks are due to Sutton for being prepared to continue in the rain.
Another tour concluded, full of good cricket and conviviality. Thanks to all.
Capt: Piers Ovenden. Wkt: Hamish McDougall.
Sutton
Sunday September 2 at Sutton
Strollers won by two wickets
Sutton 139
(Morgan 3-37, Dorrans 2-30, Hodgson 1-21, Brodbeck 1-22, Clough 1-25)
Strollers 143-8
(Hodgson 29, Clough 24, Boyle 24, Wood 19, Gibson 14, Howard 10)
Piers Ovenden, underfire skipper in the Strollers’ frustrating draw at Sutton on the Hill in leafy Derbyshire the previous Monday, was sensationally axed by the selectors for the game at the other Sutton in Surrey. Ryan Duff, another of the Three Counties heroes, was controversially rotated. Both were sent off for spectator duties at Lord’s and could only watch helplessly on the other end of a text message as their replacements returned the side to winning ways…but only just.
Skipper Mike Morgan lost the toss and the Strollers took to the field. And Jim Hodgson carried on bowling. After operating unchanged from one end at Sutton on the Hill a few days previously it seemed like groundhog day as Hodgson carried on wheeling away on an immaculate length.
With the fire of Paul Dorrans at the other end Sutton never shook off the chains and despite 47 from opener Quinton and 28 from skipper John Fordham the rate rarely climbed above three an over. Simon Brodbeck kept it tight while Russell Clough, back with his broken and dislocated thumb restored to full health, eventually found his rhythm.
Skipper Morgan then took over and claimed three wickets. The first was caught at mid-off. “That was the quicker ball,” said our modest hero. “Also known as the long hop,” observed one knowledgeable spectator. The second came courtesy of a stumping when Hamish McDougall eschewed the use of gloves and chested the ball onto the wickets. “That was the off-break,” revealed Morgan. The next delivery was an inviting full toss which the batsman crashed into the hands of Brodbeck at midwicket. “That would have been the sharp-turning, fizzing leg-break if it had pitched,” claimed Morgan.
And so Sutton’s innings drew to a close at 139 all out off the penultimate ball of the 40 overs.
The main topic of the tea interval was the new Stuart Surridge polyester Strollers shirt with maroon piping (but is maroon the club’s colour…discuss) modelled by international marketing manager Tom Wood. “It’s a little on the large side,” confessed Wood. “But it features easy-breathe side panels and the latest armpit technology. Buy now while stocks last.”
Jeff Ball suddenly amaterialised at the break - his first appearance since being injured in the opening game of the season way back on April 22 at Great Missenden. His repaired left knee seemed in full working order and he promised to be back in full Strollers action next Saturday.
The target of 140 did not seem the toughest of tasks but, inevitably, the Strollers made a meal of things. McDougall padded up to be lbw, Patrick Howard played on and Wood was run out – “John Gibson reassured me it was all right,” said Wood. “So I set off only to see the ball in the wicketkeeper’s gloves.”
Danny Boyle played a big shot too many and Gibson (after a few trademark pulls through midwicket) perished after discovering a cover drive in his armoury which necessitated a total rewrite of the John Gibson Batting Manual. It was not until Clough and Hodgson came together that the task seemed under control. They put on 54 before Clough was removed lbw.
Then came the late drama; Hodgson perished to a full toss and Morgan fell to the dreaded lbw finger. Ivor Fiala dashed from his scorer’s hut to hurriedly pad up as disaster loomed. But Brodbeck stroked a full toss away for four as the light faded fast and victory was claimed. “It’s all a bit autumnal,” said Howard.
As for Ovenden and Duff, they saw England beat South Africa by six wickets as Ian Bell stroked a fluent 88. But could it compare with Gibson’s crucial 14 or Hodgson’s match-winning 29? Surely not…
Capt: Mike Morgan. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Warfield
Saturday September 8 at Warfield
Strollers lost by six runs
Warfield 160-9
(40 overs; Cave 3-15, Crocker 3-37, Ovenden 2-22, Chapman 1-43)
Strollers 154-8
(40 overs; Ovenden 37, Crocker 21, Rice 19no, Low 19, Simon Brodbeck 11)
Surely some mistake? Glorious late summer day, sun cream circulating in the dressing-room, beautiful rural setting, blue sky criss-crossed with wispy streaks of cloud… the perfect setting for cricket.
Warfield batted first and despite the favourable conditions found it hard to push on quickly. Warren Crocker and Piers Ovenden kept the scoring rate down well but it was the introduction of Dennis Cave that brought wickets in successive balls, the second (a smart catch in the gulley by Ivor Fiala) achieved by an age combination of over 140.
For the first 30 overs, Strollers remained on top, having pegged Warfield back to 94-5. At this stage the target did not look as if it was going to be particularly daunting. The bowling had been tidy (Tim Rice 6-2-9-0, for instance) and regular dropped catches did not seem to matter. But then Warfield went on the attack and suddenly found they could prosper if they swung hard. The ball kept disappearing to the boundary, even when the quick bowlers came back, and the final 10 overs yielded 66 runs. Returning to the pavilion for tea, the Strollers realised they would have to bat well.
When Ovenden smacked the second ball of the innings to square leg for four, it was the start of an impressive 15 overs that saw the Strollers on 75-2, the captain making a fluent 37 but surprisingly caught at short fine leg when well set.
This fluctuating game then slowly took another turn as wickets steadily fell: the Strollers slipped to 87-5 and then 117-7 against bowling that was steady but not especially threatening. John Low at No 3 held up an end up well for 19, Sam Brodbeck hit his second ball imperiously for six over long- off but departed in the next over, and Crocker looked good but fell for 21.
It was left to the lower order to find a way to made another 40 runs but the scoring rate kept drifting higher and Rice, Simon Brodbeck and Fiala struggled to impose themselves. It was getting tense: 15 were needed off the final three overs. A maiden then made it 15 off two, and finally it was nine off the final over. Rice was eventually left with six to make off the final two balls. Two huge heaves. Two air shots. The game was lost. Nonetheless, a fine day’s cricket from every point of view.
