2020 match archiveBottom Paddock
Saturday February 15 in Masterton
Strollers won by 58 runs
Strollers Exiles 215-8
(35 overs; Wyatt 45ret, Ovenden 42no, McDougall 38, Swan 24, Levermore 14, G Scanlon 14no, Thomas 10)
Bottom Paddock 157
(30 overs; Thomas 2-9, Swan 2-18, Smith 1-28, Levermore 1-11, S Scanlon 1-10)
Peter Patston: bon vivant, raconteur, Dylan aficionado, club founder, record-breaking cricketer, man of letters, friend of many, beloved husband, father and grandfather. A Stroller in excelsis. And he had passed away.
It is difficult to think of anything that could have shocked or saddened the club more in the lead-up to the third annual fixture at Bottom Paddock. Nor could anything else have provided more inspiration to the Strollers to play well and enjoy their day in the warm Wairarapa sun.
The day’s first tribute came from Captain Piers Ovenden, who procured a bottle of robust Bordeaux for a pre-game toast to Peter. Nothing was more apt and given the subsequent result, it seems a tradition worth keeping.
The skipper had done a superb job assembling an XI. Reuben Levermore jetted in from Auckland. Andrew Thomas came down from the farm near Taihape, the gumboot capital of the world. Julian Read cycled the long way home from London. Most others drove over the hill from Wellington.
We had just two debutants: Gareth Smith and Sean Scanlon, both from the Victoria University CC production line of the late 1990s. It is believed Sean and brother Glen are the first identical twins to play in a Strollers XI.
The Strollers batted first on a dryish pitch surrounded by a sun-scorched outfield. Despite the parched turf, opening bat Hamish McDougall struggled to reach the boundary with his cover drives. Luckily his French cuts, perhaps prompted by the Bordeaux, were running nicely to fine leg.
Some unexpected bounce generated a leading edge from fellow opener Justin Fredrickson, who was well caught at cover by a diving Tim Swan, the latter filling in as a temporary opposition fielder.
Number three Sean Scanlon is as fit as fiddle from regular runs up Mount Victoria; however, he unfortunately pulled a hamstring taking a quick single. He departed caught behind shortly afterwards, hoisting a quizzical eyebrow at twin Glen, who raised the umpire’s finger.
Levermore looked good for his 14 before he was unluckily run out. Tim Swan (24) suffered a similar fate. Wyatt played fluently for his 45 retired, while wickets mostly clattered at the other end.
At 152-9 things were dire, before Ovenden (42 not out) blazed away in an unbeaten 63-run last-wicket stand with Glen Scanlon (14 not out). [They were not far off the longstanding 10th wicket record of 84 by Alastair Macaulay and Steve Pryer against Old Dominions in 1993.] Piers’ innings featured sixes over long-on, long-off and into the Totara tree at midwicket. He also managed to accrue a new nickname, ‘Pliers,’ suggesting that he has a firm grip on match logistics and that autocomplete has a sense of humour.
There were heroes aplenty with the ball on a sporting pitch. Openers Andrew Thomas (2-9 off three overs) and Glen Scanlon (4 overs for 7 runs) set the tone for a fine performance. Sean Scanlon scored a direct hit run-out, hamstrung and all. Levermore bowled the dangerous Chris Jefferies (14), with a classic left-arm orthodox delivery that beat him in flight: “I haven’t done that for years!” Reuben exclaimed.
Victory came comfortably, compared to the nail-biters of previous years. Perhaps uniquely, it arrived after Gareth Smith castled the same batsman twice in two deliveries, the first being adjudged a no ball. There was some perspiration and a celebratory dip in the nearby stream was in order. Reports of eels could not deter the swimmers.
Our genial hosts provided a BBQ. Ovenden made a moving speech about Peter, and our thoughts remain with him, with Maggie and the whole family. The empty bottle from the pre-game toast was presented to player of the day Doran Wyatt. Luckily plenty of full ones were also on hand to mark the occasion.
As the Strollers and locals slowly departed, a small contingent of Ovendens, Wyatts and McDougall erected tents, toasted marshmallows, played twilight bat down and polished off the remaining BBQ items.
There was much to muse once the children were tucked into their sleeping bags and yoga mats, and the sun went down. Some Bob Dylan lyrics can perhaps capture the mood: “Shadows are falling, and I’ve been here all day…behind every beautiful thing, there’s some kind of pain…It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.”
If that’s literally a bit dark, let’s leave another last word to Bob, who was clearly referring to camping out after a cricket game when he wrote:
And take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time
Far past the frozen leaves
The haunted frightened trees
Out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky
With one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea
Circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate
Driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.
Hey! Mr Tambourine man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey! Mr Tambourine man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come following you
Capt: Piers Ovenden. Wkt and match report: Hamish McDougall.
Hurley
Sunday August 2 in Hurley
Strollers won by two wickets
Hurley 188
(42.4 overs; Oliver 5-10, Selby 2-3, Travis 2-39, Hodgson 1-50)
Strollers 189-8
(35 overs; Selby 42, Cross 36, Wood 31, Oliver 30no, McDougall 10)
A glorious day welcomed the Strollers to the beautiful surrounds of Hurley. It was finally time to get the delayed season (much like this match report) under way.
Attending the game was a strong set of supporters: Jo Perrin, Betty Low and debutant Alain Cross’s father, Clive.
The day began in a familiar way with skipper Glen Oliver losing the toss. There was then a short debate about the value of hitting the giant outfield tree, which by virtue of pitch placement, was stationed at regulation mid-off. It was agreed that four runs would be awarded if the tree is struck.
Tom Salvesen and Jim Hodgson opened the bowling and were rebuffed with resolute defence. Hurley made a slow and steady start as the time game format meant they had no over restrictions or run-rate pressure. Build and build they did in fine fashion, with the pair putting on a strong opening partnership and seeing off the experience of Salvesen and Hodgson.
Pete Wood and Blair Travis then took over with no initial success. Finally in over 13, the opening partnership of 48 was ended, but not by a Stroller. Instead the opening bat called through a quick single, only to be struck down with a pulled hamstring.
This seemed to bring the game to life, as the other opener, who had started to up the run rate, then decided to take on Travis one too many times. Off the bat no doubt the batsman thought he was safe, only to see Oliver moving with hitherto unknown pace (in the field) to take a running catch at mid-on.
Travis was then in the action again as he tempted the new batsman to take on Michael Beale at second mid-off just inside the line of the tree. This left Hurley reeling at 60-2 with the two Taylors together at the batting crease.
They proceeded to build a steady partnership, dispatching the Strollers bowlers around the Chilterns. A notable mention for Alain Cross, who made his debut at the bowling crease, unleashing a solid four overs for 22.
At 139-2 with the day getting away from the Strollers, Oliver entered the frame. Coming in off only four steps his first delivery clattered into the stumps sending them flying. His third ball did the same to the new Hurley batsman. In Oliver’s second over he took two more wickets, this time another stump-breaker with the other expertly taken by keeper Hamish McDougall. For those familiar with the Oliver celebration scale, at this point he was running at 110%.
In fairness to the skipper, he at least made the point of telling the team he was considering taking himself off to allow another Stroller to take some wickets, but then decided the pursuit of the statistical goal of a five-wicket bag was more important. This milestone obviously weighed on his mind through the coming two overs as he put down two regulation chances off Travis.
