Peppard
Sunday July 6 at Peppard Strollers won by 96 runs Strollers 266-5
(35 overs; Oliver 50no, Hartley 39, Rogers 31no, Broster-Turley 31no, Pandor 24, Wall 16, Martindale 13, Waugh 10)
Peppard 170-8
(35 overs; Bennett 3-20, Rogers 2-18, Pandor 1-23, Macaulay 1-23, Dela Rue 1-42). With monsoon-like rain on the drive to the ground, the idea
of playing cricket seemed a distant prospect…only to arrive at Peppard to
glorious sunshine.
Skipper Steve Rogers won/negotiated the toss and decided we
would have a bat.
Rob Wall and Jonny Waugh walked out, with Waugh dispatching
the first ball to a (very) long midwicket boundary, and the third ball into the
carpark, narrowly missing Glen Oliver’s Audi.
This flurry of runs quickly ended though, as the class of
the two opening bowlers started to show. Waugh turned into Michael Clarke and
was fooled by a ball delivered wide of the crease, raising his arms as it
cannoned into middle stump.
Wall battled hard at the other end, struggling with the
express pace and movement. However, within this he managed to unleash (one of)
the moments of the season, cracking a cut through backward point that was
applauded by the bowler for both its beauty and execution.
While Wall struggled, Isa Pandor took the attack to the
bowlers – unleashing an unorthodox approach of showing all his stumps and using
both the inside and outside of his bat to pepper the boundary behind the
keeper. A solid second-wicket partnership of 48 was broken with Wall being hit
halfway up his back leg in front of middle. He walked, not allowing umpire Rogers
the choice as to whether he was lbw.
Enter Neil Hartley, who once again dazzled the opposition
with his unique mix of pulls and reverse sweeps – sprinting between the wicket
for a solid 39. He was joined by Oliver, who did what he does best, feasting on
the middle order bowlers and dispatching boundaries with ease on his way to a
50 not out.
Hugh Martindale also scored a rapid 13 before being bowled
leaving the skipper on 31 not out and Freddie Broster-Turley (pronounced
“Broo-ster”) also on 31 not out as they guided us with aplomb to the finish.
Unfortunately tea was not provided for all. Instead Wall
had diligently baked, cheffed and cured himself (and Hartley) a ham and cheese
baguette.
New recruit Will Bennett had threatened big pace (with 130
clicks mentioned as a goal). He opened up downwind and certainly was fast (if
not mercurial in line and length).
Wicketkeeper Martindale did an outstanding job, saving many
a bye/wide. Will’s bowling also led to one of the best (ever) Strollers catches
(according to Oliver) at slip. A ball was flayed off the outside edge with
Jonny jumping off his feet, parrying it then turning in air to regather all in
one motion. It was scarcely believable even watching it!
Will claimed a couple more wickets (which involved smashing
the stumps everywhere) in a promising first spell for the Strollers of 3-18.
At the other end Brooster (0-18) toiled away, continuing
his season’s trend of bowling well only to see the wickets fall at the other
end. Our Lord (James Dela Rue) came on first change with the batsmen licking
their lips at his slightly reduced pace compared with Bennett. He delivered an
expensive spell of 1-42.
Rogers (2-18) made the most of a dry pitch spinning the
ball with ease. Meanwhile Alastair Macaulay (1-21) and Pandor (1-21) made light
work of the tail.
We retired to the bar for a few beers with the opposition –
the beautiful (not quite in Henley) ground at Peppard a wonderful setting once
again.
Capt: Steve Rogers. Wkt: Hugh Martindale.
Match fees: Alastair Macaulay. Match report: Rob Wall.
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