Sundown Specials

Sundowners felled by the better axemen

Palm Tree sent out a strong side against Specials at Highgate Woods. A pitch that has never been easy to score runs on proved so again -- for some, but not for others. Palm Tree won the toss and elected to bat in a 40 over match -- not our forte of late, owing to a dearth of tidy back up bowlers to the reliable Cattell and Pilgrim.

But less than halfway through Palm Tree's overs, this didn't seem to matter. Pilgrim and Cattell opened as usual and Pilgrim soon removed Chip Hamer's off bail with a vicious off cutter. Cattell bowled the lively looking Horgan, who played an uncharacteristically rash hoik for no apparent reason and the ball kept low.

Medlock replaced Pilgrim and picked up a brace of wickets, one a stunning return catch to remove Berman for one. Palm Tree was soon 44 for 4.

Alan Russell, obviously a bit rusty after years away from cricket DJ-ing his way round Europe, disappeared for 18 from his pair of overs. Faisal came in to stop the flurry, and captured the dangerous looking Pretorius for 17 to leave PT 87 for 5. So far so good. Time for Luke Vassay to spin the oppo to death.

Unfortunately, the pairing of Bhatachardee and Bill Wood feasted on a succession of leg side full tosses and Luke three overs went at nearly 13 an over. Faisal, meanwhile, was more than twice as economical, going for seven an over.

Pilgrim came back, a little belatedly perhaps, and immediately removed Bhatachardee for 33… but by this time Palm Tree had amassed 165…The 78 partnership had already almost taken the game away from Specials and Pilgrim's breakthrough was to be the last. Wood carried on past 50 and partnered by Packard took the total to 209.

After a pretty poor tea, Specials were in with a shout….then the innings started. Herlihy and Faisal opened up and Herlihy dollied one to mid on in the fourth over. Barry lasted two balls, and Palm Tree scented victory already, at eight for two. Faisal plodded along at a pedestrian pace, his ninth run arrived in the ninth over. Medlock found it difficult to get going and was, not for the first time at this ground, bowled by a grass cutter for a measly five.

But hopes of a stunning victory revived with a sprightly McGowan cameo. His aggression seemed to spark Faisal, who had, by now reached double figures, into action. Together they added 34 in no time (29 of them McGowan's) and his departure, stumped, signalled the acceleration from Faisal that might have been welcome a little earlier. Little partnerships were formed with Vassay, Naisbitt, before

Faisal departed for 54, his third 50 on the trot this season, leaving the big man cursing his stumping as, according to him, we were well on course for victory. He obviously doesn't know our tail well enough yet.

Paul Cotsen flayed the ball around for a nifty 23 before opening quickie Smit wrapped up the innings leaving Specials 55 short in the 39th over.

For Specials Pilgrim, Cattell and Medlock's 24 overs cost only 67… the 16 support overs cost 142, and therein the game was lost. The threatened rain never came to save the game.

Palm Tree had lost to Black Rose the previous week, and it is a compliment to Specials that only four of that Palm Tree team faced us that Sunday. These "proper" clubs are running scared of our reputation, but on this day, not enough of the team performed well enough to nail the result that, earlier in the day, looked likely to be victory for Specials. Crap bowling and dropped catches definitely lose matches….