He need not have worried for in his fourth over he managed to catch the outside edge and the catch was taken by a very skilled Wood in the slips.
Aidan Selby then came on to bowl with memories of the 10-ball over in Nantes fresh in the minds of all present. True to form Selby served up his usual mix of “wicket-taking” deliveries. Generous umpires limited the wide count – figures of 2-3 were flattering to say the least, as most balls he bowled were unhittable, not for their accuracy but instead their surprising misdirection.
Finally Hodgson came back to finish with 1-50, trapping the final batsman lbw. This set the Strollers 188 to win off approximately 35 overs.
A strange feeling then followed as the team sat in a socially distanced manner and ate their home prepared teas.
Rob Wall and Beale opened the batting. Wall masterfully guided his first delivery to third man only to chip his second straight to mid-off. After widely talking himself up pre-match as averaging close to 200 in another league in 2020, he appears to be proving himself to be the Mathew Sinclair of Strollers cricket - unable to make the step up and perform in the big time.
With the Strollers in trouble at 1-1, Beale and McDougall then carried the team forward from there with a healthy partnership of 21 before Beale was caught being bowled around the legs on video. This was shared live on the What’s App group – a first for the Strollers.
McDougall and John Low then fell in quick succession leaving the Strollers reeling at 35-4.
Selby, in his preferred discipline of batting where he looks much more orthodox, joined Cross at the crease and there ensued a long and successful partnership of 75. The partnership was noted for very classical batting from Cross and excellent running between the wickets. The partnership ended after Selby holed out, which brought Oliver to the crease.
Oliver proceeded to hit the ball straight to cover and called Cross through. A simple run-out followed. You just can’t keep Oliver out of the game.
Feeling the weight of this run-out on his shoulders Oliver then led a partnership of 54 with Wood to edge closer to the target. Wood was dismissed with the score on 182. Travis then came and went without troubling the scorers, leaving the Strollers in a precarious position at 182-8. This left Hodgson scampering around to get his whites and pads on.
But he was not required as Salvesen faced two sighters before dispatching the next ball he faced to the fence. Oliver was ready to continue at the other end, but the game was decided in a strange fashion with the bowler offering up two wides to finish the match.
Post game there were beers and orange juice with our friendly hosts in the setting Hurley sun. A great welcome back for cricket which whet everyone’s appetite for the short season ahead.
Capt and match fees: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Hamish McDougall.
Match report: Rob Wall.
Ibstone
Sunday August 9 in Ibstone
Strollers won by 123 runs
Strollers 234-6
(40 overs; Travis 101, Keightley 27no, Oliver 22, Wall 15, Mike Daly 15, Wood 11)
Ibstone 111
(23.2 overs; Keightley 2-13, Nick Daly 2-22, Dela Rue 2-24, Wood 1-10, Oliver 1-11, Brodbeck 1-28)
The Strollers headed out to the village of Ibstone in deepest Buckinghamshire for their third fixture of the year. Both sides were greeted by a blisteringly hot day.
Skipper Glen Oliver was at the helm and all Strollers present expected to be on the losing end of the toss, thus being asked to field in the heat. Oliver mentioned before the game that he had won three from 26 when calling, including a run of 16 consecutive losses.
A few Strollers foolishly remarked that they thought the odds on winning a toss were roughly 50-50. Glen put them right, explaining it came down to a much more complicated algorithm that he didn’t have time to explain.
To the surprise and delight of all Strollers present, Glen won the toss and asked Ibstone to have a bowl.
Mike Beale was presented his cap prior to the match commencing. His family made the journey to celebrate the moment with him and no doubt to see a few trademark flourishes with willow in hand.
Beale and Blair Travis padded up and headed to the middle. Both batsmen made a solid start, seeing off the new ball before Beale was undone by a delivery that nipped off the surface.
The dismissal brought out Rob ‘I’m actually a batsman’ Wall, who looked to assert his dominance early, accompanied by his trademark quick single. A rapid fire 15 was cut short when he edged one behind. Mike Daly made 15 before falling, bringing Alain Cross to the crease.
Alain’s innings was ended early as he set off for a quick single, managing to leave both thigh muscles behind in the process. He valiantly made it to the other end for a single and had to retire hurt on one not out - one for the average.
Oliver looked to get on with things quickly, looking good before getting trapped on the crease. Pete Wood came in and blazed away before receiving an odd delivery that he managed to turn and hit over the keeper’s head, unfortunately picking out the third man in the process.
While wickets fell at the other end, Travis kept a cool head in the stifling conditions. He cashed in on anything short and made batting look very comfortable. Travis brought up his 100 with a cut shot to the enthusiastic applause of a good crowd who had turned up.
Travis’s knock was brought to an end shortly after as he was caught. The damage had been done by the time his 101 came to an end. Lasting 37 overs in the heat was quite some achievement.
A fine partnership of 36 between Richard Keightley (27*) and Nick Daly (0*) saw the Strollers to 234-6 off the 40 overs.
After a short break for water, the Strollers, led by James Dela Rue and Nick Daly quickly got into their work. Despite complaining of early season rust, both managed to pick up early wickets and each claimed two wickets.
Short spells in the heat were the order of the day. Keightley came in and took a wicket with his first ball, the ball looping to Nick Daly, who showed an agility rarely seen outside of ‘last orders’ being called to make a one-handed grab. Wood at the other end bowled in miserly fashion and eventually found a wicket, managing to castle the opposition batsman.
Simon Brodbeck came on and found the mark from the start, picking up a wicket with the help of a good take from Wood. Oliver at the other end found a thick edge, which flew to the waiting Wall.
Wall came on to bowl with one wicket required. A mix-up between the batsman saw Travis swoop in with some sharp fielding. The ball was zinged in over the bails and at the second attempt, Wall took the bails off and brought the innings to a close, Ibstone replying with 111 to give the Strollers a 123-run win.
Everyone enjoyed their day out in the sunshine in a good natured game. Both teams then retired to the local public house to recount the day’s events over much needed refreshment as centurion Travis generously picked up the tab.
Capt and match fees: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Michael Beale.
Match report: Mike Daly.
Follies Farm
Sunday August 16 in Chiddingfold
Strollers won by six wickets
Follies Farm 218-9
(40 overs; Oliver 2-2, Newton 2-37, Love 2-43, Hodgson 1-31)
Strollers 220-4
(39.4 overs; Oliver 82no, Selby 66, Addis 19, McDougall 17, Robertson 16)
The Strollers descended on Follies Farm to play what has long been one of the club’s strongest opponents, and a team the club had never beaten. Co-founder Simon Brodbeck and chief selector Pete Robertson had been hunkered down in the virtual war room for weeks, pondering team selections and scheming clever schemes. One such example was the surprise omission of Brodbeck himself (although he attended in support of the team) – allowing young Lewey Newton the chance to stake a claim for more regular inclusion, whilst giving Brodbeck more time to hone his new mystery ball in preparation for the drier Ripley deck the following week.
The selectors’ tactics also included telling the team that the match started a full half-hour before it actually did, meaning a full complement of Strollers present and correct 90 minutes before the start for an intense “team talk”. Much of that talk centred, of course, on whether Rob “I’m mainly a batter” Wall’s absence was actually a holiday with the long suffering Sarah, or whether he had been banished to a faraway land to complete a match report which had been conspicuously missing for a fortnight.