Capt: Piers Ovenden. Wkt and match fees: Kelvin Davidson.
Hampton Wick
Sunday September 9 at Bushy Park
Strollers lost by three wickets
Strollers 186-6
(40 overs; Addis 66, Sam Brodbeck 51, Ovenden 15, McDougall 13, Hodgson 10no)
Hampton Wick 187-7
(37 overs; Hodgson 3-23, Macaulay 3-42, Ovenden 1-24)
As the Strollers assembled outside the pavilion at Bushy Park on a sunny early September Sunday, their collective thoughts turned to recent results and the need to return to winning ways. Matters started well with skipper Jono Addis successfully negotiating the toss and electing to bat on a dusty and flat Bushy Park pitch.
Hamish McDougall and Piers Ovenden started well, pushing the Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club opening bowlers Messrs G. and J. Smith through the field for sensible singles as they looked to build a solid foundation for the Strollers’ innings. The accuracy of the Smiths’ line and length, however, drew reward in the form of an early wicket apiece, as the promising start made by McDougall and Ovenden was prematurely brought to an end. McDougall was bowled for a stoic 13 by G Smith, and Ovenden, who looked to be in fair form, was snared for 15, lbw to J Smith.
As the promising start to the Strollers’ innings threatened to falter, skipper Addis paired with Sam Brodbeck as they looked to steer the good ship Strollers towards a competitive total against a quality bowling attack. Brodbeck was particularly severe on anything remotely over-pitched, collecting a clutch of boundaries down the ground and through the covers as he and Addis pressed on to an impressive century partnership.
Just as the Strollers looked to be approaching a position to press for a total in excess of 200, Mr I.Tong struck a double blow for Hampton Wick, removing Brodbeck, stumped for a confident and at times aggressive 51, as well as the ever-reliable Addis, trapped lbw for a mature skipper’s knock of 66.
After Kelvin Davidson and debutant Neil Foster lost their wickets in an effort to press the Strollers’ run rate and total along, Messrs Jim Hodgson and Tom Wood took up the cause at the crease as the Hampton Wick looked to keep the pressure on the Strollers’ innings.
Fresh from his 70-mile cycle journey as part of a Strollers’ delegation travelling from Land’s End to John O’Groats, Hodgson was eager to free his legs from the constraints of lycra shorts and cleats, and pressed part-time support car manager and nerve centre supremo Wood to scramble for numerous sharp singles and twos. Hodgson’s and Wood’s efforts pressed the Strollers’ total up and beyond Box Hill to a respectable 185.
As the Strollers settled down to an excellent tea, and Oonagh persuaded several local canines of the merits of dining in another part of Bushy Park, the collective sentiment in the Strollers camp was one of apprehension: had enough runs been scored? How would the pitch play for the second innings? Was it rude to have a second helping of the delightful caramel slice? Untroubled by such distractions, Captain Addis led the Strollers back onto the field and set his bowlers to work in the heat of the early afternoon.
Paul Dorrans and Hodgson opened the attack, or rather the defence, as the opening pair from Hampton Wick unleashed a hail of cover drives and punches through mid-off. Hodgson stemmed the run rate by removing three wickets as he continued his rich recent form with the ball.
Addis, seeking to strangle Hampton Wick’s assault on the Strollers’ total introduced Richard Stubbs and Ovenden. A period of austerity descended on the Hampton Wick run chase as Ovenden and Stubbs settled into a metronomic rhythm of line and length. Ovenden was rewarded with a wicket for his relentless toil, before being replaced by Alastair Macaulay at the Hampton Court end.
The introduction of Macaulay into the attack, together with a well considered in-out field, nearly proved a master stroke for Addis and the Strollers as three Hampton Wick batsmen were returned to the pavilion in short order.
Macaulay’s heroics and Addis’s adept captaincy were not enough, however, as Hampton Wick won the match with a towering six over long-off and beyond the deer snoozing in the long grass. The Strollers were left to consider what might have been in terms of runs and wickets, but all agreed over a welcome round of cold beers that it was a happy and glorious afternoon at Bushy Park, and certainly one to look forward to next year.
Capt: Jono Addis. Wkt: Hamish McDougall. Match fees: Tom Wood.
Farnham Royal
Saturday September 15 at Farnham Royal
Strollers lost by 83 runs
Farnham Royal 188-7
(40 overs; Boyle 1-12, Macaulay 1-22, Simon Brodbeck 1-24, Ovenden 1-27, Allsopp 1-29)
Strollers 105
(28 overs; Ovenden 24, Duff 19, Crocker 16, Allsopp 14, Gibson 10)
And so to Godalming … no! To Farnham Royal, who happily stepped in after the footballers of west Surrey decided it was high time they started trampling all over the local cricket pitches.
This was an old fixture renewed*, as it had fallen by the wayside when our hosts entered a Sunday league. An elderly couple watching under the shade of the ornamental cherry trees on the boundary offered up a recollection of summers past: “Ah, the Fleet Street Strollers! You used to drink a lot!”
Memories refreshed, and the clubhouse bar replenished in anticipation, attention turned to the pitch – where the selectors had provided captain Piers Ovenden with a lean, keen side that contained rather more health-conscious Antipodeans than did the thirsty Strollers XIs that once trundled down to these parts.
Early examination of the pitch suggested it would be a fine batting track, so with four players still stuck in the M25 traffic jams at the 1pm start time Ovenden did the only sensible thing … and elected to have a bowl. The skipper’s decision was borne out when the Farnham batsmen scratched and scraped their way to 70-0 from 12 overs.
Ryan Duff and Warren Crocker found it hard work to elicit any swing or seam from the blemishless pitch, and took some punishment from opening batsman Sal Ali, performing something of a Marc Friday role at the top of the order.
