A Thursday in June and 11 Strollers gather at Barn Elms,
with Dinos this week’s opponents.
That's how I'd like to open this match report. Sadly,
though, the Strollers amassed just eight men for this evening’s effort. No
matter – the Strollers have faced similar struggles before now, the last two
weeks being prime examples.
Captain Glen Oliver was delayed so it was negotiated that
the six Strollers present at the start time of the match would bat. Freddie
Broster-Turley and Pete Robertson headed to the middle.
What they faced was some of the trickiest opening bowling
the Strollers have ever seen on a Thursday. Bowlers Halliwell and Sergio
returned figures of 0-5 (!) and 1-17 from their opening four overs apiece,
leaving the Strollers at just 23-1 after eight. Broster-Turley fell for 13
after getting a few early looseners to the boundary.
That brought Toby Douglas to the crease for his Strollers
debut. The ringer was needed to boost numbers but faced the openers to reach
double figures before a sharp catch behind ended his stint.
Pete Robertson reached 25 to retire and Oliver and Rowan
Smith were brought in to bat together. Making the most of the change in
bowlers, they combined to increase the Strollers run rate, both retiring past
25 at 30 and 28 respectively.
A few added runs and the Strollers made it to a respectable
140-5, managing an impressive 117 from the final 12 overs of the innings.
With a total to defend, the few brave Strollers (plus a
couple of slightly less than willing Dinos) took to the field. Broster-Turley
kept things tight while Smith took the wicket of opener Umair, clean bowling
him after a number of close calls.
The next two batsman each made it to 25, but the pace of
the run-scoring was under control. A stumping from Robertson off the bowling of
Alastair Macaulay, a second for Macaulay and a wicket for Oliver, plus a few
soft run-outs meant that the total of 140 was suddenly threatened by the
prospect of returning batsmen. A tactical effort ensured to bowl economically,
but while actively trying not to take any further wickets!
This was executed perfectly by the Strollers and despite a
third Dino batsman reading the required 25 to retire, it proved to be too
little too late. The chasing effort closed 12 runs short of the required total,
giving the gallant Strollers a well-deserved victory.
Capt: Glen Oliver. Wkt and match report: Pete Robertson.
Match fees: Aidan Selby.