The other topic of conversation involved detailed comparisons of the predictions of various weather apps, with dark skies in attendance, covers at the ready and rain a very real prospect. Pitch inspections were conducted, soil samples were taken and there was debate about whether to call Tom Colbeck (who has long standing family connections to the owners of the ground) in New Zealand for potential insider information. There was general agreement that this was a “bowl first” track, although Pete Wood perhaps best summed up the various readings, his unique interpretation describing it as a “swinging pitch”.
The selectors, realising the toss could be important, fired Glen Oliver as captain due to his embarrassing record with the coin, and appointed Jono Addis in his first match of the season with clear instructions about one job – and one job only. Having promptly failed in that one job, Addis later admitted the coin nearly hit the ground because he’d “forgotten what to do” [i.e. call]. The skipper’s blushes were further spared with the surprise decision of the opposition to ask the Strollers to bowl first anyway. Somewhere between laughing at his skipper and tending to duties with the team kit, your humble correspondent was stitched up with match reporting duties by someone whoSe namE shalL proBablY never be known.
The Strollers began their attack with the two-pronged pace duo of James Dela Rue and Newton, the latter of whom seemed to have grown a foot and added 10 yards of pace since his last match for the club. Both bowled with good intent, but an aggressive opening pair punished anything even slightly full or wide and hit the cover fence regularly. Their stand, which was looking very ominous, was only broken when they made the fatal mistake of trying to run a quick single to the bullet arm of Wood at point, who fired into Hamish McDougall behind the stumps with such speed that the latter might well still feel it in several days.
Jim Hodgson and Wood came in as a double bowling change in the gradually increasing drizzle, and tightened things up nicely. They were interrupted at one point by the covers coming on for a 15-minute period, leading to a spirited continuation of the discussion about whose weather app was more accurate, and whether such rain was more representative of a forecast of a 10% chance of rain or a 70% chance. The only conclusion was a sobering realisation that by offering percentage chances of rain, weather apps can, quite cleverly, never be wrong.
George Love replaced an unlucky Wood soon after the rain break, the latter of whom bowled well for little reward – the slippery ball seeing several sharp chances put down. Lacking spikes in his shoes but none of his usual enthusiasm, Love bravely charged in off his long run, his approach undampened by falling flat on his face on at least two occasions. The lack of grip saw him vary between delivering wicket-taking yorkers to remove dangerous top four batsmen and sending down full tosses (amusingly apologising with ball still in flight) that were dispatched out of the ground. The last ball of his spell saw him deceive the well set Tom Gibson, with the catch expertly held by Addis at long-on.
Alastair Macaulay, also in his first game of the season after passing a fitness test, struggled to get his customary subtle breaks turning off the wet pitch, and soon volunteered to give up his end to Oliver. He found a skiddy pitch to his liking, snaring two wickets at the death whilst fending off claims by someone whoSe namE shalL proBablY never be known [please tell me the readers get this – Ed] that numbers six and eight constitute “tail-enders”.
Newton’s second spell at the end was also a profitable one, with full and straight bowling bringing two excellent wickets and helping to hold the Follies total to 218 off their allotted 40 overs; much lower than what it might have been at one stage.
The home team provided a most unexpected (and most welcome) tea at the interval, which was eagerly devoured – but the best serving on the menu was the unanticipated arrival of sunshine. Scorer Macaulay was soon saddled up in his familiar position behind the scorebook, and the Strollers strode out in search of a maiden victory.
Robertson and McDougall began the Strollers’ reply being subjected to a stern examination of their technique, courtesy of familiar opening bowler Dave Rowland. Rowland, despite dodgy knees restricting his run-up to half a dozen steps, was still generating decent pace and movement off the damp pitch, with runs from either end very hard to come by.
McDougall had a life early on and eventually fell for 17 trying to chip through mid-wicket. This brought Addis to the crease, who began his season demonstrating his new limited overs trickshot (read: French cut). Robertson, watching at the other end, decided to try to break the shackles but didn’t quite clear long-on, departing for 16.
To prove it was all part of his master plan, Addis demonstrated the French cut again on his way to a battling 19, before trying to guide one to third man and feathering an edge through to the keeper. Drinks were then taken after 20 overs with the Strollers 60-3 – a valuable platform in tough conditions – and Aidan Selby and Oliver at the crease.
Oliver, having commented during the interval on his propensity towards getting injured playing cricket, duly pulled a hamstring three overs into his innings and spent the remainder of it trying to hobble singles and find reasons not to run twos. Having decided that sharp running and sensible rotation of strike were out of the question, and with a run rate rapidly heading towards 10 an over, the pair resolved instead to tee off at anything even vaguely in the slot. Aided by a rapidly drying pitch (making batting markedly easier than it had been even half an hour previously), a dose of fortune and some decidedly non-textbook shots, they put on a partnership of 127 before Selby perished for a well struck 66, selflessly trying to find the fence again.
Wood joined the fray with 30 needed off 18 balls, the deepening sun hovering sullenly behind the bowler’s arm at the pavilion end, hamstrings gone and the match on a knife-edge. Eight off the 38th over – 22 off 12 required; nine off the 39th – down to 13 off six balls with Rowland bowled out. A wide and a single; 11 needed off five. Memories of the 2019 World Cup final front of mind.
Oliver then threw all hint of technique out the window to muscle one over long-on for six. Five off four. Attempted tickle to third man, clean missed; five off three. Drama. With three balls remaining, he went back to the route one approach, swung as hard as he could and watched as the ball went up, up, up and landed square on the covers ten yards over the boundary, directly over the bowler’s head. A six to win the match with two balls to spare, the closest ending to a Strollers match in a long time, and an epic finish to a maiden victory over the toughest of opponents.
Capt: Jono Addis. Wkt: Hamish McDougall.
Match fees and match report: Glen Oliver.
Ripley
Sunday August 23 in Ripley
Strollers lost by two wickets
Strollers 147-6
(35 overs; Addis 47, Beale 33, Travis 14no, Hodgson 10no)
Ripley 148-8
(34.1 overs; Oliver 5-15, Macaulay 2-32, Hodgson 1-33)
Ripley Cricket Club was founded in 1749, making it one of the oldest clubs in the world. (Note: We used to play Peper Harow, just down the road. Founded in 1727, this was one of the very first clubs to be formed, along with Hambledon and Goodwood.) This extract from the club’s history shows cricket was played on Ripley Common before the club was founded:
August 1747
A great match at Cricket for 50 guineas aside is made by the noblemen and gentlemen, and to be played on Monday next, in the Artillery Ground, between the gentlemen of Ripley, Bramley and Thursdley in the west of Surrey, against the gentlemen of London. Wickets to be pitched by one o'clock. They play the following match the Thursday following on Ripley Green. These matches being attended with great charge, the door for the future will be six pence, two pence not being sufficient to defray expenses.
From 'Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket’ by G.B. Buckley
Just 273 years later, the Strollers arrived at Ripley Green. We weren’t playing for 50 guineas, but we had transferred our Covid-19 adjusted match fee of £5 to Glen Oliver. The old brick and tile, two-storey clubhouse had a one-way system in place to get locals to the first floor bar safely, and judging by the number of people on the bar terrace all afternoon, the club is a popular local amenity.