Ovenden, in search of a Plan B, turned to his slow bowlers. Laurie Allsopp broke the opening partnership with the wicket of Ali, trapping him lbw as the batsman played across the line once too often. Simon Brodbeck claimed the wristy Junaid via a high catch taken by Crocker at cover. Then the Farnham skipper George Thurstance – who has a hundred for Bedfordshire to his name this season – perished for a duck to Alastair Macaulay, thanks to the efforts of a diving Sam Brodbeck who plucked a hard-hit ball out the air magnificently at midwicket. The statistics tell the story of how the innings changed: from the 19 overs bowled by Allsopp, Brodbeck and Macaulay, only four boundaries were scored.
Farnham, anchored with 69 from young opener Harry Barton, finished on 188-7 after a couple of run outs and wickets for Ovenden and Dan Boyle (only his third scalp in five years at the club. The fact that his victim was a teenage girl should in no way diminish the achievement). Given the way the opening overs went, such a total was considered to be something of an achievement by the Strollers as they traipsed in from the heat for tea.
Unfortunately, any hopes of pulling off what would have been a fine victory soon melted away. Ovenden came out on the attack, dispatching anything short and wide of off-stump to the cover boundary, but Kelvin Davidson soon returned to the hutch, bowled by a good delivery from opener Shafiq. Then Boyle was run out chasing a quick two, having glanced the ball down to third man. The skipper made 24 before he became the next to go, falling lbw to Shafiq, and Sam Brodbeck followed caught behind.
All front-line batsmen having been and gone, and the score 41-4, the lower order were left to make the best they could of the situation. John Gibson twice smote the ball to the fence (“He’s a fine batsman, that one,” remarked the elderly couple under the cherry trees) then Duff and Crocker looked briefly as if they could take the game to the fielding side – and induced some intense post-match haggling over whose boundaries were whose in the book, after the Strollers scorer succumbed to the distractions of his attractive young opposite number and her dazzling array of coloured pens.
With Duff and Crocker’s resistance over, it was left to Allsopp to drag the score into three figures and ensure he allowed Ivor Fiala to record his 99th Strollers not out. Aside from the shock September sunshine and the welcome chance to renew old acquaintances, Ivor’s step closer to his long-awaited landmark was perhaps the best thing the defeated Strollers could take from the game.
*Archivist's note: We last played Farnham Royal on 11 May 2008 and the result was a very rare “tie” in a limited overs game.
Capt: Piers Ovenden. Wkt and match fees: Kelvin Davidson.
Valley End
Sunday September 16 at Valley End
Strollers won by 59 runs
Strollers 232-8 dec
(Ovenden 76, Clough 54, Sam Brodbeck 43, Morgan 16)
Valley End 173
(Hodgson 3-47, Patston 2-10, Simon Brodbeck 2-25, Macaulay 1-19, Dorrans 1-21, Ovenden 1-45)
The Strollers assembled at the picturesque tree-lined Valley End ground on the back of three straight defeats. Keen to make amends, Piers Ovenden, Sam Brodbeck, Jono Addis and Paul Dorrans were fine-tuning in the nets, while Simon Brodbeck and Jim Hodgson saved their energy and watched the final pitch preparation and wondered if everyone would arrive in time.
No was the answer, so Jim went out to toss up with the old adage “tails never fails” in his mind. He promptly called “heads” and won. So much for old adages. The pitch looked like a belter so Valley End was invited to field in a traditional time game. Home skipper Malcolm Lea admitted that some players were feeling a little weary after the club six-a-side tournament on the Saturday, played on their new playing field over the road. It was no surprise that they felt weary considering one of the pitches boasts county size boundaries!
Ovenden and Addis opened the innings and looked comfortable against a tight opening attack. Frustratingly, Jono fell early to a good catch by the keeper Steve Durandt and in his frank post-innings interview he admitted to playing a lazy shot. Good intent was shown by Richard Addison, returning to cricket this season after many years away, but a positive innings was cut short by a decent yorker.
Piers was joined by Sam Brodbeck and they enjoyed an entertaining and important 64-run partnership. Sam was the more aggressive during this period, playing some fine shots off his legs and driving powerfully until he was caught at long-off for 43, to the exasperated gasp of his partner.
Enter Russell Clough to join anchor man Piers for another crucial partnership. As Piers continued his graceful innings and passed 50, Russell set about the bowling with gusto, dispatching the ball to all parts, including several very large sixes. In double-quick time they were bearing down on a 100 partnership, only to fall two short when Piers went for 76. Russell departed soon after for 54, skying one to long-off which may have almost escaped the Earth’s atmosphere. Well held Mr Gardiner.
Tom Wood and guests had arrived in time to see some of the fireworks and it was interesting to note that, although not playing, his familiar pre-innings pacing was in evidence.
Captain Mike Morgan added a useful and at times innovative 16 in pursuit of his desired target of 240, but the rest of the tail did not wag, perhaps being distracted by the wonderful tea smells emanating from the pavilion. With time ticking on, Mike declared at 232-8 with a nagging doubt that this might not be quite enough on a good track.
We were not deceived by the tempting tea smells as it proved to be a very good spread. While it might not quite capture the overall GC this season a very strong hand was played in the Warm Indian Style Snack category, both in variety and flavour, but the feta, roasted red pepper and rocket baguettes were outstanding and must surely win the coveted Most Visually Appealing Plate 2012 prize. Fine work ladies.
Back to cricket. It had been noted that Dorrans was feeling a bit under the weather, and unusually it was not self-induced. A combination of power-napping during our innings, tea and a nose through a fast bowling manual cryptically left in the away changing room seemed to do the trick as his first ball was an excellent hostile bouncer. It was agreed that we had not seen him bowl with quite such zip before and he deservedly picked up an early wicket, caught behind. Encouraging shouts of “Good wheels Cano” rang round. Curiosity at the name Cano was satisfied by Piers explaining it was short for volcano, both a reference to Paul’s hot magma hair and an eruption of joy on taking a hat-trick for Kaori Bakery v Wellington Indians at the Ngati Toa Domain, Wellington, NZ, in 2008.
