Highgate crumbles

This wasn't quite the close encounter we expected after our 500+ run thriller which finished a draw a couple of months ago. In short it was a thrashing (possibly our biggest win ever. Ed. to clarify. Ed - I don't know, I can't be bothered to look through the books right now).

Smiler won the all important toss, and we decided to bat.

The Southover wicket had obviously taken some toll from the weather over the last few weeks. It was very dry and dusty with the ball taking up dust every time it pitched. Our "groundsman" was presumably taking an extended holiday during the cricket season.

Your correspondent and Andy Vernon were lined up to open the batting.

We made a steady start against the Highgate openers who were getting some unusual bounce from the aforementioned track.

With the score on 69, in the eighteenth over, I got frustrated with the wicket and played an uppish drive straight to mid-off. Back I marched to the pavilion for 33.

Andy was joined by Smiler, who was not happy with the Highgate tactic of turning up without a match ball in our last two encounters at Southover (we played with a used ball).

He played some stylish shots as he raced along into the forties. Highgate bowlers in particular fed Smiler's strong areas, especially wide of off stump for him to play through the point/gully region.(Any oppo reading can you erase this from your memories, this report will self destruct in 10 seconds).

V at the other end was playing some trade mark back foot drives, and as our score sped on into three figure territory he past 50. His first of the season…about time from our so often nearly man.

As we closed in on 150 Smiler holed out in uncharacteristic fashion for 45.

One over later and V played all round a straight one from the impressive young talent Miller, departing for a solid 57.

This meant a new partnership was needed. Up stepped long time Lionel Length stalwart and occasional Sundowner, Sean Stroud, to partner our keeper and former Lionel himself, Mick McGowan.

Highgate rang the changes in the bowling line up, going through 7 in all.

Some of these were obviously not regulars. There were many wides and no-balls delivered, several of which were high rather than wide.

Through this dirge of crap, Mick and Sean kept their concentration, and added a splendid 92 in 10 overs. Mick battering 62 including 2 sixes and Sean supporting well with 21 including a big pull into the trees for six to bring the innings to it's declaration at 240 for 3.

Poor old Jani and Maninder could only sit and watch with their pads on. They both must have had high hopes of a bowl at this stage but neither could have predicted what followed the tea break.

It was a sad tea break as we learned of Pat's impending retirement from providing plates of glorious tea time fodder. Oh well at least myself and V have a few more weeks to indulge in our tea time eating frenzies, and Kevin and family will no doubt have noted free stolen nibbles of this calibre will be disappearing soon. Will we see the Mullarkey clan at home games next year?

In Dom's absence Smiler had drafted in Aussie all-rounder, and another Lionel, Andy Farrell.

So it was with a bowling attack comprising a total run up of 4 paces that we started on the Highgate batsmen.

Dick, the ever effervescent and ever so slightly annoying, captain of Highgate shuffled his batting line up and sent out pinch hitter Shelly to open up.

Shelly smashed Dave Cattell's first over from the "Bathard end" for 20, prompting "the Cat" to demand to come off due to arm stiffness……we all had neck stiffness from watching the ball disappear to various parts of the ground.

I'm sure Cat's mood was not helped by the whelps of glee coming from Highgate's skipper, Dick. Some rare kind words from our skipper persuaded Dave to stay on.

Andy fared better at the other end, going for only 6 from his first over. However at this rate, Highgate would over haul us easily.

It was in Cat's 3rd over that things changed dramatically. He picked up 2 wickets (suddenly the stiffness was disappearing) and narrowly missed out on his hat-trick.

We were up and running. This proved the cue for Andy to "get busy", to coin Smiler's phrase of the day.

He rattled through the rest of the Highgate line up including the prized wickets of Brunner and captain Dick Holly.

Brunner was induced into driving the ball to Smiler at deep mid-on who took the catch with a combination of hands and penis.

Holly senior played a back defensive shot and the ball span onto his unguarded stumps. This was something of a first for Sundown Specials who had never dismissed this most limpet of batsmen.

Andy finished with the most impressive figures of 8-2-19-6, and we were all stunned to hear this was his first five for.

The Cat remained on at the "Bathard" end despite his early protestations and finished with three for 34 (not bad when your first over went for 20).

Highgate had been dismissed for a miserly 58, and to round the day off nicely we discovered this was Dick's heaviest defeat whilst captain of the North London side.

On to the days winners and losers:

The Winners:
Verno - first 50 of the year

Mick McGowan - 62 well struck runs

Andy Farrell - a top bowling spell

The Losers:

Highgate

Jani, Maninder, Ringo and Mark - I'm sure they enjoyed the win, but they were all dnb, dnb.

Next week we travel to Washington to see if we can gain revenge following our narrow defeat earlier this season.