Winchmore Hill
Sunday May 19 at Winchmore Hill Strollers lost by 55 runs Winchmore Hill (Penn) 271-4
(40 overs; Rogers 2-38, Macaulay 1-31, Skinner 1-51)
Strollers 216
(33.2 overs; Travis 68, Skinner 38, Rogers 27, Mangham 24, Dela Rue 17, Bowden 13). The Strollers returned to Amersham for a second week in
succession, this time for the game against Winchmore Hill. It was a splendid
day and no better place to spend it than on a picturesque ground surrounded by
trees.
With the hot conditions, 2pm start and the possible arrival
of the eleventh man (Michael Pittams) later in the day, many Strollers were
dearly hoping to bat first. They were out of luck, however. Blair Travis, the
matchday captain, was unsuccessful in the toss and the Strollers were fielding
first.
On a flat deck and glorious batting conditions, the
Winchmore Hill openers wasted no time. James Dela Rue and Richard Skinner
opened the bowling for the Strollers, but with the opening batsmen playing
freely on a placid deck, the runs began to stack up quickly.
After a tough first few overs, Skinner began to find his
range and was eventually rewarded with the wicket of opener Stuart Banham,
caught Travis for 38. However, Winchmore Hill had got off to a lightning start,
at 91-1 after 10 overs.
Hugh Martindale and Travis also had a go but were met with
a similar disdain from the batsmen. Steve Rogers, however, managed to stem the
flow of runs with his spin bowling. He picked up a wicket quickly, dismissing No
3 batsman Lenny Balendra for just nine runs, courtesy of a Dela Rue catch at
mid-on. Rogers took another not long after, with wicketkeeper Martindale
(switching to take the gloves after his brief bowling spell) taking a good
catch to his left, to remove the Winchmore captain.
Despite these wickets, the danger man, opener Harry
Balakrishnan, charged on at the other end, playing some glorious strokes and
continuing to dispatch the bowlers to all corners. By this point well on his
way to a century, the Strollers had few answers to his dominant stroke making.
However, Ben Mangham, brought on first change with the unenviable task of
trying to stem the almighty flow of scoring bowled an excellent spell.
At times it looked like he was simply bowling on a
different pitch to everyone else, proving extraordinarily difficult to get away
and commanding the utmost respect of the batsmen, including the well set
Balakrishnan. Unlucky not to get a wicket, but testament to the respect shown
to his bowling, Ben completed his 8 overs for just 26 runs.
The Winchmore middle order provided Balakrishnan with some
support, but it was scarcely required such was his dominance. After bringing up
his century shortly after drinks, the juggernaut rolled on before he eventually
retired on 150 not out.
The Strollers were ruing several dropped chances in the
latter overs but were thankful to have seen the back of Balakrishnan. Alastair Macaulay
picked up a late wicket, clean bowling the No 6 batsman. Neal Mulholland also
bowled some late overs, showing some promise with the ball. However, Winchmore
Hill, on the back of Balakrishnan’s phenomenal innings, finished with 271 runs
for the loss of just 4 wickets.
That total of 271 was always going to be a tall order, but
on a flat track and with in-form opening batsmen Pittams and Travis
(Mike having arrived towards the end of the first innings), the Strollers
had some hope. That hope dissipated quickly, however, as the Winchmore bowlers
ripped through the Strollers top order.
Pittams was first to go, given out lbw last ball of the
first over, after being struck on the pad multiple times in the previous
deliveries. Scott Findlay and Martindale didn’t fare much better, dismissed for
nought and one respectively in short order.
With the Strollers languishing at 14-3 after only a few
overs, it looked like it might be an early beer in the pavilion. Captain Travis
had other ideas. Playing some superb shots and hitting the ball clean as a
whistle, he piled on the runs. He found more than able support in Skinner, in
at No 5, and the two had the scoreboard ticking over at an impressive clip.
Both were scoring freely and brought up a 100-run stand,
giving the Strollers some hope of pulling off this monumental chase.
Unfortunately Skinner was then dismissed caught behind for an excellent 38 with
the Strollers 114-4. Blair’s innings came to an end shortly thereafter when he
tried to play a reverse sweep first ball after drinks - out for a well-made 68.
With the partnership broken and the Strollers’ key batsmen back in the dugout,
Winchmore Hill were right on top once again.
Tim Bowden came in at No 6 and after surviving an early lbw
scare, hit a glorious six over square leg and another majestic boundary. It was
a short and sharp innings from Tim, however, out for 13.
Mangham and Rogers came together, providing some rearguard
action, entertaining those watching in the pavilion with some stroke making.
Steve hit a number of boundaries before being bowled for 27, Mangham followed
suit before being caught for 24.
Mulholland, in at No 9, played some impressive
strokes, including a majestic punch down the ground to get off the mark, but
ended run out for seven. Dela Rue and Macaulay were the last men standing,
being left with a bit too much to do. Dela Rue played a few shots in the
dimming light before being caught for 17, Macaulay adding to his not out tally
with two runs to his name. The Strollers finished all out for 215 in the 34th
over.
Both teams congregated for a joint photoshoot post match,
along with a cleansing ale or two.
Capt: Blair Travis. Wkt: Steve Rogers/Hugh Martindale.
Match fees: Alastair Macaulay. Match report: James Dela Rue.
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