At the other end Hodgson whirled away in his usual unhostile fashion, picking up a couple of wickets, one from an excellent catch in the gulley by Addis. Then in strode wicket keeper Durandt, Valley End’s version of Marc Friday, who proceeded to belt Jim all over the place. The beaming home umpire said he’ll either score none or loads, very quickly. It looked as if it might be a loads day. Piers and Simon Brodbeck tried to contain the hard-hitting Durandt who was turning their slow start into a more keenly balanced contest. Sighs of relief all round then when he nicked one behind from Piers and departed for 46.
Simon bowled tightly as usual, deploying outswing to good effect and bagged 2-25. Meanwhile a useful partnership between Ed Lea and Will Gardiner was building as they ticked along nicely. Alastair Macaulay was unlucky not to get Lea, who seemed determined to hit him out of the ground but could not lay bat on ball. Peter Patston took over from Simon and Lea continued with his attempts to clear the rope and this time was almost successful, but was caught by Jono on the boundary. This wasn’t only a well taken low catch but Peter’s 700th wicket for the club. Well done Sir.
Not content with this milestone the very next ball he started his assault on the 800 mark by having the dangerous Gardiner caught in carbon copy style by Jono, only this time to an even better catch. A fairy tale hat-trick was not to be but 2-10 off three overs was a good return in a line of bowling statistics which can be traced back to the very first recorded Strollers wicket in 1976 when Peter finished with 3-59.
With Gardiner gone, Valley End were doomed. Alastair got a deserved wicket and Jim picked off the No.11 when he was lbw playing round a straight one and the Strollers happily returned to winning ways.
Beers were taken in the twilight as cycling paraphernalia was transferred to the Morgan carvanette and best wishes were extended to Piers who was to celebrate his 37th birthday the next day. The end of another season for cyclists Morgan and Hodgson, who along with James Timperley, Ceri Harris and logistics director Tom Wood were about to set off for their Land’s End to John O’Groats ride on Thursday 20th September. Updates will be available via various social media channels and the FSSCC website, if they have the energy left to file copy.
Capt and wkt: Mike Morgan. Match fees: Simon Brodbeck.
Hurley
Saturday September 22 at Pinkneys Green
Match drawn
Strollers 219-8 dec
(Addis 96, Read 56, Ferrick 42)
Hurley 170-7
(Read 4-41, Ovenden 1-21, Stubbs 1-27, Cave 1-32)
The Strollers were rewarded with a stunning autumnal day for their challenge against Hurley - who replaced dropouts Sheen Park on this penultimate weekend of the season. Some turned up seeking to replicate past glories, others to finish the season with a flourish, whilst the illustrious Ivor Fiala, calm and collected as ever, arrived at Pinkneys Green sitting on a total of 99 not-outs for the Strollers since his debut in 1978. Was today his day?
The Strollers batted first in this time-limited match. Captain Jono Addis, having scored two momentous double-centuries in his previous Pinkneys Green outings and keen to repeat, borrowed the Mark Cavendish strategy and sought to surround himself with his fellow countrymen. There were a few mutterings when it became apparent that the first six in the batting line-up originated far away from Fleet Street and were, indeed, Kiwis.
It was a measured start for the Strollers, following an early wicket, as the opening bowlers held their line and gave little away. Captain Addis joined Sam Ferrick at the crease and it quickly becoming apparent that they would need to work hard for their runs. The pitch was hard but unforgiving, and very occasionally turned a good length ball into a near double-bounce yorker and the odd full ball, somehow, into a bouncer. Steady was the name of the game. After seeing off the new ball and reaching 31 from the first 12 overs, Addis and Ferrick's efforts were rewarded as they began to free the arms. Some great strokeplay brought up 100 runs in the 20th over, with Addis repeatedly cracking the ball through the ever-narrowing gaps between the boundary fielders.
Impressive off and leg-spin bowling from either end, on the turning pitch, brought a gluttony of wickets beginning with Ferrick's departure for 46. Addis continued resolute, however, before falling desperately for 96 as he came forward to a dipping ball that struck him on the full in front, leaving Julian Read in the middle as the last remaining Kiwi in the line-up. Keen not to disappoint, Read played with confidence and eventually found a supporting partner in Fiala as he hit the Strollers past 200. The bowlers, sensing a tough fight, put Fiala under all sorts of pressure, who sought only one end to his innings: Not out! Read cracked on to 56 before losing his wicket, which was followed by the Strollers' declaration at 219-8 and which left Fiala, having survived quite a nasty bouncer to the mouth, with his 100th not out. Well done Ivor!
Read and Ed Gallagher stepped straight into gear following the break and it was Read who claimed an early wicket. Read’s spell was impressive; forcing the batsmen onto the back foot and then sending the ball screaming towards the stumps as he knocked them over three times. It was his roaring appeals for lbw, however, that brought the most cheers and which secured him figures of 4-41, putting the Strollers well in control.
Dennis Cave bowled well as first change, deceiving the batsmen with his variations in pace and picking up a well deserved wicket in the process. Piers Ovenden and Richard Stubbs each claimed a wicket to leaving the scoreboard at 56-6. But the Strollers were not able to finish Hurley off. Young James Newton-Savage, who had challenged the Strollers' batsmen earlier with his nipping off-cutters, batted superbly (56no). He put on a battling 94 for the seventh wicket with Scott Taylor (33) and played out the innings to finish the game as a draw, with Hurley at 170-7.
Capt: Jono Addis. Wkt: Kelvin Davidson. Match fees: Simon Brodbeck.
