Street End

Match Report

Straggler batsmen found their touch again in the lovely autumn sunshine at Street End and managed to post a score (just) enough to secure another win, although Street End were in with a shout right to the end. Jasper and Patch M, the latter batting for much of his innings with a bat that sounded like a broken floorboard, addressed all that was sent in their direction with great poise and control. With a green wicket and considerable swing, the bowlers tended to drop slightly too many short of a length, and the opportunities were rarely wasted. The century partnership came and went, drinks were taken at 116 without loss, and a very large total looked in prospect. With both batsmen level on 79, Patch miscued a lofted drive very slightly, and the catch was gratefully accepted, the score now 165. Jeremy Godden was undone by a toe crunching yorker, the Master Brewer (14) lifted a glorious six towards the pavilion and perished next ball. Theo did what he needed to (a fourth dismissal in the season to lodge his claim for the batting award). And at the other end Jasper marched on to complete his 15^th Straggler century, finally stumped for 115. Christian Hollingworth 22*, having miscued a couple of early balls, put the finishing touches to the innings with some big shots over the rope, and George 11* joined him for the final flurry. 264 for 5 seemed like a total to be readily defended.

Hugo came into the game still looking for his 100^th Straggler wicket, almost a month on from his 99^th. He did not have to wait long. Tom Stewart was met with a full-length ball on the boot and Hugo had his milestone. The Stragglers were then kept at bay by Tom Guest and Paul Betts, both of whom were scoring just briskly enough to keep the game alive, the latter hitting anything pitched on the drive with fearsome power. Fortunately, the Straggs had turned up with a squad and were rotating fielders, so we still had a full side in the field when Tom sent George Moynihan back to the pavilion to put his hand in a bucket of ice. Hugo, Toby and George were kept at bay, and pace was taken off the ball. Christian was ripping turn out of the wicket, and finally got rid of Paul, the ball bouncing around the batsman and keeper like a pinball before settling neatly into Jasper’s hands at slip. The Chairman had batsmen counting to ten to give the ball time to arrive before playing a stroke but was profligate with the wides (exceptional swing), and put down a return catch, which might have proved decisive. Christian (2 for 42) induced another false shot, taken out of the sun by George, whose injury shortly thereafter brought Jasper into the attack. Tom was kept off-strike long enough in each over to hold the run rate back, but the occasional huge six into the woods reminded the Straggs of the potential for extreme harm. Toby (1 for 32) bowled like the wind with a wonderful spell of ferocious pace and finished with a maiden in the 36th over. Hugo (1 for 26) followed up with his final two overs, with Jasper (1 for 44) holding up the other end. Tom was undefeated on 110 at the close, having passed his 1,000 runs for the season at 85, but Street End fell 19 short of the target. A really good game of cricket with great opponents, and always a wonderful way to begin the September wind down to the season. And all to play for at Elham with the batting award.