Ben Mangham was welcomed back into the fold. He made his debut in 1993 and his last game was against The Bounders in June 2011. To date, played 58, scoring 496 runs at 16.53 and taking 95 wickets at 15.55, and 19 catches. Thank you Maggie for the stats.
Oliver, skipper for the match, was delayed on the A3 so Jono Addis stepped in for the toss. Using method acting skills, he lost it, and the Strollers were invited to have a bat in a 35-over game. Glen duly arrived, made a few adjustments to the batting order his deputy had planned, and Mike Beale and Jono set out for the middle.
Ripley started with their youth policy, in an already youthful looking side, as Sam Webber and Hamza Ilyas sent down some decent line and length. The odd bad ball was punished well and there were some classy shots on display from our openers, who also ran well between the wickets. Ilyas was replaced by the decidedly brisk Aaron Tubman and Sam Webber by Tom Clover (brother of James). The wind brought in some light drizzle that became proper rain, forcing the players off and the covers on. It was noted that Rob ‘I’m really a batsman’ Wall and George ‘Puppy’ Love were not going to let a bit of rain interfere with their net session.
The rain soon relented and play resumed. With the score on 88, Mike, despite a valiant dive, was run out for 33. Alain Cross joined Jono, and once again, displayed a very correct technique, honed on the cricket fields of France. Jono then fell for 47, chipping Tom Clover to square leg, allowing Rob to stride out and join Alain. He made a sterling effort to get out first ball, but it fell just in front of cover. Not to be deterred he skied a full toss from leggie Dan Osborne (brother of Alex) and this chance was gratefully received. Not having troubled the scorers, Rob ‘I seem to turn into a No11 every time I walk out to bat for the Strollers’ Wall trudged back to the pavilion and the warm words of support from his team-mates.
Could Glen repeat the fireworks of the previous week at Follies Farm? No. He was trapped lbw by one that kept very low from Dan Osborne. With the score on 108 from 26 overs we were looking a bit off the pace.
Blair Travis joined Alain. In an effort to get the scoreboard moving, Alain gave Dan Osborne the charge, but was stumped for nine, leaving the bowler with the impressive figures of 3-11 off 7 overs. Ben and Travis upped the tempo.
Ben dropped one short to midwicket and set off for the run, only to fall after three paces, the throw went to the keeper’s end, but Travis was safely home. Ben had managed to get up by then and was heading for the bowler’s end until a loud clang was heard as the ball bounced off the back of his helmet. Shortly after he was well caught on the long-on boundary, by that man Dan Osborne, for 11. Jim Hodgson, 10*, finished off the innings with Travis, 14*, and we took our own teas, having posted 147.
It was good to see senior officers Kimball Bailey and Tom Wood, accompanied by Pickle, in attendance, plus Simon West and Alain’s father Clive.
Glen based his rousing team talk on the theme of ‘they might be young, but we have experience’, so we had a spring in our mature steps as we took to the field. George and Jim started off with some decent line and length and George’s curious right-arm round approach did cause some problems.
The score moved to 23 when Jim encouraged James Clover to nick one to Mike behind the stumps. Blair replaced George, and not for the first time this season, bowled very well but wicketless off his seven overs. He was heard to say ‘I’d rather bowl some rubbish and get wickets’.
Ben replaced Jim and beat the outside edge many times and was unlucky not get a wicket or two. Ripley, with James Clover and the senior pro, Tahir Mahmood together had moved the score on to 79 from 20 overs and looked to be cruising. Glen brought himself on, and as we’ve come to expect, he had an almost immediate impact, but not without a little help. Clover drove hard towards cover, but Wall, stationed at short cover pulled off a truly outstanding catch, very low to his right, with the ball virtually past him. Perhaps the best Strollers catch ever? Certainly Top Three.
This caused a distinct wobble in the Ripley ranks. With Alastair Macaulay proving even more awkward than usual, bowling into a stiff breeze, inducing Alex Osborne to chip one to Ben at midwicket and then Dan Osborne to give him the charge, miss it, and be stumped by several feet. Glen was busy at the other end, not only taking wickets but pegging Ripley back. With two bowled, including Mahmood for a very good 44, and two lbws, Glen finished with excellent figures of 5-15 off his seven overs. For several overs it had become apparent Ripley weren’t going to canter home and were in danger of losing the game from a strong early position. It had also become apparent that Glen’s last over was the 33rd, so who was going to bowl the final over. No, not the vastly experienced Simon Brodbeck, but Rob ‘I’m really a death bowler’ Wall.
It was all set for a thrilling finale. Eight wickets down, four required for a home victory. Young Webber was facing and as Rob delivered a thigh-high full toss first ball, he clipped it to the boundary and won the game. For the second week in row the game had gone to the final over. Who said cricket was a dull game?
We left the pitch, elbow bumped our opponents and looked forward to a consolation jug from Glen. Small problem. Glen had left his wallet at home, so his ‘go to’ man - Rob ‘I’m a short cover fielder’ Wall - did the honours and bought the round. Good man.
Capt and match fees: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Michael Beale.
Match report: Jim Hodgson.
The Lee
Sunday September 6 in The Lee
Strollers won by 16 runs
Strollers 200
(39.2 overs; Wood 87, Travis 38, Beale 20)
The Lee 184
(39.1 overs; Fenn 4-11, Macaulay 3-17, Love 1-17, Wood 1-20, Dorrans 1-27)
The Strollers gathered very much on time, dictated in part by the rail timetable as Great Missenden only has one train an hour on Sundays.
Mark Fenn drove down from Liverpool for his first match in many years and Paul Dorrans returned after a couple of years absence. He would like it to be known that he was on time, with no transport issues. On the other hand the man with the kit, Rob Wall, found out an uncomfortable truth: with three of London's road bridges closed, Uber drivers are reluctant to come south of the river. Three cancelled and he wasn't going to make it to Marylebone on time for the train. Selflessly he hired a car and still managed to get to the ground on time.
Our matches against The Lee have been close fought affairs, with honours mostly going to the home team in high scoring games. Skipper Jono Addis won the toss and chose to bat with the aim of setting at least 240. Blair Travis and Michael Beale opened and made steady progress putting on 43 for the first wicket in nine overs. Mike had more luck finding the boundary as Blair seemed to find a fielder with his good-looking drives. Mike was out for a brisk 20, bringing Jono to the crease. He hit a couple of nice boundaries but clipped one to midwicket. Fenn soon followed bowled by Jon Swain for one.
Pete Wood clearly likes this ground, having hit 107 two years previously in a record 326-6 (the record being that we lost). It was clear that whatever score the Strollers posted was going to rely on how he went. He was really the only bat to play with much fluency and was soon hitting the boundary. He and Blair put on 69 for the fourth wicket when Blair was caught at mid-on for a valuable 38.
The Strollers middle order and tail did not really contribute much at all. Rob Wall fell for six and George Love for eight, both caught off Harry Rice. Luckily Wood was still swinging away at the other end hitting four sixes and edging the score towards respectability.
However on 195, Jon Swain struck again, taking a hat-trick as Jim Hodgson, Paul Dorrans and Alastair Macaulay fell in succession - the latter prodding the ball into Julian Swain's hands at silly mid-off to start the celebrations.
