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Supersub saps Pimlico's stroll

They beat Pimlico Strollers: (standing L-R) Adam Stainton, Nick Clarke, Justin Roy, David Sultanti, John Shaw, Mike Leighton, (kneeling L-R) James Nunn, Ed Paleit (capt), Tim Castle        Picture: Adam Castle

Ed Paleit writes:

The moral of this story is, if the opposing team offer you a local player they haven’t seen before, and he turns out to be middle-aged, leathery-faced, with a soft smile, and answers quietly, ‘yes I can bowl’ if asked if he can, and ‘yes I can bat’, if queried about that – then take him.

Especially if he sands his bat before going in. ‘My guess is, you will never hear of him again’ as Kizer Sozay said of himself.

Returning to their old North London hunting grounds – a mere spitting distance from Highgate CC – an under-strength* Old Fallopians side were asked to field.

The weather was blustery and clear, the outfield quick and uneven, the pitch good but slow. At one end, an Alpine descent to the wicket made the fast bowlers lick their chops; a mountainous clamber to the other, into the wind, served to remind the less speedy that it’s a batsman’s game.

Lack of fielders and some dashing strokeplay from Holmes (28) saw Pimlico Strollers off to a rapid start: 72 for 1 off 10 overs.

Opening bowlers Roy (7-0-33-0) and Nunn (6-0-42-2), on debut, bowled unluckily; Clarke made some great saves behind the stumps as the ball jagged erratically off the seam.

The batsmen were then reined in by line and length bowling from Shaw (5-1-27-0) and a cluster of cheap wickets for Paleit (5-2-7-4).

Shaw was unlucky not to hold on to two howitzers which left him fielding with an ice pack on his hands.

Pimlico’s lower order then staged a gradual recovery, built around Lucarotti’s hockey-style shot-making – he was eventually well caught by Stainton off Nunn for 23 – and a thoughtful 45 from their youngest player, Ward.

The score began to escalate, despite the cunning flighters of Castle (4-0-25-2). With the fortuitous late arrival of one of Pimlico’s best bats, it looked like their last wicket stand might prove their best.

Enter the enigmatic Mike Leighton, the willing local hitherto rudely parked in the outfield. He snared Ward lbw with his first ball and Strollers were all out for 184.

Fallopians’ reply began with a stutter, both openers looking comfortable but misjudging the pace of the wicket.

From then on everything seemed remarkably under control. Fine aggressive knocks were played by the impressive Leighton (51, 2 x 6 and 7 x 4) and later Shaw (29*, 7 x 4), whose strike rate of about 200% owed a lot to being called a ‘rabbit’ by Pimlico’s excitable teenager.

Paleit (68*, 14 x 4) provided the sheet-anchor role, adding 119 with Leighton for the third wicket, although he did stake a late claim for the season’s Inzamam trophy by running out Sultanti without scoring.

Every piece of silver has a cloudy lining (or something like that)!

* (Fallopians batted one short (we had nine, one player would have batted twice)

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