Beamers
Sunday September 30 at Crouch End
Strollers won by four wickets
Beamers 177
(35 overs; Simon Brodbeck 5-34, Ovenden 2-34, Crocker 1-10, Dorrans 1-25, Ferrick 1-40)
Strollers 178-6
(37.2 overs; Fredrickson 63, Foulds 33, Davidson 30, Ferrick 18no, Crocker 15no)
Sporting history was being made. Martin Kaymer was sinking the eight-foot putt on the 18th green at Medinah to retain the Ryder Cup for Europe. Messrs Ceri Harris, Jim Hodgson, Mike Morgan and James Timperley (plus logistics director Tom Wood) were on their way home after conquering Land’s End to John O’Groats by bicycle.
Perhaps the Strollers’ win against the Beamers Cricket Club is not inscribed on the same pantheon as those achievements, but it was significant nonetheless. It rang down the curtain on the domestic season and brought vindication for under-pressure skipper Piers Ovenden. “His speeches made us cry in the dressing room,” said Rory McIlroy. He was referring to Jose Maria Olazabal, but might well have had the inspirational Ovenden in mind.
THE BEAMERS:
The traditional end-of-season opponents, Great and Little Warley, had scratched earlier in the week with only five players available. And the Beamers – who were born out of the old New Statesman team – came to the rescue at their leafy North London CC ground in the shadow of Alexandra Palace in Crouch End.
The Strollers comprised seven Kiwis, one Aussie and three English gentlemen. Is this a record? In addition, the 12th man and scorer was a Kiwi and one of the gentlemen (debutant Saul Foulds) was accompanied by his wife Becky, who shamefacedly confessed to being a half-Kiwi. The Race Relations Board and their racial quota monitoring unit have been informed.
[Editor’s note: What is the collective noun for a bunch of Kiwis? A flock of Kelvins, perhaps? A dip of Kelvins? Suggestions welcome.]
Skipper Ovenden won the toss, ignored Mike Morgan’s Rule No1, and inserted the opposition. Warren Crocker and Paul Dorrans were hostile and tight, with the Beamers inching to 24-2 off 10 overs. That did not last, strokes were played and the Beamers began to assume command. Fortunately their tail did not assist and Simon Brodbeck (7-0-34-5) made the most of some good fortune. Another debutant, Sam Oliver (a Kiwi lawyer of course) bowled well without reward. A total of 177 (with, crucially, five overs of the 40 left unused) looked tricky.
But fortified by tasty sausages, onions, and flavoursome pasta, openers Justin Fredrickson (a lawyer and a Kiwi, just for a change, and another playing his first Strollers game) and Kelvin Davidson put on a very handy 61 for the first wicket against the challenging attack of the Beamers’ Mark Pittman and his talented son, Kyle.
Fredrickson and Foulds got us to 121-3 before Fredrickson holed out in the deep for a fine 63. Richard Addison, Jono Addis and Piers departed cheaply and the rate climbed. Foulds, who revealed he had spent many hours watching cricket at Trent Bridge as a youngster and still had pictures of his hero Derek Randall on the wall (such taste, such discernment), plundered one highly productive over. That swung the balance and Sam Ferrick (18no) and Warren Crocker (15no) saw the side home in a flurry of boundaries.
THE INJURED:
Twelfth man Ryan Duff sat out the game with a cricked neck. “I have been practising not bowling full tosses, which may have had something to do with it,” he said. In contrast captain Ovenden – who had gone five games without a win as skipper – was free of pain at last, having lifted the monkey off his back.
Looking back, the 2012 season was a damp one. Sages deemed it the wettest in Strollers history. Of the first 11 Sunday games, five were cancelled and one abandoned. Jeff Ball did his knee in that first abandoned game at Great Missenden; Russell Clough broke his thumb at Hampton Hill; James Timperley missed the whole season as he rehabbed from his knee op following injury at CERN 2011; chairman Kimball Bailey had a hip replacement but that did not stop him keeping a rigorous grip on club matters and urging everyone on.
THE HEROES:
Jim Hodgson appeared to be permanently carrying at least two injuries – which failed to prevent him seemingly bowling unchanged from one end throughout the season. The highlight of his endeavours was a stunning 7-57 at Sutton on the Hill. Jono Addis plundered lots of runs – despite breaking off midseason to marry Caroline (congratulations to them both). His crop included a masterful 102no at Jordans Taverners, but he fell short of his usual quota at Pinkneys Green by missing a full toss on 96.
Hamish McDougall brought off some lightning takes and opened in great style. James Mawson often kept him company (and ran him out) but is off to California with Jo and Alexander to join the West Coast venture capitalists. We wish them well. Warren Crocker bowled fiercely (6-30 v Great Missenden) and clubbed runs with the bat. But his finest hour (with a little help from Theresa) came with the arrival of baby Lachlan.
Mike Morgan masterminded a Cup win at Stanton by Dale, always captained with elan and was back in the runs (if you have time to spare he will happily also talk you through his 3-37 v Sutton and his 3-11 at Prestcold). Julian Read cycled vast distances to get to games and then bowled with fearsome wheels.
Ivor Fiala registered his 100th not out and Peter Patston claimed his 700th Strollers wicket.
Brian Taylor (aka the Silver Fox) rolled back the years with a decisive 53 at Sutton on the Hill while Simon Brodbeck also did his bit for grey power with a startling 6-16 in the shadow of the M25 at Byfleet.
Sam Brodbeck, having joined the vast ranks of financial journalists, scored some useful runs and perfected the backfoot poke shot, which is played without moving the feet and without making contact with the ball. Patrick Howard bludgeoned some mighty sixes and beat Farley Hill on his own. Alastair Macaulay twirled and lured many a batsman to his doom while making sure the two domestic tours worked as they should.
Tom Wood may have had a thin season by his own standards but had a golden day at Marlow Park – scoring a majestic 143 and putting on 237 for the second wicket with Danny Boyle (105no). Kelvin Davidson posted a fine 71 at CERN and kept wicket neatly. Piers (or Pies as he is now known to the Meadow Lane cognoscenti) scored his first century at CERN, took useful wickets and led the side with style if not always with success (see above).
