A trip to face Royal Ascot Cricket Club is always
one to look forward to, not least for the chance to play cricket in the middle
of a racecourse. The setting was, as expected, immaculate – lush
outfield, grand surroundings – but appearances can be deceptive. The
pitch offered enough to keep batters honest, and the outfield was anything but
the lightning strip some had optimistically predicted.
Captain Glen Oliver lost the toss and the Strollers were
inserted on a surface that quickly proved tricky to get in on. It was also a
day that saw a debut for George Olley. It is always good to see fresh faces
pulling on the Strollers shirt – though perhaps a shame his introduction
to the club came without the customary tea spread.
Jake Helsby continued his strong form at the top, striking
a fluent 37 at better than a run a ball and looking the most comfortable of the
top order. The rest, however, found life less straightforward.
Early wickets meant consolidation was required, and Brad
Trebilcock took it upon himself to provide it. His 11 from 41 balls was an
exercise in patience and restraint, eventually ended when a momentary lapse saw
him wandering from his crease and run out in absent-minded fashion.
Oliver looked assured during his stay but fell to a short
ball that he could only guide to a waiting leg-side fielder, and at 96-7 the
innings was teetering.
Step forward Steve Rogers. With the lower order for company
and the situation deteriorating, Rogers produced a superb counter-attacking
innings of 53, lifting the Strollers to 172 – a total that felt
competitive, if slightly under par given the conditions.
Credit must go to Ascot in the field, who were outstanding
throughout. Chances were few and far between, and those that did come were
taken with admirable consistency.
After a short break Ascot began their reply.
Freddie Broster-Turley and Isa Pandor opened the bowling
with good energy. Isa struck early with a moment of pure theatre, as one of the
Ascot openers shouldered arms to a delivery that went on to gently dismantle
his leg stump. A leave that will not live long in the memory – at least
not for the right reasons.
At the other end, however, Ascot’s other opener Larry
Hobson, an ex-South African first-class player, demonstrated exactly why such
credentials are mentioned. He raced to a well-made 50, putting pressure back on
the Strollers.
Freddie bowled a tidy spell and deserved more than his
single wicket – indeed, he would have had two were it not for a dropped
chance at first slip. In fairness, the blame has been firmly assigned to Blair
Travis, who, by all accounts, was not actually at first slip at the time.
Oliver then brought himself on and produced an excellent
spell, claiming 2-9 and briefly threatening something special when he found
himself on a hat-trick. He was well supported by Alastair Macaulay, whose two wickets from his five overs were a valuable
contribution in keeping the Strollers in the hunt.
Despite these efforts, Ascot’s middle order steadied
things. Waqas Ashraf compiled a well-earned 50, anchoring the chase with
composure, while wicketkeeper Alexander Oxford added a brisk 23 before picking
out the square leg boundary – only to be met by a superb catch from Pandor,
who judged it to perfection.
With the game tightening, hopes of a late Strollers
resurgence flickered. Unfortunately, they were extinguished in slightly
anticlimactic fashion, as Ascot’s captain took it upon himself to see things
through – carefully managing the strike before dispatching the winning
runs with a six, ensuring maximum personal satisfaction.
For those wishing to relive the highs, lows, and
questionable moments the entire match is, somewhat alarmingly, available to
watch on YouTube.
In the end, a spirited effort from the Strollers, with
notable performances from Helsby, Rogers, Oliver, and Macaulay, but 172 proved
just shy on a pitch that demanded a little more.
Capt: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Jake Helsby.
Match fees: Steve Rogers. Match report: Isa Pandor.
