Sundown Specials ice cool in victory

As Mark and I drove to the game at a new home ground for Washington, on the Muswell Hill/Crouch End borders, we were alarmed to note that the thermometer showing outside temperature in my car had clicked onto 39 degrees.

It was not only the hottest day of the year but quite possibly the hottest that the Sundowners had ever played a game.

Chris Isles, from the hotter climes of Perth, Australia, informed us he had played in 44 degrees before and promptly earned himself both a batting and bowling role.

It was one of those days on which Smiler would have to win the toss and insert the oppo……oh well, we were fielding.

With sun cream and hats/caps the order of the day we meandered on to the bare outfield to start the bowling.

Dom chose the far end to start the attack and bowled a tight first over. He was partnered by Dave Sambrook, one of our regular recruits from Lionel Length.

These two bowled tight spells keeping the runs down for the first 10 overs, but failing to penetrate the Washington openers Bracegirdle and Cragoe.

Our first breakthrough came from Clive Moore, who trapped Cragoe LBW for 13 with one that kept a bit low.

A couple of runs later and the impressive looking Bracegirdle decided to take a shine to my bowling. He attempted a slog sweep, and inside edged the ball onto his stumps. 67 for2.

This brought in Paul Irons, who has taken a liking to our bowling of late.

Smiler rang the changes and brought back Dom to partner his work colleague, Chris Isles.

This plan worked and Isles induced Irons into a slash resulting in an edge which keeper Mick "the juggler" McGowan grabbed at the third attempt.

Mick, keen to show some more of his versatility behind the sticks, claimed the next wicket as well. A smart turn and throw from an attempted short single saw the back of McDonald.

This left Washington 147 for 4 and we had our sights on keeping them below 200. With the outfield as quick as it was this would be a "right result".

Smiler was having his best game is captain (he remembered he had to move the field as well as change the bowlers) and our fielders were responding. Sean Stroud was especially outstanding operating in the backward point and square leg positions.

With Chris Isles still operating from the pavilion end, Dave was forced to change ends for his second spell, and it was these two who combined spectacularly for our next victim.

Dave having bowled a tight length dropped a fatigue ridden ball short and down the leg side. Sloane seized on it quickly and belted it towards the square leg boundary. Whilst most of us were looking to see where the ball crossed the boundary line, Chris had thrown himself horizontally to his right and clung on to the ball two handed. A truly spectacular catch, the sort of thing Sky proclaim their "catch of the series".

Whilst we are speaking of fielding exploits I know the editor (Dom) would kill me if I missed out his run out. Fielding at long on, Dom sprinted to his left and dived to stop the ball with his left hand, as he emerged from the kind of roll that stunt men are normally entrusted with, he transferred the ball to his throwing hand and released the ball towards the stumps. The luckless Hood stood no chance as the ball cannoned in to the sticks.

Sambrook meanwhile had secured another couple of wickets and we had only to stop Washington scoring 14 off the last over to achieve our less than 200 goal.

Smiler threw the ball to yours truly, and two balls later we were walking into tea. You can read about the hatrick ball next week!

A sharp shower at tea time took some of the heat out of the day and after a short delay Andy Vernon and I were opening our innings; our target 187.

Washington were their usual "chatty selves" in the field and this was fuelled by a tight opening few overs.

Andy was first to fall with the score on 51, and Andy on 20, he chipped the ball to midwicket from the bowling of Irons.

Bring on the first bit of needle. Irons bowled to left hander Chris Isles and struck him on the pad first ball. The whole of the Washington team went up. Smiler umpiring at the far end deemed the ball to have pitched outside leg. Not out.

This decision seemed to spark the crowd to life. Australia House had defeated Railway Taveners (one of our early season opponents) on the adjacent pitch in ridiculously quick time taking only 6.2 overs to knock off 88 without loss. As a result of this they became a rather raucous crowd to our game and seemed to be favouring the good old Specials batsmen.

In Irons next over he was up again with another LBW appeal, again Smiler shook his head. The temperature rose a degree or two.

Chris was quickly into his stride after this and was soon timing the ball exquisitely to all parts of the ground.

At the other end, not quite so exquisitely, I was forcing my way to 50.

Smiler for a non playing role was certainly contributing to the tension in the middle.

Chris knocked the ball to mid off and called for a quick single. I set off for the non strikers end expecting the ball to be whistling past my ear as I had further to go. Washington's fielder threw at Chris's end and hit direct. Chris sprawled full length in his attempt to gain his ground. It was touch and go, but once again Smiler stood firm and shook his head. The noise and tension level reached fever pitch.

Washington then got two quick wickets to lift their hopes of winning. I was bowled for 55 and Jani, naively, was stumped for 0.

We were 133 for 3 with plenty of overs in hand. Washington's best chance was to get rid of Chris. He gave them one more chance, when on 72. A pull to square leg went straight in and out of the unfortunate fielders hands.

Chris really took control as Mick McGowan joined him in the winning partnership of 58. Mick finished 3 not out and Chris 99 not out, robbed of a potential century by the five wides bowled by McDonald when seven were needed. Isles tonked the next ball for six to win the match...

Chris's innings was littered with superb shots and the magical three figures would have been just reward.

Both teams despite some on field tension spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the bar afterwards on a beautiful summers evening.

We were even treated to Jani (has he found his true level) and Mick along with the visiting Ivan Naisbitt, taking out their frustrations on some young talent which may well grace the Sundown Specials scorebook in years to come.

On to the days winners and losers;

The Winners:
Chris Isles - 99 no and a tidy bowling spell, oh, and "that catch".

Yours truly - 55 and 3 for 26

Dave Sambrook - 3 for 34

Specials fielding

The Losers:
Anyone who appealed to Smiler

Next week we entertain Church St Nomads at Woodside Park, another tough oppo. Read closely next week to see if I can claim that elusive first hatrick.