The honours board was engraved with five batting names at the top:
Jono Addis on 624 runs, Piers Ovenden 540, James Mawson 503, Hamish McDougall 436 and Sam Brodbeck 427. The wicket-taking list was led by Jim Hodgson 35, Simon Brodbeck with 34, Ovenden (again) with 32, and Crocker 28. All those figures are, of course, subject to official scrutiny by our statistical wizardess and will need adjustment after the two final games in the Riviera.
THE PLAYERS:
Thanks go to everyone who played – and in particular to those who turned out at short notice. The list reads: Jono Addis, Richard Addison, Nick Adey, Laurie Allsopp, Kimball Bailey, Jeff Ball, Danny Boyle, Sam Brodbeck, Simon Brodbeck, George Calvocoressi, Mark Candlish, Dennis Cave, Andrew Cheal, Andy Clarke, Russell Clough, Warren Crocker, Neil Cullen, Kelvin Davidson, Paul Dorrans, Ryan Duff, Jamie Edington, Sam Ferrick, Ivor Fiala, Neil Foster, Saul Foulds, Justin Fredrickson, Ed Gallagher, John Gibson, Jim Hodgson, Patrick Howard, Max Jones, Chris Locke, Mike Loan, John Low, Alastair Macaulay, James Mawson, Hamish McDougall, David Meilton, Mike Morgan, Sam Oliver, Piers Ovenden, Ben Page, Peter Patston, Kam Radia, Julian Read, Tim Rice, Kim Ross, Brendan Russell, Richie Stubbs, Tim Swan, Brian Taylor, Steve Thavam, James Timperley, Christian Troughton, Dave Turnbull, Aaron Walder and Tom Wood. Thanks to everyone else who appeared…and a big thank you to Piers for his recruiting drive.
THE ORGANISERS:
The match managers were the real heroes, as they are every season. That we put out 11 men for every game – in the face of illness, accident and cruel fate – is testament to their efforts. Thanks a lot.
The harassed fixture secretary deserves an honourable mention as opponents dropped out and grounds were suddenly mysteriously unavailable. It all proved a great pain but, by some miracle, alternative games were found and the show went on…
There were many contenders for tea of the season. The Strollers’ full-time Michelin Guide inspector, Jim Hodgson, personally tested every cream scone and barbecued sausage on offer and nominated Wall and Stanton-by-Dale among the contenders. Perhaps you have others…
Throughout the campaign Peter and Maggie Patston travelled vast distances to make an appearance and their attendance was much appreciated. When Maggie, club president and chief statistician, was not at a game she was busy with the Sisyphean task of numbering every Strollers in historical order. She now only has about 20 more years of scorebooks to go through…
Tom Wood did his George Osborne impression and kept an eagle eye on the club’s finances…and reported a £25 Premium Bond win as a vindication of his investment policies. He also guided the tours to CERN and St Vallier, while taking time out to drive the brave cyclists on LeJoG.
Kimball Bailey steered the midweek team through a schedule which just about beat the weather – if not their opponents. It is a valuable source of players and great fun for those who can dash there from their office desks in time for the 6pm starts. But it was not all good news: the Strollers lost to the Bricklayer’s Arms in the crunch game. Ryan Duff and John Gibson combined to set up one of the great run-outs…with Duff the victim this time. But the credit goes to Kimball, Neil Cullen and everyone involved in twisting arms to get a side out.
Neil was also the mastermind of the second annual Strollers Golf Day in September. It was a great success in the Hersham sunshine with 11 players battling for the glamorous prizes and the incentive of a place in Olazabal’s Ryder Cup team for the winner. The surprise victor was Dal Crocker, who put his son Warren and all the other youngsters to shame. Unfortunately as an Australian (well, at least they won something this year), he was ruled ineligible for the European Ryder team.
THE LAST RITES:
Back at Crouch End the speeches and after-match press conferences were in full swing. "You go through hell. It was torture,” said the main man. The records are not clear whether that was Olazabal on winning the Ryder Cup or Ovenden on breaking his winless streak as captain.
“Some of us have broken down in tears with some of his speeches,” said McIlroy. And while few tears will be shed for the monsoons that blighted the first six weeks of the season, there were some moist eyes at Crouch End as a thoroughly enjoyable season faded into the autumnal evening.
A touring party leaves for the South of France next week. Those two results will put the final seal on the season of 2012.
Capt: Piers Ovenden. Wkt: Kelvin Davidson. Match fees: Simon Brodbeck.
Riviera Saturday
Saturday October 6 in St Vallier
Strollers won by six wickets
Riviera 75
(17 overs; Gallagher 5-12, Ovenden 3-22, Walder 2-14)
Strollers 76-4
(Jones 27, Macaulay 13)
The logistics of an overseas tour can be complicated. Contingency planning was put to a stern test as the Riviera Tour was launched, haltingly, on Friday 5 October.
After a four-month wait, Ryan Duff was reunited with his passport on the very morning of departure. Sadly it did not contain a re-entry visa. Reluctantly, but wisely given the experience of Craig Hand in 2006, Duff decided not to leave the UK.
Paul Dorrans decided he would like to leave the UK but missed his flight at Stansted. Apparently this was due to unfair customer treatment at one of the UK’s leading banks. Piers Ovenden will be following up with the relevant firm.
On the other side of London, Alastair Macaulay and Ovenden were sitting in departures at Gatwick, their flight delayed. This set in train a sequence of events the effects of which would be felt by Laurie Allsopp throughout the tour.
Allsopp and Ed Gallagher, who had managed to board their flight at Stansted, arrived at Nice airport on time. They briefly debated whether to wait for Macaulay and Ovenden, settled into the bar in arrivals and ordered the first of many demi pression.
The quartet eventually arrived in Antibes, continental home of Max Jones, just in time to join the rest of the Strollers party for a pre-prandial beverage and dinner. Jones, Peter & Maggie Patston, Brian & Tricia Taylor, Tom Wood and Aaron Walder were already in situ, having arrived earlier in the week to savour the atmosphere and culinary delights of the Alpes Maritimes.
