Maidenhead and Bray
Sunday June 1 in Bray Strollers won by five wickets Maidenhead & Bray 198
(39.5 overs; Mangham 3-14, Rogers 2-25, Macaulay 2-26, Broster-Turley 1-39, Le Serve 1-43 )
Strollers 199-5
(39.5 overs; Oliver 83no, Broster-Turley 56no, Travis 28).
Well sports fans, we’ve had The Rumble in the Jungle, The
Thrilla in Manila…now there is another legendary sporting tagline, The Affray
in Bray!
Who would have thought that this village oval, naturally
church spired, vicarage observed with picture-perfect beach hedge and picket
fence would be the backdrop, nay arena, for such a gladiatorial tussle, a
coming of age, a fulfilment of destiny!
A day, that in future years, “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”,
will raise our chins slightly higher, blink our now cloudy eyes, the fire
reigniting in the steely blue momentarily once more…and say I was there.
Our beloved game was served well this day, Cricket is a
team sport true, but within that team are 11 solo artists strumming their cords
and riffs making the one song and on this day the song was sweet, so very sweet,
that angels did weep.
The Strollers have always had the “give everybody a go”
policy and on this day not only did everyone have a go but every player did
their part to create a little bit of magic. It is for games like this, that I
for one — and I know many others — still play the Sunday game. A slightly
gentler, funnier, self-deprecating version of our game – but none the less
completive.
A day spent at a beautiful ground playing against
likeminded opposition in June, is far more important than I think we realise.
Special times with special people; happy days. A huge thank you should go out
to our hosts Maidenhead and Bray Cricket Club, for again delivering an
excellent game of cricket. Skipper Matt Armstrong take a bow, Sir.
Without further ado we will move onto the main course….
In Strollers tradition we lost the toss and were invited to
field. The bowling attack was spearheaded by “Bandana” Broster-Turley and “Lord
Del La Rue. Maidenhead and Bray’s opening pair of Medina and Armesh proved to
be very much up to the task. A fascinating back and forth ensued with edges
being found, delicate guides and cuts, the run column rattling up. Finally, the
breakthrough came with Broster-Turley dismissing Medina for 35 – finding
Maidenhead 59-1. Honours slightly in the hosts’ favour.
Armesh continued to stroke the ball either side of the
wicket as our emerging allrounder Jack Le Serve continued his journey of
finding that sweet spot of line and length. Maidenhead and Bray kicked on for
another 50-run partnership between Virk and the elegant Armesh.
Something needs to happen here, the match reporter thought,
as yet another quick single was taken to him in the covers…
Armesh was thankfully deceived by the most Strolleresque
delivery – the short loopy pie that snuck under a legside swish. Finally, the
formidable Armesh fell to Le Serve for 62. Maidenhead and Bray 121-2 just after
drinks.
With the vital breakthrough made, Captain Blair released those
two wily foxes: Steve Rogers and Ben Mangham. Mangham caused the proverbial
feathers to fly as he savaged the middle order with his demented bag of all
sorts returning figures of 3-14 off five. A special mention must be made for
yet another fine fielding performance by Blair, who plucked a boundary-destined
bullet out of the air to dismiss Virk for 22.
Rogers, whirli-gigging from the other end, dismissed
Appavoo – a fine left-handed batsman – for 0, caught outrageously by Harry
Mangham at slip. Rogers went on to take a caught and bowled. By then the die
was cast and Macaulay finished off proceedings aided by the coolest of cats
behind the stumps Hugh Martindale, casually brushing the bails off for a
stumping. Maidenhead all out for 198.
The Strollers reply got off to a steady, but somewhat slow
start – this was not down to batsmen error, but due to some of the most
metronomic fine bowling the match reporter has seen this season. Nothing given,
ball doing a bit from young fast left-armer Soni and swinging fellow opener
Moorithy bowling a probing line. Blair and Le Serve did well to keep them out
for nine overs as we scraped together 34 hard fought runs.
Blair sensing that the run rate was beginning to rise to an
uncomfortable level, went over the top for a well needed boundary. But with the
blood pumping, tried to repeat the shot the very next ball and failed.
Soni then cleaned up Le Serve, in-swinging yorker. Strollers 38-2. Sorry, make that three down
for 38 as Martindale was trapped lbw by Soni’s in-swinging yorker. Hang on,
this young lad can bowl that ball at will; glad I am umpiring thought the match
reporter.
A bowling change due, I presume, to Soni’s age brought on
Appavoo, the left-hander caught smartly by Harry Mangham for 0 earlier on. The
6ft 3in paceman seemed not to have forgotten this and returned Mangham to the
hutch, caught behind for one. Strollers four down for 44.
Glen Oliver for the first time this season was not looking
completely comfortable and uncharacteristically was using the edge of his bat
more than the meat as he scratched and shuffled into his innings. But where
there’s Oliver, there’s hope.
Another bowling change saw yet another pace demon arrive,
this time in the form of Virk – effortlessly swinging the ball away to the
slightly befuddled Rogers and nipping it back off the seam. Rogers gallantly
hung around for a well-fought six before succumbing to Appavoo. But most
importantly, Rogers had stayed with Oliver for enough time that he seemingly
regained his batting equilibrium. Strollers 79-5.
As the match reporter/umpire scuttled off to get padded up,
it seemed that his services may be required sooner rather than later… get home
early I guess, not all bad.
He had no idea that he had just run past the living
embodiment of true grit, the swash buckler and man about to pop a batting
cherry. Padded up with a consoling pint in hand prior to my turn to face this
superb bowling attack, I joined the team to watch our inevitable demise.
What was to unfold accompanied by the clubhouse sound
system’s Ibizan playlist will go down in Stroller’s history and rightly so. Pint
half gone, seating positions now becoming superstitiously important amongst the
team, 100 up and no further wickets. A partnership was forming – 98 required
off 15 overs.
Freddie Broster-Turley not only had stuck around but was
beginning to tick with shots, proper cricketing shots in the V, off his pads, and
guides through gully as he supported, nay joined, Oliver in the chase. With 10
overs to go the target had been reduced to 66, gettable for sure on paper, but
the quality of the Maidenhead and Bray bowling attack would make the last 10
overs an uncomfortable watch.
Pint finished and replaced. If I was required to bat it
would be sponsored by Fosters, the match reporter slurred.
Over 34 saw the first decisive blow from Oliver taking the
returning Soni for 14. Broster-Turley spurred on, hitting his own consecutive
boundaries to take him past his career top score of 41.
As the shadows lengthened, the field began to spread,
Oliver and Broster-Turley dropped and ran, nurdled twos into the
ever-increasing gaps. Clinical…nay surgical.
A milestone looming – Broster-Turley’s maiden 50 at any
level – a game very much in the balance. Second pint finished; yikes this is
going down to the wire.
Broster-Turley is now a proud member of the FSSCC
allrounders roster – with a push to midwicket he passed 50 to a huge roar from
the boundary that drowned out The Sugarbabes for a moment. Last over six required; we needed 5 balls to
complete the job. Pint anyone?
Capt: Blair Travis. Wkt: Hugh Martindale.
Match report: Ben Mangham. Match fees: Freddie Broster-Turley.
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