Sundown Specials

Sundowners complete double over Calthorpe with 7-wicket victory

After putting their feet up over the bank holiday weekend I was expecting our bowling trio of Vassay J, Webmaster Pilgrim and the Cat to be fired up for the trip to Calthorpe at their lovely ground in Crouch End. Wrong. A succession of texts and e mails bombarded me on Friday.

The elder Vassay had decided to fly off to Sri Lanka in order that he could drum up 1000 words towards his masters on International Tourism. Meanwhile In the real world I return to work facing 200 + e mails and four reports to produce by Wednesday.
I hope it's a good read James.

Meanwhile the younger Vassay has disappeared to Bahrain on work experience to decide whether he wants to be a solicitor or an accountant. Great, 3 years studying archaeology and he wants to be a bean counter. Webmaster cried off with a serious knee injury (already team-mates are seeing signs of the new Euan Soutar) whilst the Cat put in a sick note on Sunday morning having been hit by a 90mph (!) yorker the previous day.

With Medlock enjoying a 'family' holiday in Cornwall with Mark Naisbitt and Ringo out for the season, the bowling cupboard was bare.

Nevertheless with the late selection of footballer Raz Tazzyman a willing 11 pitched up at Calthorpe although Faisal was late due to problems in finishing the bin round in White Hart Lane following a lack of motivation amongst his refuse disposal operatives. Calthorpe won the toss and on a ridiculously hot day elected to bat.

A new opening attack of Ferdenzi and Herlihy soon had Calthorpe in trouble both taking two wickets a piece thanks to good catches from V (an excellent catch from our resident first slipper) and Cedric and one from Herlihy. The pitch was playing slow and low and Calthorpe's batsmen were not playing the conditions too well. At 36 for 4 Cedric and DJ Alan Russell were introduced to the attack and both got two wickets apiece as Calthorpe were in deeper trouble. Only Nagler offered serious resistance.

Bagmaster Cotsen put aside his legal differences with the senior management to have his first over for the club and duly snapped up a wicket with his first ball-brilliantly stumped by McGowan. Despite a spirited last wicket stand of 30 between Moulds and Daraji Calthorpe were bowled out for 99 as Golds got the last wicket caught at mid off by myself for a third catch of the innings.

A good tea followed and then we set about getting this low total. Openers V and Sean Stroud negotiated some very tight bowling from Ashra and Smith before V was bowled by a beauty from Smith which cut back two feet outside off and took the top of his off stump.

Sean and Cedric negotiated a tricky 20 minutes or so before they began to punishing anything loose. Sean reached 33 before he was bowled by Daraji. Faisal hit a few fours before he was bowled by a shooter for 11. Cedric (42 n.o) and Golds saw us to victory at 5.30. Our scouser contingent showed their dedication by encouraging catching practice with the slip cradle.

A delicious curry followed and our hosts were very generous and friendly in defeat. We then retired to our sponsors bar where the increasingly grumpy 'Quizmaster' Henderson , was reflecting on his recent disagreement with senior pro Mark Naisbitt and how it was reported on the web site. The Quizmaster stressed that he would rather field questions on his personal life than Mark's obsession with his four-year Achilles injury.

Having seen him enter the bar in the company of an undernourished whippet and learning that Golds would now be accompanying him to the Oval on Sunday rather than a mysterious female, readers can draw their own conclusions as to what is going on in the 'personal' life of the former lecturer.
Next week the team are at home to Enfield Invicta.

Gareth 'six ducks in a row' Williams has declared himself available for selection. Haven't we heard that before? Read the report here.