Simon Brodbeck came in at No 11 to try and help Wood take the total over 200, but Pete also fell to the Swain/Swain combo at deep mid-on for an excellent 87 as the innings closed on 200. Swain Snr finished with 5-25. A special mention should be made of the The Lees's youngsters Nathan Clever-Brown and leggie Robin Collins who both bowled well.
At tea (self-catered of course), 200 still looked a little under par based on previous years. The sun came out just as the Strollers headed out to bowl.
In the last fortnight George Love has invested in a bright pair of Slazenger trainers from House of Ashley. Possibly dazzled by their whiteness, he struggled with his direction. Nonetheless he induced a nick of the opener Rob May, which was smartly taken by Beale. The number three bat was Julian Swain, who scored a big hundred against us in the run-chase two years ago and was clearly the danger man. The result of the game would depend on how much damage he could inflict.
He started briskly but Blair Travis and Jim Hodgson managed to keep a lid on the scoring with neither having much luck. Swain survived a sharp caught and bowled off Jim and one or two others just evaded fielders. The other bat Mike Harris was content to rotate the strike and so their scoring rate didn't rise above six an over. However at 20 overs, The Lee were still looking pretty comfortable at 113-1.
The turning point came when Dorrans came on to bowl. One of his boots fell apart in his run-up (atrophied through lack of use) and shod in a loaner pair from the opposition, he was soon into his rhythm. A brisk half-tracker induced a false shot from Julian Swain who skied it to Alastair Macaulay at mid-on who clung on to general relief. The game was afoot once more.
Wood then bowled opener Harris and with two new bats at the crease, there was a chance to put some pressure on. With eleven overs left, The Lee still only needed a touch over four an over.
With two left-handers in, Macaulay came on to bowl some non-turning off-spin. Keeping it up to the bat and mostly outside the off stump, the batsmen looked to get forward but were only getting singles out to the cover boundary where Wall was kept busy. Michael Collins was eventually lured out to his doom as Beale completed the stumping.
Fenn put his hand up to bowl from the other end and rolled back the years promptly having the other leftie Sam Harris caught by Wood leaping up at square leg. His quicker ball dismissed Jon Swain, another danger man, with a ball that kept a bit low. Clearly off-spin was the way to go, even if not turning.
This brought the youngsters to the crease and the run rate rose as the boundaries dried up. Love took a good catch at second slip off Fenn. With two overs to go The Lee needed 20.
In the penultimate over Alastair got an lbw which he didn't actually appeal for. Luckily Dorrans spotted that the ball had struck the back foot on the full. A wicket with the last ball of that over and The Lee needed 14 off the last over with a wicket remaining.
Harry Rice was facing and was really the most likely to score the runs. Fenn trundled in and Rice promptly clipped it to Hodgson at square leg, who took a fine tumbling catch. The Strollers claimed a win by 14 runs, a result that looked unlikely at the 20-over mark. This was the third game in a row that went to the last over. It may be a shortened season, but it's not dull.
Fenn finished with 4-11 and Macaulay 3-17 with only one boundary conceded in the last 10 overs. There was some confusion in the scorebook but at least the wickets are right - it must have been tough telling Alastair and Mark apart.
In the evening sun, both teams enjoyed a couple of beers (topped up by Jon Swain's jug for the five-for). In the post-match discussion, it emerged that Julian Swain had spent the previous winter playing for Central Hawkes Bay in Ongaonga, which is Jono's old team. It is indeed a small world.
Capt and match fees: Jono Addis. Wkt: Michael Beale.
Match report: Alastair Macaulay.
Wooburn Narkovians
Sunday September 13 at Pinkneys Green
Strollers won by 6 runs
Strollers 197-8
(40 overs; Addis 74, McDougall 70, Oliver 16, Travis 13, Hodgson 12no)
Wooburn 191-9
(40 overs; Oliver 4-17, Hodgson 2-21, Macaulay 1-29, Rothberg 1-33, Fenn 1-42)
“Wooburn Narkovians - the best named opposition we face,
change my mind…”
The Strollers assembled at Pinkneys Green for the first and only “home” game of the curtailed season. Mark Fenn again made the long trek south from Liverpool and Ben Rothberg returned after his family agreed they needed him out of the house after six months of working from home. Others were also astonished to see Hamish McDougall not only present but actually upright and walking after completing the Three Peak Challenges on Wednesday.
Glen as the home captain won the toss by virtue of not being able to call wrong, and as is the way at PG decided to bat first in the blazing sun. Glen, not paying heed to Hamish’s tales of walking woe, sent him out to open with Blair Travis.
The WN opening bowlers Oliver Atkins and Will Cuthbert bowled exceptionally well, aided by a pitch that was not the road it appeared to be. Apart from a magnificent backfoot square drive through cover point by Blair, runs were difficult to come by.
After 10 overs of hard grind Blair got one from Cuthbert that seamed back off a good length and was adjudged lbw for 13. This bought Jono Addis to the crease with the score at 23-1 after 10. The runs continued to come at a trickle as shown by the seven maidens in the first 16 overs.
Eager to make something happen Addis let loose. The next 12 overs went for 98 runs, Addis punishing anything full or short. He bought up his 50 by dropkicking the rapid Tom Wright over square leg for six first ball. Boundaries early in the overs and great running from the pair saw the scoreboard ticking along nicely.
In the 29th over Addis tried to clear cow corner from the off-spinner, but only succeeded in picking out the man at deep midwicket on the longest boundary. He departed for 74 with the score at 136, the two Victoria University Alumni sharing a partnership of 113.
This bought skipper Oliver to the crease. Fenn on the sidelines enquired whether the Strollers had a pinch-hitter for the final 10 overs. His question was answered mid-sentence by Oliver launching a maximum over wide long-on. McDougall, having found his fluency since the drinks break, bought up his half-century. The pair were on track to take the score past 200 before disaster struck in the 35th over.
Glen chipped Wright to mid-on for 16, undone by one from the paceman which seemed to stick in the pitch. Two balls later McDougall was clean bowled by Wright trying to find the fence once more. He limped off for a well complied 70. John Low came and went first ball, getting a peach of a delivery which seamed back to take the top of off stump. A three-wicket over. Fortunately, the Strollers did not suffer the humiliation of two hat-tricks in two weeks as the hat-trick ball sailed down the legside.
The last five overs offered up only 20 runs as the three Strollers wickets of Alain Cross, Rothberg and Fenn fell cheaply – only Jim Hodgson with 12 not out registered double figures. The Strollers finished on 197-8, which was some effort from 66-1 at 20, but a final tally of under 200 felt a bit lean.
A covid-style packed lunch was taken in the shade of the clubhouse as the mercury continued to hover around 25 degrees.
Hodgson and Cross opened the bowling and proved to be just as miserly as their WN counterparts, offering up two maiden overs to start proceedings. Jim ‘The Metronome’ Hodgson managed to get a straight one to keep low and had young opener Ben Cooper bowled at shin height. Similar to the first innings, runs were hard to come by as the Strollers bowled and fielded well. In one diving effort on the boundary Addis narrowly avoided body slamming a wandering dog whilst somehow stopping the ball. The second-wicket partnership crept along at under three an over as Rothberg and Simon Brodbeck replaced the miserly opening pair.
