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Dodgers

Thursday July 9 at Barn Elms

Strollers won by four wickets

Dodgers 155-7
(20 overs; Millar 2-25, Low 1-13, Shannon 1-15, Hawkings 1-25, Macaulay 1-25)
Strollers 156-6
(19.4 overs; Pittams 39no, McCroddan 31no, Oliver 29no)

The Midweek Juggernaut got back on track with a second consecutive win in Barnes despite being a couple of players short (though that doesn't seem to be a hindrance).

The Dodgers called correctly and so the nine of Fleet Street were led onto the pitch by Freddie Broster-Turley in the hot evening sun. Freddie opened the bowling and by his own admission was a bit rusty. Runs came quickly with our reduced fielders until Rufus Hawkings struck at the other end, as Glen Oliver took a good catch at mid-on. One of the Dodgers batsmen made a quick 25 and retired. We didn't want to see him again.

The run rate slowed and wickets fell as Freddie rang the changes. Freddie called on eight out of nine Strollers to bowl. Only Mike ("fuming") Pittams missed out . Hector Millar, fresh from his ton at Peppard, displayed his all-rounder credentials with four overs of varied deliveries including an attempted bouncer that nearly took his toes off.

He got a couple of wickets including a stunning caught and bowled. Keith Shannon induced a caught behind off his first ball. Hawkings effected a neat run-out as the batters dithered.

Alastair Macaulay bowled his four overs economically with the usual “ct Oliver” wicket included. The wily John Low bowled accurately and was rewarded with a stumping. The Dodgers innings closed on 155. Our sole supporter, Glen Oliver's mum, reckoned that was very gettable with the quick outfield.

Mike Pittams and Conrad McCroddan opened the batting. Mike played in his normal aggressive manner and quickly reached his 25. At the other end Conrad played and missed a few but kept things ticking over. Keith Shannon came and went without troubling the scoreboard.

Glen Oliver and Conrad continued to push the score along until Conrad reached his 25 and retired followed closely by Glen. Low and Broster-Turley took up the cause until John was run out going for an ambitious second. With plenty of batting to come, John accepted that it probably for the best.

Rufus hit a glorious straight six but was out soon after; Freddie was bowled trying to smash one out of the ground.

Last man Alastair joined Hector at the crease, not intending to stay long as there were three more still to come back. To everyone's surprise he hit his first ball for four.

Hector was promptly out, skying one back to the bowler and so Mike returned. Alastair hit one more boundary down the ground and was then stumped allowing Conrad back to help finish the innings.

Twenty runs were needed off the last two overs. With the field spread, there were plenty of twos on offer (and better that Mike and Conrad were running them according to Alastair's internal monologue). Mike hit the winning boundary with three balls to spare finishing on 39 not out.

The Strollers made their way to the Red Lion where Rob Wall was waiting with some ice cold Flensburgers.

Capt: Freddie Broster-Turley. Wkt: Mike Pittams/Rufus Hawkings.
Match fees: Richard Keightley. Match report: Alastair Macaulay.