The annual trip to Hurley has been such a regular fixture
over the years it would be remiss not to provide some background. A review of
the last ten match reports tells us the following:
Past results: Over the last ten encounters,
the Strollers have a commanding 8-1 win-loss record, with one draw. The
Strollers have won the last three meetings (2022-2024), including a commanding
eight-wicket victory in 2024. The games are often high-scoring; Strollers have
posted formidable totals of 278, 243, and 268 in recent years.
Format: The fixture is often a timed game, which
introduces an interesting strategic factor for captains to consider.
The Strollers' Talisman: Glen Oliver: A central
figure. He scores runs consistently (99*, 41*, 70* in the last three years),
takes crucial wickets (a five-wicket haul in 2020), is frequently captain, and
is often involved in the game's key moments (including running out his
partners). His performance is a reliable narrative hook.
The Pitch & Outfield: The
pitch is often described as one with “low bounce.” The large outfield tree,
which counts for four if hit, is a unique and consistent feature worth
mentioning.
General comments: Hurley has always been lauded
for its beautiful, picturesque setting. It's a “lovely place to play.” The
presence of supporters (“Strollettes”), a friendly opposition, and an
exceptional tea are recurring motifs: the 2023 "Indian-themed tea"
and the 2024 tea were singled out for high praise.
It was a beautiful summer’s day to arrive at Hurley, to a
pitch well known to be friendly to batsmen, and a timed game in store. Captain
Peter Wood won the toss and elected to bat, confident of posting a big total
and giving us a chance of wrapping up the day early.
Jonny Waugh, a recent recruit who had attracted the eye of
scout George Love during a midweek match, was called in to open alongside Blair
Travis. The pair worked the opening bowlers with ease, and after a few overs’
grace, it became quickly apparent that Waugh’s recruitment will be devastating
to our opponents' new ball budget.
After dispatching both Hurley’s new ball and its
replacement into the neighbouring paddock, the Strollers’ new ball was provided
and was promptly dealt the same fate - Waugh scored 26 runs from that over from
R Singh. This prompted calls from the wicketkeeper to one fielder to “just stay
over there” in the next paddock; a suggestion that would have saved us all
time, as another two sixes were delivered to the same spot in the next over.
It’s not often that the fielding side is brought back in
from the ropes when Travis faces, but such was the devastation of Waugh. With
his mother-in-law watching from the boundary with admiration, Waugh brought up
his marvellous century off 52 balls and retired in the 17th over, bringing Hugh
Martindale to the crease.
Travis, pleased to finally get some strike, continued
picking away in classic style. He and Martindale combined well to keep the runs
ticking over, before Martindale was caught short of the crease running a
marginal single in the 25th over for 19.
The drama of the run-out caused a brain fart by Travis,
with an uncharacteristic stroke being easily pouched the following ball, gone
for a well-constructed 80.
New to the crease with 210 already on the board, Glen “The
Talisman” Oliver and Richard Skinner took a few overs to get their eyes in
before receiving whispers from Captain Wood: he had been bored since Waugh's
fireworks had ended, and he was itching to find out what was for tea.
The two picked the run-rate up, putting 50 more on the
board off the next five overs - including a bucket-list four off the tree for
Skinner - to bring the total to 261 at the close of the 31st over. Satisfied
with this total, Captain Wood gave the signal and the declaration was called.
The situation was eerily reminiscent of the same fixture in
2018, in which the Strollers declared after 33 overs in 2018 with 268 on the
scoreboard. In that match, Hurley held out for 47 overs to force a draw; would
261 prove to be enough this year?
After an exceptional tea - a sea of samosas, chana biryani,
tuna pasta, a platter of biscuits - the Strollers lumbered out into the beating
sun to continue proceedings.
Given that Waugh had earlier cleared the briefcase of the
choicest half-dozen balls, James Dela Rue kicked off the bowling campaign with
a heavily scratched and dubiously-shaped ball Oliver had found deep in his bag;
on a batter-friendly wicket, this was not the ideal start. Despite this, Dela
Rue took the first wicket in the fifth over, caught comfortably by Oliver.
R Singh and S Kayani then combined to comfortably see off
the opening bowlers, as well as new recruit Isa Pandor and not-so-new-recruit
Jim Hodgson, to push to 132-1 after 19 overs. A few dropped catches along the
way did not help the cause, and the Strollers were starting to wonder whether
their declaration had been premature.
It was in the 20th over that ‘Stair Macaulay made a
breakthrough: Travis holding on to a screamer at gully, and then another was
pouched by Oliver in the deep later that over.
Travis’s catch was rewarded with a few overs to bowl, and
he and Macaulay brought about the demise of another three batsmen: Travis took
Nabi in the 25th over, caught by Oliver, and Macaulay took A Singh lbw for a
duck in the 26th over. J Singh was then run out by a direct hit from Travis in
the 30th over.
This brought Groundsman Razaq to the crease, and he and R
Singh worked well to push the total. Mulholland and Oliver were employed to
little avail, and both batsmen looked comfortable as Singh brought up his
century in the 33rd over.
With the runs required dwindling, Captain Wood brought
himself back into the fold for the 37th over and took matters into his own
hands, bowling R Singh for 120, leaving the hosts with only 25 to win and three
wickets left in hand.
M Razaq and Mo Basharat held out valiantly, picking up a
few dangerous boundaries to inch them closer to the total, before Oliver took
the eighth wicket (Basharat, bowled) with the hosts just eight shy of the total
in the 40th over.
The 41st over by Captain Wood saw a four and a two, before
Macaulay at extra cover performed a crucial diving block, saving a certain
boundary, and the following ball he clutched on to a screaming forward-diving
catch to dismiss Razaq.
The final over was upon us, the hosts requiring only two to
win and with one wicket remaining. Hodgson was heard proclaiming that the
tension was so high, spectator Simon Brodbeck had chewed through his umbrella
handle on the boundary rope.
Oliver barked his orders to the fielders - to great effect
- as five very tense dots followed. The final ball approached: in classic
Oliver style, a quicker ball took off-stump, and the game was ours.
Player of the day was declared by Tom Wood to be Macaulay;
his crucial three wickets and exemplary fielding meant we had completely
forgotten the quick century of Waugh on debut earlier in the day, for he may
have otherwise been a shoe-in.
Caps were presented to Neale Mulholland and Martindale for
their achievements of ten matches for the club, and we celebrated with a few
pints from the wide selection on offer at the bar.
All credit to Hurley for being wonderful hosts; we’re
already looking forward to next year.
Capt: Peter Wood. Wkt: Hugh Martindale.
Match report: Richard Skinner. Match fees: Jim Hodgson.