WN started to up the run rate as drinks approached, but in the 19th over with the score on 82 Rothberg managed to lure the WN skipper, Kevin Dolan, out of his crease and McDougall did the rest. At drinks with the score on 88-2 the match was delicately poised. Could the Strollers squeeze another win?
Oliver, still smarting from a barbed mid-week comment in the Whatsapp chat decided to make an example out of Addis, by deploying him to cow corner at either ends of the ground. It almost worked immediately as Fenn, the hero of The Lee, induced a lofted straight hit from the WN No 4. Addis, having already chalked up over 10,000 steps on his Fibit, tore around the boundary launching himself towards the ball only to drop it as he hit the ground. Luckily the drop was not to prove costly as next over Fenn managed to turn one and trap the dangerous Wright lbw. A few overs later and spin twin Alastair Macaulay was in on the action, luring a lofted shot down the ground which was pouched by the safe hands of skipper Oliver at long-on. At 130-4 after 27 overs it was still very much anyone’s game, with WN opener Paul Cooper defiant at one end, bringing up a well-made 50.
The skipper then bought himself on and as is the way, was amongst the wickets immediately - finally prising Cooper out for 73 thanks to a fine diving catch at cover by Cross.
Having swapped ends, Fenn saw had a top edge fall tantalisingly close behind the keeper, no matter as it was a no-ball anyway. Oliver’s second over saw a thick edge caught by McDougall leaping gazelle-like in front of first slip. Five overs now remained with 36 runs required, the tension palpable, which team would handle the pressure?
A hurried run saw a run-out chance missed as the ball struck the stretching batsman and raced towards the fine leg boundary. For the Kiwis in the team, the horror of the World Cup Final flashed in front of their eyes again, was history about to repeat itself? Luckily the ball didn’t reach the rope, but another run was taken.
The WN batsmen were backing up well, taking quick singles and turning ones into twos. The backing-up was so good that Fenn in his run-up, was able to stop and explain the Mankad rule politely to the non-striker who was some way out of his crease. We hear Fenn is not so polite on Saturdays in his Liverpool league cricket…
Another run-out mix-up as the ball was hit to the right of Oliver in his followthrough. No one was more amazed than the bowler that he had stopped the ball with the batsmen mid-pitch. Alas pressure does funny things and the underarm shy from three feet missed, when there was time to walk to the stumps and whip the bails off.
With three overs remaining WN required 22 runs with four wickets in hand, with the seasoned Richard Barker guiding the chase. Fenn’s final over (the 38th) went for two runs, but had the skipper messed up his bowling calculations like at Ripley? Fenn was bowled out with two overs remaining...
The penultimate over and the skipper had a thick edge fall just short of a diving Addis at backward point, and another run taken. Two boundaries followed by two wickets, bowled and lbw, saw a final over equation of 11 runs required, two wickets in hand. But who would bowl the final over?
Cometh the hour cometh the Metronome: Jim Hodgson. A back of length ball saw Barker swing mightily to cow corner. Luckily for Addis and his legs, which had now clocked up over 20,000 steps, the ball flew straight to him and the catch was taken. A two was taken to Rothberg, who had valiantly patrolled the deep square leg boundary since drinks, and a couple of singles were the only runs given up by the Strollers.
With two balls to go seven runs were needed to win, six to tie, one wicket left. Or was it three balls? A conference between umpires, scorers and even Strollers treasurer Tom Wood who had been manning the scoreboard, was hastily arranged. The umpires were correct, it was in fact two balls left. Another Jim dot and the Strollers couldn’t lose, but could the Narkovians No 10 somehow manage a tie with a last ball six? The answer was no, as Jim sent down a perfectly placed yorker to see the Strollers pull off a remarkable six-run win.
So for the fourth match in a row the Strollers have taken the game into the final over. As has been written already, this may be a short season but it has certainly not been short of drama. The two teams enjoyed some well earned refreshments in the evening sun. Fenn was presented with a tie and cap, after approximately 80 matches. And as long as he continues providing post-match cakes courtesy of his mother, I think we’ll be happy to see more of him next season.
*Statistical note: Hamish went past Danny John to become the Strollers'
fifth-highest run scorer.
Capt and match fees: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Hamish McDougall.
Match report: Jono Addis.
Concorde
Sunday September 20 in Send
Match drawn
Strollers 234-7 dec
(40 overs; Loan 48, McDougall 48, Beale 45, Wall 42, Oliver 17, Keightley 11, Love 10no)
Concorde 224-8
(39 overs; Oliver 2-12, Wood 2-42, Brodbeck 1-19, Keightley 1-23, Mangham 1-25, Macaulay 1-52)
A beautiful late September day greeted the Strollers as they gathered in Send for the penultimate game of the season. The pitch and outfield looked fast, and the timed-game rules suggested that bowling first would be the ideal toss outcome, especially given Concorde's rearguard performance to save a draw in the corresponding fixture last year.
Needless to say, as Glen Oliver headed out to call the coin toss, opening batsmen Hamish McDougall and Mike Beale proceeded to their kitbags to prepare their batting gear. McDougall got things off to a streaky start, with a nick third ball just passing the outstretched hands of gully on the way to the boundary.
Barely a false shot followed however, as both played with positive intent to negotiate the opening overs. With the ball swinging around, 0-41 off the first 10 was a strong position given the pacey and accurate opening bowlers. The 14th over finally bought the first bowling change as off-spin was introduced.
A few loose balls followed, and the runs started to flow with more ease. McDougall was first man out for 48, fantastically caught after hammering a low full toss just within reach of cover fielder James Aston.
Mike Loan strode out to the middle for his first bat of the season and immediately kept the scoreboard ticking over. Only a few overs later Beale was unfortunate to chop on for 45, giving off-spinner Zain Risvi his second wicket.
With spin at both ends and a solid base of 110-2 off 24 overs, Loan and Oliver decided to kick things into the next gear, taking a massive 25 runs off one over. Leg-spinner Edgar Fernandes was the target, with each batsman clearing the ropes on two occasions. Oliver attempted to repeat the dose in the following over, however a self-described “horrendous” miscue sent the ball straight back to the hands of Zain for his third wicket of the afternoon. As Oliver departed for 13, admonishing himself as he walked off the field, Chairman Kimball Bailey wisely noted that we should allow for Oliver to put his weapons down before commenting on the dismissal.
Rob Wall strode out to join Loan at the crease, confident that his fantastic Saturday run-scoring form for his second team was bound to transfer to the Strollers colours eventually.
His persistence paid off, with four of his first five scoring shots heading to the boundary. A vintage yes/no/sorry running mix-up followed soon after however, and Loan became the third Stroller to be dismissed in the 40s thanks to a direct hit from that man Aston at cover.
A procession of boundaries and wickets summarised the final eight overs or so, as Wall, Richard Keightley, Ben Mangham and George Love all managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Toward the end Wall kept up with the tradition of the day, departing run out for 42 after another direct hit from – yes – Aston at cover. Oliver called the innings closed at 234-7.
After a short lunch break Peter Wood and Love took the opening overs and Wood bowled a lovely in-seamer third ball to knock off Fernandes for a duck. What followed was a masterclass in batsmanship from Nadim Haider, picking apart the Strollers attack.
