Sundown Specials

Weakened Specials no match for Calthorpe

After the heroics of the last-over tour win in Liverpool, a substantially weakened Specials team took to the field against a useful Calthorpe outfit. Missing four batsmen on late summer holidays and Faisal for personal reasons, the Specials took the field with only three recognised batsmen; Tony, myself and Golds.

Calthorpe understood the position and I inserted them to bat on a ridiculously hot September day. Last minute call-ups to Alex Boggia and Drew Michael meant some enthusiasm in the field counterbalanced by a lethargic Gareth Williams who, after his interesting fielding performance in Liverpool, still retained his place in the line-up.

September at our home ground means the start of the new football season and fortunately Mark Naisbitt, recovering from his successful shoulder operation, didn't witness the arguments with the organisers as foofball ran late and the cricket did not commence until 2.20 pm.

Specials bowled and fielded pretty well, but Calthorpe were always able to score at over four an over. Wickets were shared between Pilgrim, Catel and Medlock (two apiece) whilst Taylor and Michael both bowled respectable stints.

After 40 overs, Calthorpe declared at 180-7. In the absence of the holidaying McGowan, Paul (Bagmaster) Cotsen performed admirably behind the stumps.

After another excellent tea, the opening partnership of Herlihy and Medlock took to the field knowing that their partnership was the key to the Specials survival. The score was taken to 34 before Tony was well caught by Calthorpe's keeper and then the flood gates opened. Herlihy battled to 26 before falling lbw and despite Jani and Cotsen getting into double figures, the team were precariously positioned at 82-6 with 12 overs to negotiate for survival.

Enter Ringo and Dom, who batted very well to put on 32 for the eighth wicket and took Specials to within three overs of a draw until both succumbed to the lively Shah in the gathering gloom.

Numbers 10 and 11, Boggia and Michael, did their best to last but Calthorpe got home with just over 10 balls to spare when Michael was bowled. Gareth Williams earlier in the innings had continued his disappointing 2004 with his second consecutive duck.

The only consolation for the Specials was the return to the public gallery, amongst the growing band of Sundown babies, of former leading eighties all-rounder Ivan Naisbitt, who declared himself available for next week's game after witnessing the mid-innings carnage.

A special mention must be made of the way Calthorpe made this a good contest. Hopefully we will be stonger next time.