Strollers 162
(32.3 overs; Oliver 54, Wall 28, Helsby 24, Le Serve 19, Travis 10)
Royal Ascot 163-5
(34.3 overs; Travis 2-16, Macaulay 1-26, Le Serve 1-28, Rogers 1-34).
After
temperatures pushed up to the mid-twenties throughout the week the Strollers
were greeted with a cool and gusty outlook at Royal Ascot. “Very Wellingtonian
conditions” was the view of Rob Wall, who presumably felt right at home
based on the 34 overs of unadulterated builder’s crack on display. The club has
gratefully offered to pay for counselling for the poor souls fielding in the
slips cordon throughout the day.
Skipper
Glen Oliver had forewarned the team early in the week that the local rule was
to retire at 50. Whatever Glen’s intentions, he need not have worried as no
Stroller apart from Oliver got into the 30s.
A negotiated toss saw the Strollers bat first in a 40-over match which for the
second week running was being filmed live. A full replay of the day’s events
can be watched at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjegRekQ5kw.
The
match got off to an unfortunate start with the Royal Ascot keeper being struck
above the eye in the second over from an awkward bouncing delivery down the
legside. Dr. Ben Mangham came to the rescue and did a fine job patching him up.
Royal Ascot were quickly able to arrange a replacement and we wish him a speedy
recovery.
After Blair Travis departed in the fourth over lbw for 10 to Benjamin Moffat,
Wall and Oliver went about building the innings nicely with a solid 72-run
partnership to take the score to 88-2. Royal Ascot bowler Jeremey Wing was able
to break the partnership, trapping Wall in front lbw for 28. Wing was a tricky
prospect to face and went on to rip the heart out of the batting order on his
way to a fine return of 5-34 from his eight-over spell.
All 10 wickets were either bowled or lbw as the Strollers were only able to
muster a score of 162 all out - Oliver the last to fall having come back in
after retiring on 50 earlier. The score felt under par and would need an
exceptional fielding effort if victory was to be achieved.
An early wicket each to Steve Rogers and Jack Le Serve in the fourth and fifth
over was a great start to the innings but further inroads were hard to come by.
Royal Ascot opener James Docker and No 4 Adam Smith both made fine 50s and duly
retired. Smith was particularly punishing, scoring his 55 not out from just 13
scoring shots (50 of which were boundaries: 8x4s & 3x6s).
Things did tighten up with scoring becoming difficult in the middle overs. But
with 42 runs needed to win and about 22 overs to do it, time was never going to
be an issue. Late wickets to spin twins Alastair Macaulay (1-26) and Travis
(2-16) were not enough to delay the inevitable with Royal Ascot comfortably
chasing the score down with five overs
remaining and only five wickets down.
Both teams were more than happy to retreat into the warmth of the clubroom and
discuss the day's events over a few drinks. On to Jordans Taverners...
Capt: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Rob Wall.
Match
report: Steve Rogers. Match fees: Simon Brodbeck.