During an excellent meal at La Forge, tour supremo Wood declared the Riviera Tour 2012 open and set the Strollers their first task: to find a flock, or dip, of Kelvins and recruit one of them to replace Duff. Misinterpreting these instructions they promptly recruited a flock, or dip, of charming female American TEFL teachers. Upon hearing that one of them was from Pennsylvania, Gallagher loudly declared that Philadelphia was his favourite city on the west coast. Their intrigue deepened when he asked them: “Who’s faster: me or Eddie Hemmings?” Fortunately Ovenden and Peter Patston were on hand to launch into a critical evaluation of, respectively, Barack Obama’s reform of financial regulation and Mitt Romney’s election campaign. The young women melted into the night. The Strollers were free to head to the quay side bars touting for cricketing talent.
Cy Wastell, a kiwi bosun on shore leave from the super yacht of a Russian oligarch, had intended nothing more than a relaxing evening in town with his boat-mate Laurie (also a kiwi, obvs). While ordering a beer he was irresistibly drawn to the boisterous cricket chat. After an impressive demonstration of his bowling action in the street, and a brief conference with Wood, Wastell was press ganged into the team. It later transpired that Wastell was a former under-18 Canterbury rep and had overlapped at Christchurch Boys High with Dorrans.
Their central mission for the evening accomplished, the Strollers’ focus became blurred and their coherence stretched. Allsopp, still running on the jet fuel from earlier in the day, disappeared in the direction of an establishment called Ekinox, pursued by Wood, who only wanted their room key. Others retreated to the familiar tour sanctuary of the Patstons’ hotel room, where a bottle of brandy was discovered. Ovenden was safely tucked up, of course, and unresponsive to the early morning phone calls from Allsopp for the code to the Hotel Moderne’s front door.
Saturday dawned bright and warm, and things started to fall into place. Dorrans arrived on the Stansted red-eye. Wastell reported in, still keen. Allsopp emerged, pale but alive. Jones commandeered a taxi for the overspill of bodies and baggage. The Strollers set out for St Vallier-de-Thiey resplendent in their pink tour shirts, the latest must-have item from the prêt-a-porter Pies collection.
The Route Napoléon that climbs into the rarefied air of the Provencal hills is a picturesque and windy one. Unfortunately this proved unsettling to the stomachs of several passengers. Mid-route the taxi was ordered to stop to allow Allsopp to compose himself by the side of the road. On arrival at the Hotel Prejoly Ovenden disappeared for a tactical lie-down.
It was with only un petit retard that the Strollers presented themselves at the St Vallier cricket field to inspect a fine piece of tapis vert set on an undulating bed of gravel. Captain Wood lost the toss and the Riviera CC batsmen were soon on their way out to the middle as the Strollers limbered up in their traditional minimalist fashion.
Dorrans and Ovenden opened the bowling and were somewhat chastened by a scoreboard that read 30-0 at the end of the sixth over. Spurred on by some imaginative words of encouragement from Gallagher and Walder, Ovenden cranked up the pace a notch and dispatched the hosts’ top order with a triple wicket maiden, Walder taking a good catch at point in the process.
Gallagher, stung perhaps at his demotion to first change, charged down the hill to also claim three wickets in an over. His brief spell of sustained and accurate hostility (not all of it verbal) gave him figures of 4-0-12-5. Four of his victims were clean bowled. The fifth was caught behind by Jones, who kept wicket admirably throughout given the inconsistent bounce. The only respite for the hosts was an interruption of play by three horse riders who languidly skirted the outfield, to the bemusement of all and the yapping excitement of a very small dog named Oscar.
Wastell’s concentration was not broken, however, as he held on to a contender for catch of the season. Standing at leg gully to the bowling of Walder, Wastell not only refused to flinch at a full-blooded sweep but dived forward to claim the ball inches off the turf. Riviera’s innings closed on 75 after 17 of their allocated 35 overs.
At the interval a hungry Strollers outfit feasted on saucisson sec, brie and baguettes, and, in the case of those suffering from low blood sugar, gummy bears and orangina.
The Strollers began their run chase in patient fashion, Jones and Taylor taking the sting out of the Riviera attack. Wastell and Macaulay were promoted as pinch-hitters and did not disappoint: Wastell smashing one ball through point while Macaulay slog-swept a six. The vagaries of the pitch meant Allsopp and Ovenden were required to pad up and perform the final rites.
As any Stroller doth know, an early finish can mean serious and prolonged rehydration. Fortunately Riviera CC put on an excellent and fortifying barbeque to accompany the first rounds of beer. The tourists then ploughed on to the nearest brasserie. It was at this point that the experience of the veteran campaigners and the exuberance of youth melded perfectly: the tour party paced itself through to another fine dinner, at Le Relais, which culminated in a crescendo of group hilarity and tears of laughter unlocked by the inimitable Gallagher. At midnight, focus was again blurred and coherence was again stretched…
Capt: Tom Wood. Wkt: Max Jones.
Riviera Sunday
Sunday October 7 in St Vallier
Strollers won by six wickets
Beausoleil 163-8
(35 overs; Dorrans 2-19, Wood 2-26, Gallagher 1-13, Macaulay 1-32)
Strollers 164-4
(31.2 overs; Wood 69no, Jones 41, Taylor 15)
Sunday morning in St Vallier, and Piers Ovenden awoke to the problems familiar to many a tour captain. How would the pitch play? Would his men struggle in the unfamiliar conditions (and that amazing light)? Would any of them even turn up to the ground on time? He consulted Mike Brearley’s The Art of Captaincy, and was aghast to find it offered no advice for a skipper who finds himself in the eye of a full force-nine gale of EdGal dinner table entertainment.
He decided to chance his arm and go to breakfast, where he found the Taylors, the Patstons – Peter having won an epic battle with his contact lenses and electric toothbrush – and most of his other players. But of Aaron Walder and the supremely modest five-wicket first-change bowler Ed Gallagher, nothing was to be seen. A search party was sent out, and the pair were found propping each other up amid a sea of empty beer glasses at the Tabac, where Gallagher was bemoaning the failure of the "snore vortex" that had managed to provide them both with at least an hour or two of sleep on Friday.