Wood, Love and then Alastair Macaulay were smashed all around the park as Haider raced to his fifty in the seventh over. Particularly brutal on anything short, almost 90% of his runs came in boundaries. The No 3 Sadiq Hashmi also got into the act, though he tried to hit one too many and missed a straight one from Wood to leave Concorde at 82-2 after 9 overs.
The turning point came in the following over, as Macaulay's consistent length enticed Haider to finally mistime an on-drive. Oliver gleefully held onto the catch at long-on. This immediately put the brakes on the run-scoring, with only 19 coming from the next six overs as Mangham chipped out a fourth wicket for the Strollers. The fifth wicket pair of Aston and Rizvi steadied the innings for Concorde, and as the clock ticked to 5pm the mandatory final 20 overs began with the match well poised: 136-4 needing a smidge under five an over.
After the break Keightley and Oliver found some consistent channels and were duly rewarded with a wicket each. Keightley removed the last remaining top order batsman - Aston for 47 - which dried up the runs significantly for Concorde. Oliver then clean bowled another victim to leave the score at 180-7 with 10 overs left.
Keightley gave way to Simon Brodbeck who was able to squeeze one through the defences of the No 9 batsman Pat Wells.
With six overs remaining to get the last two wickets, the fielders converged closer to the bat to try and create some extra pressure. Unfortunately it was not to be and with 20 runs needed from the last over the Concorde tailenders could not be tempted into trying for the victory, so for the second year running a strong rearguard effort denied the Strollers.
It was another nail-biter though, the fifth straight Strollers match this season to come down to the final over
Capt and match fees: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Hamish McDougall.
Match report: Peter Wood.
Pinkneys Green
Sunday September 27 in Pinkneys Green
Strollers won by four wickets
Pinkneys Green 238-8
(40 overs; Selby 4-23, Wall 3-12, Hodgson 1-43)
Strollers 239-6
(39.5 overs; Selby 69, McDougall 66, Wall 37no, Travis 35, Cross 13)
The 2020 campaign – the Strollers’ 45th – should have been like any other. But in oh so many ways it proved to be very different.
The cruellest blow came when Peter Patston, founding father of the club, died in February. Along with Simon Brodbeck he had played in the very first game – against Millwall and East India Docks at Sidcup on Sunday April 25, 1976. Then began a journey of 641 games, 751 wickets and 3,901 runs.
Those are the figures on the field but the real story is one of great humour, late-night carousing, warm-hearted companionship and sharp wit. Laurie Allsopp’s headline in The Stroller summed it up:
From Stanton-by-Dale to Saumur, the bard of Bath
led us on a merry dance
And so the extended Strollers family – many old faces who had stepped out of the yellowing scorebooks and a heartening complement of current players – assembled in Bath to celebrate his life and offer their support to Maggie.
After an annual dinner extraordinaire thanks to Mike Pittams’ oratorical tour de force [for which he was sentenced to two weeks’ re-education in an Auckland Holiday Inn before being shipped off with Fanny to the former colonies], the 2020 playing season began with the now traditional game between Bottom Paddock and a Strollers Exiles XI. Piers Ovenden’s troops claimed a first victory on NZ soil and raised a glass of Bordeaux in Peter’s name.
Indoor nets began at Lord’s as Rob Wall began to tune up his batting technique (of which more later). Then what began as a cloud no bigger than a man’s hand – an outbreak of a virus called Covid-19 in faraway Whuhan – soon cast a shadow over the whole world. The remaining nets were cancelled and recreational cricket was banned by government decree until further notice.
And so the lockdown began. Life became a round of trying to work from home, Zoom calls, Ocado deliveries, interminable walks, and daily briefings.
The Strollers fixture list took on a blank look: Cancelled... cancelled...cancelled. Tours to the Cotswolds, Brittany and the Three Counties fell under the Covid scythe. Just as many had given up hope of having any season at all the restrictions were eventually relaxed and cricket was given the green light to proceed.
Sunday July 19 was the projected start after chairman Kimball Bailey and logistical mastermind Glen Oliver had spent many hours drawing up the guidelines and interpreting the rules and regulations in the new normal: sanitising breaks; no tea provided (bring your own); no dressing rooms to be used; no communal kit; no umpires coats (which saved Simon from having them drycleaned at enormous expense). The game itself was relatively unaffected - wicketkeepers could stand up but first and second slip should keep their distance. No high fives please – elbow bumps only.
But Tadworth could not raise a side and the 2020 domestic season eventually got under way on August 2 at Hurley. It soon became apparent that Glen Oliver was being selected purely as a bowler as his 5-10 took us to a narrow victory.
Another batsman, Aidan Selby, also seemed to put heavy emphasis on his bowling. The Hurley match reporter observed:
“Aidan Selby then came on to bowl with memories of the 10-ball over in Nantes fresh in the minds of all present. True to form Selby served up his usual mix of “wicket-taking” deliveries. Generous umpires limited the wide count – figures of 2-3 were flattering to say the least, as most balls he bowled were unhittable, not for their accuracy but instead their surprising misdirection. “
The next week Valley End pulled out and the gallant troops wended their way instead to Ibstone – Jim Hodgson’s nearby village team. Getting to games in this time of reduced car sharing meant players having to take a train (in full PPE of course) out to some distant station where a flotilla of drivers ferried their masked passengers to the ground. Many thanks to everyone who put up with all the trials and tribulations and the patient match managers who succeeded in getting 11 players to every venue..
Glen put an end to a run of 16 consecutive losses at the toss and Blair Travis’s 101 helped to defeat Ibstone in the baking heat.
Then came Follies Farm and the highspot of the season. Without the usual services of Tom Colbeck, who had escaped Islington to work on a chicken farm in New Zealand, the Strollers chased 219 for victory and thanks to Aidan Selby (66) and Oliver (82no) got over the line with two balls to spare to claim a monumental first victory at Chiddingfold.
The theme of last-over dramas continued at Ripley, but with the wrong result this time.
The August blank holiday was a poignant time as ghostly batsmen played to the bowling of ghosts at Wall, Stanton-by-Dale and Sutton on the Hill. Brian Taylor did his bit by skippering – in a Strollers sweater - a Stanton side at Sutton on the Bank Holiday Monday. They won, of course.
At The Lee, the same pattern continued with Alastair Macaulay (3-17) and Mark Fenn (4-11) twirling us to victory with five balls remaining. At 113-1 The Lee looked on course for a comfortable win despite Peter Wood’s fine 87. But Fenn (who played regularly from 1991-2002; then five games in 2010 and one at Prestcold in 2013] returned from the mists of Strollers history. Throughout many years of absence his name appeared on the lists of subs paid without ever taking to the field. He returned to the fold by driving down from Liverpool to show how effective his non-turning off-spin can be. His Mum was there to see the prodigal’s return and to provide some mouth-watering after-match cake.
Mention should be made of Jim Hodgson, Paul Dorrans [another returning from the colonies, having last played in 2016] and Alastair Macaulay who nobly sacrificed themselves to provide Jon Swain with a hat-trick for The Lee.
Fenn was there again the following week at Pinkneys Green – facing the small matter of another 390-mile round trip from Liverpool to Buckinghamshire. Wooburn Narkovians were the visitors and, at 130-3, seemed on course to overhaul our meagre tally of 197. But Oliver catapulted his way to 4-17 (is he more of a bowler than a bat?) and the opposition fell six runs short.
