Sundown Specials

Destiny hangs in the air

On a balmy summer's day with Antipodean accents coming from the opposition changing room, the Specials prepared for our version of the Ashes. Smiler won the toss for the first time in James's career with the club only to declare that we're fielding. 'We always chase at Woodside Park' chanted Smiler, desperately hoping for the mantra to be taken up by the team as he tried to reason his way out of putting us in to field first.

As the teams prepared for battle Paul C., familiar with the dirty tricks of the men from down under, released his pit bull in to the opposition's changing room. Unfortunately, no damage was caused.

The game got under way with Campbell and Demetri taking up their positions. Dom and Dave fired in their balls and it wasn't long before Dom over-powered Campbell to draw first blood, six for one and The Specials were off to a good start. Cragoe was next in only to come to an untimely demise as Cat sent him packing for a duck. Gluckman was the Washington watchman simply trying to hold off the onslaught for their main batsman. Dom, ever hopeful for more time in the pub, sent him packing for nine.

At this point our joy was tempered somewhat as we caught sight of the new batsman approaching the square. For it is written in the book of Samuel that Goliath was over nine foot tall with iron greaves girding his legs and carried a spear that weighed some 600 Shekels. Now, a few thousand years later at Woodside Park Social Club a similar spectacle greeted the Specials as Washington's Hill made his way to the crease.

A giant of a man, with forearms like tree trunks and eyes hard as steel with the iron greaves replaced by Gray-Nicholls pads and a cricket bat in place of a spear, although it probably still weighed a good 600 Shekels. Consequently, Luke was given the ball and told to bowl - for who better to match a Goliath than a David. However, things did not go so smoothly for Luke as Hill began to give his balls a good thrashing.

For four long overs the runs continued to tally but in the last ball of his spell Luke reloaded the proverbial sling shot that was his arm with the proverbial pebble that was the ball and, in accordance with the legend, he despatched it directly toward the man's forehead. However, Hill swung his hammer-like bat and sent the ball soaring towards the boundary. As the ball ascended into the Ether towards Tony on the boundary, Steve had enough time to tell him 'I knew you were going to get a catch'.

The ball continued to fly through the air for what seemed an eternity and the fate of the Specials hung in the air - was this man mountain to be dropped before he had even found the middle of his bat or was the tide about to change. Fortunately, the man on the boundary was one of the few Specials members who could catch and he did not disappoint. Tony held the ball even though the force of it almost sent him into the ditch lying behind. It seemed that once again Goliath was slain by David.

Washington were now 86 for four and it was game on. Hitchcock was next and Cat stroked up against his back pad to have him out LBW for five. Next Gurney was bowled and soon after Pendry nicked the ball to Mick behind the stumps, giving Cat another two wickets, making it three for the over and treating his team members to yet another fabulous display of bowling.

After such a display Smiler gave the Cat a nap and brought himself and Tony on to finish off the last two wickets. Tony bowled a beautiful ripper forcing a nick from Demetri which brought about an inspired one-handed slip catch by Steve. Medlock continued his form to bowl Malcolm out for a duck. Staughton felt sorry for Smiler and graciously ended their innings by popping one of his balls up in the air for Tony to catch. All out for 110.

Now to take the fight to the opposition was Andy V. and Steve. It was a fiery opening by them both with Steve hitting one ball for a magnificent six taking Staughton for 17 off his first over. Steve continued to rattle the ball against the fences of our neighbours encouraging one neighbour to come out and check his fence. Well what do you expect if you buy a house next to a cricket ground?

Unfortunately, every dog has his day and Staughton bowled Steve for 15. James was on next, V advised him to keep safe and hit the bad balls. The good advice was taken onboard and a full toss from Gurney was dispatched for six in to our neighbour's garden, never to be found. Malcolm was on next and his lofted left arm leg-spins seemed in serious danger of getting the treatment from James. James however, with 6-6-6 lighting up in his eyes swung and missed a leg side ball which then turned and took out his leg stump.

Cedric and Andy V continued the fight, crashing and banging their way to the finish line. Cedric finished with 32 not out and V with 41 not out, very respectable all round.

At the end of the day, it was a comfortable win as Washington failed to live up to their usual high standard. However, look out for a few different faces when we replay them at their home pitch on the 7th August. The day did however prove the mantra right, 'we always chase at Woodside Park'.

And so, as we sat down to imbibe the nectar of the Gods I was reminded of Harold Pinter when he said "I tend to think that cricket is the greatest thing that God ever created on earth - certainly greater than sex, although sex isn't too bad either".