Elham

Match Report

The Straggler season drew to a close on a wonderful early autumn day at Elham, the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness very much to the fore, the day before the autumn equinox.  For the second game on the bounce, the Chairman was invited to open (the middle order batted at the way to XI, albeit with the Beetle wearing an injury and only able to bat one handed, had he been required). Charlie Cowdrey at the other end kept a sharp young Afghan opening bowler at bay, and, with the Chairman gone for 11, a very sound basis was built by Nige and Charlie, with a second wicket partnership of 61.  There was even talk during a very brief rain break, of Nigel returning to his position of primacy above Jasper in the all-time list of Straggler run scorers.  Sadly, Nigel perished for 19, to be replaced by Tom McCarty, who had waited patiently as the elder statesmen occupied the crease.  Tom and Charlie upped the rate, the latter reaching his half century with a flurry of boundaries.  Just when they were looking secure and a very big score looming, Charlie was bowled round his legs for 64, and a Straggler collapse began to unfold.  With lack of pace taken to a whole new level, George, Tom Tribe and then Tom Mc (29) were back in the pavilion in a hurry, the score 156 for 6.  The final game of the season often creates a degree of jeopardy for the leading batsmen and bowlers on show.  Harry Heming began the game so far ahead, averaging over 70, that the only batsman, who could possibly catch him (albeit in wildly unlikely circumstances) was Hugo, who now came out to join Harry.  They pretty much matched each other run for run, dealing initially with the absence of pace, and then more comfortably as some pace was added at the close.  Harry ended undefeated on 44*, and Hugo on 37*, with Harry very comfortably the leading batsman, with 396 runs at an average of 79.20.  Harry also scored 188 earlier in the season at Egerton, the second highest individual Straggler score on record and, in doing so, with Arthur Collins at the other end, set a new Straggler partnership record for the 1st (and any) wicket of 291.  Not a bad summer’s work!

Joe Gordon opened for the Stragglers and made the mistake of believing in his very substantial slip cordon (were there 5 or 6?).  With Joe bowling a line to bring the troops into play, the opening batsman found gaps with relative ease, clearly favouring the cut past, through and over the protection.  At the other end Tom Tribe bowled a sharp in-ducker to remove another young Afghan, who had aspirations to hit every ball to Kabul.  Joe finally gave up on the cordon, and, aiming at the stumps to give himself more of a chance, took two in quick succession (2 for 22), and learnt a lesson, which all Straggler fast bowlers get to in the end – relying on the slip cordon can be a thankless task.  Harry Heming replaced Joe and, turning the ball square from just outside off, found a way past the opener, who had been very comfortable with the square cut, and followed up with another (2 for 15).  At the other end, the Chairman was looking for a 29th wicket for the season to make it his most successful, and after a few balls down leg to challenge Tom Mc behind the stumps, tucked into the lower middle order with 3 for 25, the first Straggler since Will Gow in 1996 to take more than 30 wickets in a season.  Replacing Harry, Hugo now played with fire.  Marginally ahead as the leading bowler coming into the game (Hugo averaging 13.27 and Jasper Williams, having completed his season with a flurry of wickets, on 13.90), Hugo could not afford to concede more than 7 runs without taking a wicket. When number 10 hit Hugo, bowling left-arm spin, to the boundary, he had conceded 9, and the conversation between mid-off and bowler went something like – “You now need a wicket.  Are you changing to right arm?” “No, it seems to be coming out just right”.  And so it proved, with the next ball edged in a gentle loop to Tom T at slip.  With nine wickets down, the Beetle, who had been fielding with one hand better than most do with two, put his injured hand at risk for an over of excitement. Hugo, now back ahead could still give it away.  Another boundary and then a nurdle round the corner to George, who, with the batsman ambling gently, hit the stumps at the bowlers end from short fine leg, and brought the innings and season to a close. Elham were all out for 117 and victory, the 12th of the season, by 116 runs, very ably lead by Toby.  Hugo ended with 12 wickets for 159 at 13.25 to secure the bowling award for the third season in succession.