Concorde were next in line and their last-over defiance won them a draw. Rob Wall, who had spent weeks explaining how he was full of runs and wickets for his other team – St Margaretsbury CC in Hertfordshire - finally made his point. After insisting to anyone who would listen that “I’m really a batsman, not a bowler” he gave a hint that it might be true with a swashbuckling 42.
Ivor Fiala and son Karl were spotted on the horizon but they kept their social distance.
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*George Love acquired some proper gleaming new boots after the Follies Farm match correspondent reported:
George Love replaced an unlucky Wood soon after the rain break, the latter of whom bowled well for little reward – the slippery ball seeing several sharp chances put down. Lacking spikes in his shoes but none of his usual enthusiasm, Love bravely charged in off his long run, his approach undampened by falling flat on his face on at least two occasions. The lack of grip saw him vary between delivering wicket-taking yorkers to remove dangerous top four batsmen and sending down full tosses (amusingly apologising with ball still in flight) that were dispatched out of the ground.
* While on the subject of footwear the soles of Paul Dorrans’ ageing boots detached themselves at The Lee. “I think they must have rotted away. I haven’t opened my cricket bag since 2016,” said a mortified Dorrans.
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*Ben Mangham joined the ranks of returning heroes. Ben played regularly from 1993 to 2002 and featured twice in 2011. He rode out of the mist to reappear at Ripley and that brisk medium pace seemed untouched by time.
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*Alain Cross, the first French international to appear for the Strollers, made his bow and distinguished himself in his second game by collapsing in a heap having pulled the quads in both legs. As Mike Daly’s match report told it:
Alain’s innings was ended early as he set off for a quick single, managing to leave both thigh muscles behind in the process. He valiantly made it to the other end for a single and had to retire hurt on one not out - one for the average.
Pierre Bosquet was a French army general who took a dim view of the charge of the Light Brigade: “C’est magnifique, mais ce n’est pas la guerre; c'est de la folie.” Perhaps he had Alain’s Ibstone campaign in mind.
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*At Ripley Rob (“I’m really a fielder not a bowler”) Wall pulled off the catch of the season. Our Ripley correspondent wrote:
“James Clover drove hard towards cover, but Wall, stationed at short cover pulled off a truly outstanding catch, very low to his right, with the ball virtually past him. Perhaps the best Strollers catch ever? Certainly Top Three.”
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*For six matches in a row the Strollers took the game into the final over. This may be a short season but it has certainly not been short of drama.
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And so the winding road led to Berkshire and the traditional end-of-season clash with our friends at Pinkneys Green for the final match of the truncated nine-game campaign.
The mercury was dropping fast and the breeze appeared to be coming direct from the Urals. It was cold; very cold. Or, in other words, it was roughly equivalent to a balmy summer’s day in Wellington. It was so chilly that Jim Hodgson was heard to remark: “I think at last it’s time for a second sweater.”
Skipper Glen Oliver lost the toss (of course) and Pinkneys Green raced off to a healthy start. Talented opener Ben Purchese (71), who plies his Saturday league trade at nearby Henley, and Chris Heyes (59) put on 121 for the first wicket until Rob Wall (“I’m a batsman not a bowler”) came on from the pavilion end and induced a caught behind.
From 121-0 and 175-3 Pinkneys were reined back to close their 40 overs on 238-8 thanks to Wall’s 6-1-12-3 and a fine spell from promising youngster Aidan Selby, who finished with 5-0-23-4. It was not thanks to what skipper Oliver described as “the worst display of Strollers fielding I have ever seen.” And he should know, as he sported a bruised finger from one dropped catch and a battered palm from another.
The Strollers showed they meant business as Blair Travis carefully changed into a clean pair of batting trousers for the assault. Travis (35) and Hamish McDougall (66) put on 87 for the first wicket. But McDougall perished (“I should never have had a hoick; James Timperley wouldn’t have given it away like that,” said a contrite McDougall).
Alain Cross (13) kept the score moving but after 20 overs the score stood at 87. A lot to do. Enter a bristling Selby, buoyed by his bowling success. And the chase was on. Wall had joined Selby and the pair ran like whippets (or, in Wall’s case, an out-of-breath whippet). Wall on-drove for six and Selby pulled into the gaps.
Then came a nasty moment. A high full toss caught Selby flush on the ear and our boy fell to the ground, blood spattering his whites. After a long and anxious delay, Selby was back on his feet, head swathed in bandages and ready to press on. More boundaries came and our hero was only halted when he dived full-length but was run out for a gallant 69. As he stumbled back to the pavilion son Rhys ran out to shepherd his battered dad off the field.
[The Strollers Facebook page later showed that iconic picture of the bloodied and bandaged Terry Butcher in an England shirt – now Selby can be mentioned in the same glorious breath].
But back to the gripping action...in strode Oliver, carefully cradling his bruised digit. “I can only use one hand,” he said. “Let’s hope it’s enough.”
And it was...nearly. Seven runs required off the last over. A snick that flew past the keeper to the boundary made the equation simpler. But Oliver was bowled by a superb yorker and it was left to Ben Mangham, with one run required off two deliveries, to hit the winning run with the Mighty Wall (showing clearly on this evidence that he is a batsman and a bowler) not out on 39.
Amongst the vast socially distanced crowd were Steph, Naomi, Clare, Sarah and Jo to roar the visitors to victory. Brian and Tricia Taylor (who brought along a consignment of delicious home-made florentines) were there too to lend their long Strollers experience and wisdom and at the scorer’s table, with coloured pencils in hand, was the welcome figure of your president, Maggie Patston.
It was a great game with our friendly and hospitable hosts to round off this strangest of seasons. Steve Jinman from Pinkneys Green recently sent me the scorecard from what he believes is the first meeting between the two clubs – in 1989 on our old home ground at Old Merchant Taylors. A certain Peter Patston opened the batting and then took 3-64.
Also in the crowd for this thrilling drama was Jono Addis, who was named as skipper in the starting XI but a bruised thumb sustained the previous week during a masterclass in electric fielding against Wooburn kept him out of the side. Now Jono, Caroline, Bethany and Christopher are all set for a stint in New Zealand. We wish them well...but will hold open a place in the team for their return.
Jono, who in between piling on the runs, starring in the field, occasionally keeping wicket and often leading the Strollers, kept his engineer’s flag flying in Hertfordshire. And he also plied his trade as a thespian. Addis’s online actor’s profile reveals that he can be used for “geeky, intellectual, posh, professional and villainous characters.” Would he perform nude? Only professionally is the coy reply.
From a modest beginning when he hit 207no in 2010 and 201 in 2011 [both against Pinkneys Green], Jono has played 111 matches and scored 5699 runs at 64.76. That total, of course, places him in fourth spot in the all-time runscorers. Hamish McDougall is just behind him on 5634 with Danny John [on 5484] another long-ago stalwart now left in their wake.
And so it was the season that nearly never was. By some means or other we got some games in. Cricket was played. We said farewell to Mr Tambourine Man and, as he would have wished, we raised a glass and strolled on.
All corrections and additions to match reporter Simon Brodbeck please.
Capt and match fees: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Hamish McDougall.
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