They were eventually cajoled down to the ground, where Walder's earlier determination to bat/snooze first was replaced with the crushing realisation of the world of pain that would await if he were to try fielding when sobered up. Waiting for the party once more was Cy Wastell, having apparently not seen enough on Saturday to persuade his mysterious employer, "Vladimir", to weigh anchor. He brought with him the delightful Laurie, and was forced immediately to deal with a determined queue of Strollers suggesting a swap deal with her namesake of unpredictable off-break fame.
Ovenden was sympathetic to Walder’s plight and fielded, taking the wicketkeeping gloves himself and creating a vacancy in opening the bowling in the process. Step forward yesterday’s man Ed Gal. The Beausoleil openers shivered nervously, and No1 batsman Kalum played out a maiden in the first over. However, great fast bowling (well …maybe fast-medium … ish) is all about partnerships. As Shy Ed had taken the plaudits the previous afternoon, Paul Dorrans was heard to mutter that he had once topped 100kmh in the nets, and that he too could perhaps give Eddie Hemmings a run for his money. Today the Christchurch Cano would have his day, and in his third over he got a ball to zip through Kalum’s defences to open his Riviera account. Gallagher returned fire, snaring the other opener caught behind, but Dorrans soon claimed his second scalp.
The wicket proved to Ovenden the virtues of listening to his lieutenants. Patston suggested moving Wastell up from third man and the skipper’s eyes fixed on Laurie Allsopp, who was duly dispatched to replace him. A few balls later a huge edge flew off the bat. Allsopp took two steps forward, two back, then two forward again, and stuck out his hands to claim the ball with knees bent in what looked like an odd ballet move. Head held high he made his way back to his teammates, to receive the congratulatory greeting: “My money was on the ball the whole way, but well held I suppose…”
After their shaky start Beausoleil then put on 60 runs without loss, and the Strollers found themselves hindered by a plethora of wides and the apparent appearance of a sniper in the hills (perhaps one of the paragliding Bond villains from last year?). The assassin’s first victim was Tom Wood, who was brutally sent crashing to the floor while negotiating the incline to field the ball at deep point. An over later, the gunman reloaded and took out Walder as he innocuously collected the ball at the end of his run-up.
With the Strollers being murdered in the field as they were, Ovenden sighed and threw the ball to Wood – who until this point in the weekend had not been greatly involved in on-field matters. There was much grunting and cursing as our reluctant cricketer huffed and puffed at the cobwebs, and even helped out Riviera CC by stomping down one of the bumps in their mat after yet another edge flew wide of slip. What really roused him, though, was the batsmen’s attempt to take leg-byes when no shot was played, and the Strollers were treated to the sight of a red-faced, blustering Englishman explaining the laws of cricket in French to an Indian and a Sri Lankan. Whoever said it wasn’t a true global game?
Wood was rewarded with the wickets of Baldev (41) and Ravi (29), and opened the door to the Beausoleil tail. Meanwhile, Alastair Macaulay was toiling from the other end, forcing Ovenden to keep him on with some devilish flight, turn and accuracy. His 1-32 would have been far better but for his butter-fingered team-mates (though in fairness to Aaron, he could see two balls at the time and merely caught the wrong one). The one fielder truly awake was Wastell, who followed up his catch on Saturday with a bullet-like throw from cover that Dorrans collected one-handed to nonchalantly complete the run-out.
Innings over, and the Strollers needed 164. Wood, whose moniker had been downgraded to “reluctant human” as he lay prone among the daisies, opened alongside Boom Boom Taylor. The pair began briskly, with Brizey helping himself to consecutive boundaries that got the scantily-clad cheerleaders gyrating, before his run-out (perpetrated by that man Wastell) brought Max Jones to the crease. Max began cautiously, but then treated his teammates to a selection of gorgeous strokes, in particular a cover drive for four that was followed by a smash over deep-extra for six. By the time he fell for 41, the Strollers were on 130.
Wood by this point was past 50, with his bat providing a handy prop when standing got too difficult, but he too was playing good shots, topped off by a well-timed cut for four and a full-blooded straight drive. When joined for various cameos by Patston, Ovenden and Allsopp he directed the chase with a Michael Bevan-esque calm, and the target was reached with four overs to spare. Wood’s soixante-neuf made him the obvious man of the match, and for our sporting opponents bowler Ashok took the honour for his 3-19, leaving the Riviera ground the proud if bemused owner of a chic fraise tour shirt. Piers felt moved to give a speech.
Victory called for more beer, and the Strollers eventually reached Le Relais Imperial in good form. Ed Gal performed admirably on his third night of stand-up, Peter used his mouse to great effect during his Jimmy Savile impression, Piers felt moved to give another speech, and a mysterious pianist who called himself “Roolph”, possibly after the dog from the Muppets, provided some light accompaniment.
And so the triumphant tourists departed. Wastell was left wondering where on earth were such places as Pinkneys Green and Valley End. Jones returned to Antibes for some peace and quiet. Dorrans hitched a lift up La Route Napoléon with the Taylors and Patstons, as Maggie expressed the vain hope that Brian or Peter might eventually be fit enough to drive. Walder set off in the car for Nice airport, voicing mild regret that the mooted breathalyser competition was never used to determine the batting order. With him he took a fearful Wood.
The remaining quartet made their way to Grasse, courtesy of the Patston-mobile, where Allsopp departed for his flight, Macaulay cut a swath through the parfumeries armed with a 10% off voucher, and Gallagher, bereft of any greater audience, decided to follow Ovenden around a while longer to talk up his abilities as an opening bowler and offer further coaching on "chat". All had steeled their hearts to the ending of summer, braced for the frosty hollows of winter to come. Until next year.
Capt and wkt: Piers Ovenden.
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