Stanton by Dale
Sunday August 31 at Stanton Strollers lost by eight wickets Strollers 222-8
(40 overs; Salvesen 57, Helsby 47, Oliver 37, Mangham 19, Medina 12, Rogers 11)
Stanton by Dale 226-2
(35 overs; Medina 2-30). The Fleet Street Strollers returned for their annual tour
fixture against Stanton by Dale, a game that always carries a little extra
weight with the David Tranter Trophy on the line. Tradition dictated that the
Strollers would bat first and, as ever, there was the added colour of Jim
Hodgson keeping spirits high the night before with a generous supply of wine.
Jack Le Serve and Mrinal Medina opened the innings with
some sharp running between the wickets. Jack managed a boundary but was soon
trapped lbw. Isa Pandor arrived at No 3 and did his best to weather a fiery
opening spell. Mrinal followed shortly after, also falling lbw, which brought
captain Glen Oliver to the crease. Glen arrived under pressure, having not
scored a run all tour, but when he finally got off the mark the cheers from the
Strollers made it feel like he had reached a century.
Glen and Isa began to settle things, although Pandor eventually
succumbed to a loose shot against the spin and was bowled. Glen, however, found
his rhythm at last. He and Steve Rogers built steadily, with Glen playing his
best innings of the tour. He reached a well-made 37 before a short ball, which
deserved punishment, was instead hit straight to the fielder on the boundary.
Steve’s innings ended in desperately unlucky fashion. Having just struck a
four, he was run out for 11 when a firm drive from Tom Salvesen was deflected
onto the stumps by the bowler’s fingertip.
At that point the Strollers simply looked to bat out the
overs and post a respectable total but Tom and Jake Helsby rose to the
occasion, stitching together the partnership of the innings. Tom played
fluently for a fine 57 and Jake fell agonisingly short of a half-century with
49. Their stand gave the Strollers a much-needed lift. Rain forced a break with
six overs left, which was embraced as the perfect moment for a superb cricket
tea – produced courtesy of premier caterers Tricia Taylor, Steph Turner and Kathy
Brodbeck. Sweet treats, sandwiches and even a pot of chilli left everyone more
than satisfied.
After tea the innings resumed briefly. Tom was dismissed
and Ben Mangham contributed 19 before being run out. Paige Copsey and Alastair
Macaulay were unable to add to the score, while Simon Brodbeck remained happily
unrequired. The innings closed on 222-8 from the allotted 40 overs, a total
that gave the Strollers something to defend.
Pandor and Le Serve took the new ball. Isa bowled his eight
overs straight through, conceding just 31 runs without reward. Jack struggled
for consistency, his five overs going for 36 as the Stanton openers took
advantage. Mangham then delivered a tight seven-over spell that even included a
maiden, although he was unlucky not to claim a wicket.
Rogers kept wicket for the first 20 overs and did well on one
of his rare outings behind the stumps. After drinks the side reshuffled, with
Steve coming on to bowl and Le Serve donning the gloves. Medina joined the
attack and provided the breakthrough, dismissing both the first and third
batsmen to finish with 2-30 from four overs. He might have had a third had a
slip catch been held.
Despite those efforts Stanton opener David King anchored
the chase, battling through cramps to reach a hundred. Copsey, Oliver and Macaulay
all contributed overs in the closing stages but the target was eventually
reached. Stanton secured victory by eight wickets.
With the result confirmed, the Strollers handed over the
trophy for this year. Despite the defeat there were plenty of positives to
take, not least the fine batting of Tom and Jake, Glen’s return to form, and
Mrinal’s wickets. The fixture was played in the best of spirits and the team is
already looking forward to next year’s rematch and the chance to reclaim the
silverware.
Capt: Glen Oliver. Wkt: Steve Rogers/Jack Le Serve.
Match report: Isa Pandor.
| 
