Cowden 2006: A velvet glove and an iron fistful of controversy 
The most mouth-watering weekend of the 2006 season did not fail - once again - to disappoint. As the dust settles on another epic weekend, perhaps the most talked about in Strollers history, we reflect on the extension of our winning run to six games, and a defining moment in the Strollers annals.
The Fountain, Saturday
Always a massive fixture. The Fountain were as strong as ever, and keen to get revenge for their 2005 defeat (which had levelled the series). The pre-match warm up was exuberant, but Rick looked as pensive as ever, and Hollers was lost somewhere north of Oxford. But in a sign of increasing self confidence, the Strollers opted to bat. Luke defied his 2005 critics with a confident, brassy 75. Hollers added a chunky 58, and T Fletcher a cavalier 28. Rick was once again run out without facing a ball.
The target of 226 looked unassailable. But the Strollers know never to underestimate a wounded Fountain, with several players able to pile on quick runs. Rick (3-35) and Hollers (4-20) were the pick of the bowlers, and, aided by some unusually sharp fielding, whittled away at the Fountain batting. Alastair, a long-time scourge of Strollers bowling, found himself at the crease with nine wickets down, and 115 to win. Even die-hard Strollers pessimists thought the job was done, but had to watch as bowler after bowler was smitten for a succession of bruising sixes. Paddy bore the brunt, but no bowler was immune. Tiles fell from rooftops, 8 balls were lost over cow corner, one local couple broke off their lovemaking, and at one stage Jonny A opted to field in the street. Sledged by his own side, the skipper sensibly left others to gain the potential glory of taking the final wicket, only secured with 2 runs to spare, with Alastair left on 95 not out, undisputedly the finest knock of all time for or against the Strollers. But not enough to deny another white knuckle victory.
Jumping Jacks
As usual, a heavy veil should be drawn over the Strollers post-match rehydration and warm down. Dinner was dominated by bets on the first Stroller to die, and first offspring to score a run/take a wicket. Once in the club, Paddy put his body on the line for the team, we discovered the world's fattest hen-do, and the grips of several East Grinstead bouncers were once again brought into action. Full credit again to Jonny A for securing free entry (and our announcement by claxon) to Billy Rocks, plus champers etc. But he needs to develop the formula if he is to retain a shot at Player's Player.
Cowden Laoedecians, Sunday
As always, an eagerly awaited match, now in its fifth glorious year. The Strollers opted to reverse the batting order, given the failings of the likes of Luke and Hollers on Saturday. So it was Maurice (a crafted 19) and Brace (a direct 17) who led the batting effort. The middle order collapsed to 70/6., with the skipper holing out to point for a miserable 1. John Fletcher scored more than the other three Fletchers combined. James Douglas, an Honorary Stroller, once again provided the rapier accuracy and blistering pace to swathe through the ranks, ending with a Man of the Match 4/10. A dangerous looking Rick (17) was dismissed by a brilliant catch from Dan, worthy of champagne moment. So it was left to Hollers (73) and Adrian (21*) to save Strollers blushes and take the total to 191. As always, the declaration format proved controversial, with the Strollers turning the tables and opting to stay out an over longer.
This looked a decent target, but the Laoedicians set about it with relish, and, with extreme dehydration combined with an excellent tea setting in, the Strollers looked weary in the field. With 20 overs to go, only one Cowden batsman had been dismissed. Rick, elegant in his yellow cape, was indulging in a one-man comedy routine on the difficult lower boundary. Catches were spilled (Alex, Luke x3, Jonny A), and Paddy retired hurt (bruised ego). But the team lifted itself for the final assault, with Hollers (6-18) and Luke (3-26) firing themselves and the team up. The last two wickets were taken in the final over, as the tension rose. Another nail biting and memorable victory, and a performance from Hollers that silenced those who thought he was only in the team for his banter.
As night fell, the Strollers left the field to rousing applause, warm handshakes and a shared joy in the delights of cricket.
But I made that last line up. The victory was tarnished by the whiff of controversy, which deserves brief comment.
Firstly, some felt that Paddy's umpiring had been partisan. His banter in previous years has not always made him a favourite with the opposition. But I don't think any of us would question his sense of fair play for a second. If anything, he is the kind of umpire who would give decisions against his own team to wind them up. With hindsight, we should have kept an opposition umpire involved, especially given the closeness of the game, so as to avoid any possible question. So I blame the skipper.
Secondly, the final wicket (no 12 batsman) was one of the younger opposition players. Should we not have appealed for the LBW, or (as in previous years) allowed some cheaper runs? Were we caught up in the moment of an improbable and hard-won victory, and allowed our wider respect for the game to lapse? There has been fevered debate elsewhere, which I won't rehearse. But my view is that we need not berate ourselves too much. If we had not got the wicket, I have no doubt that we would have been the first to congratulate, applaud and share the delight of those that had saved the game, as we have in the past, and as we would have done if Alastair had pulled off an incredible win on the Saturday. It would be more patronising not to have claimed/given the wicket. The key to our ethos must remain that we clap our defeats as loudly as our victories, and I think that remains the case (especially when a stats rival in our own side has had a bad game).
Anyway, the debate will no doubt continue. But neither controversy detracted from another superb weekend, the usual impeccable hospitality and welcome, fantastic opposition, and a feast of fine cricket.
And we have now notched an improbable six wins in a row, and stand only a match away from our first unbeaten season - glory!
TF