Sundown Specials

Makeshift Specials get creditable draw

After the heroics against Highgate, a seriously depleted Specials team (minus Cattell, Vassey, Tailor, Golding and, centurion the week before, Clive Moore) took to the field against Calthorpe.

Such is life, a combination of births, deaths, marriages, relationship problems is affecting the make up of the team. Just like one of those Nick Hornby novels - and equally unfunny.

Nevertheless the return of Mark Naisbitt, who has been given the green light by a 'doctor' to restart his drinking career, has boosted the team. I'm sure the General Medical Council would be interested in the practitioner who made this unusual decision.

Tony Medlock did a tremendous job rustling up the 10th and 11th man. This included the returning Paulo Manzi who has been injured for nine months and brought along the latest addition to his family.

Calthorpe, aware of our difficulty, batted first. With only two recognised bowlers, the words of Cameo legend Larry Blackmon, in the 1986 classic 'Attack Me With Your Love', came to mind when working out the new ball partner for Dom.

Late at night when the evening's gone
I sat down and checked my options
I had none

This meant I had to open the bowling with D Pilgrim. Forty minutes later the score was 37-4. Two wickets a piece for this new look attack. I moved into second place in the all time wicket takers list and Dom is only 3 away from the magic 300 figure at number 5 in the list.

It could have been more but a controversial change of mind by the umpire deprived Mick McGowan an excellent stumping of one of my wides. But hey, when you are only a part time bowler, does it really matter whether it is 393 or 394 victims back in the hutch!

It was looking good when Heathcote took the fifth wicket but Calthorpe's rejigged batting order had other ideas.

Another 40 minutes later it was 160-5 as mayhem ensued with Heathcote and rookie Jan Kypner getting severe treatment by the excellent D and P Jenkins. Some order was restored by Tony and Dom but Calthorpe were able to declare on 220-6 at 4.25pm.

Although there were some sloppy moments in the field, Paulo and Mark with their hands and Alex Boggia with his feet did their bit.

After a high quality tea, I sent in V and Tony to respond and they took the score to 46 when, for the third time this season Tony got himself out in the 30s, whilst looking in very good form.

Alex H and Jani soon followed, the latter to a run out. This brought your correspondent to the crease to join proud new father Andy V, who - much to the annoyance of my wife - was being congratulated by all and sundry on the birth of his daughter.

The pressures of modern fatherhood took their toll - on 30 he played a poor shot and was caught and bowled. Calthorpe's bowling quality was improving but myself and Mick McGowan put on 54 and were needing about seven an over on a very fast outfield when Mick was run out for the second week running. This time of his own doing.

Enter Paulo who - on the evidence of his gritty knock (his first for 9 months) - looked like the influence of his former drinking partner, footballer John Hartson was paying dividends. He hung around for eight overs, used a runner, the unreliable Mick McGowan, and then dismissed his services. Wise choice mate.

We were still under pressure but fortunately Mark and myself almost saw us to safety. I holed out for 37 with four balls left to show my critics I wasn't playing for my average (which sadly dropped to 73 from 85 for the season as a result of the dismissal). Dom played out the final 4 balls.

We finished on 166-7 for an honourable draw. A sour end to the game was the theft of some wallets/mobiles from the changing rooms. Our scouser contingent in the team have made no comment about the incident but local youths are suspected.

I look forward to them appearing before me, in my official capacity as a Justice of the Peace, at a future date.

Little bit of advice - reading Harry Potter will only take you so far in life. Respect for the man in the ice cream van.