Sundown Specials

Sundowners get revenge against Enfield Invicta

Readers will no doubt be aware that earlier in the season the Specials were beaten by Enfield Invicta who chased down 199 after a generous declaration on a small ground by Vice Captain Steve Golding. For the return last Sunday I had the reins of captaincy and on a very damp day and a juicy green wicket at Southover, the toss was won by yours truly and Enfield were inserted.

Vice Captain Golding was absent on compassionate grounds, escorting former player 'Quizmaster' Henderson to the Oval, whose increasingly erratic behaviour has been referred to in previous reports. Bagmaster Cotsen updated the team on latest developments and I couldn't help but think that in this high pressure steeplechase of modern life we might have seen another faller.

Fortunately our bowling resources this week were strengthened by the return of the Cat and Clive Moore. Webmaster Pilgrim ruling himself out for the season with a knee injury.

On a tricky wicket and facing some good bowling Invicta's openers Cole and Sood played watchfully scoring in 4's only on a surprisingly hard outfield plus 2 small boundaries before Sood was well caught by Sean Stroud off Moore.

DJ Alan Russell was introduced and took over the role of the new Ringo with a mixture of the wackable and the unplayable. Aided by a good catch from Herlihy, and a shooter to dismiss the dangerous Frank Sawyer, he picked up three wickets.

At the other end Herlihy was not finding his radar except for a brilliant leg side stumping by McGowan to dismiss Varsani. Wickets fell at regular intervals due to attacking bowling from Medlock and Russell. Tony pitched in with one wicket thanks to a sharp catch by Cedric.A last wicket stand of 50 between the hard hitting Rohan De Silva and Doug Webb took Invicta to 139, which saw the close of the innings. I spilt a swirling skier by Rohan off Tony not helped by comments from Invicta players as the ball was in the air. Disappointing.

Chasing their 7th home win of the season and buoyed by England's fightback in the Ashes, the Specials set out their business of reaching 140. Faisal having finished the bin round late (as usual) was bowled second ball for 0 and this brought Cedric De Silva to the wicket to join Sean Stroud. For the second successive week these two, after a tricky start got Specials on track hitting the bad ball through the fast outfield.

The slopes of Southover are batsman friendly at times. They put on 93 before Cedric was lbw to Dermant for an excellent 51. Enter the returning Jan i- who hasn't been seen since the early summer. The love-struck teacher has since moved in with his 'partner 'in leafy Stamford Brook and there was certainly a spring in his step as he strode to the wicket to join Stroud.

Thirty minutes later it was all over Sean scoring an excellent 66 n.o with a mixture of defence and leg side attacking whilst Jani hit some glorious square cuts to reach 14 n.o. We got home with 10 overs to spare for a good clinical win.

In the bar afterwards Jani was asking why he hadn't been picked earlier. Fortunately as someone who in his professional life knows where the bodies are buried and is well on top of the e-mail trail I reminded our lower middle order batsman of several e-mails/text sent to myself throughout the summer apologising for non availability as he was in a 'relationship'. Readers can make their own minds up on this issue.

The team were not surprised that Cedric's hospitality package of Middlesboro v Arsenal in Smog monster land had not been a huge success the night before although Gareth'6 ducks in a row' Williams had shown late interest albeit 24 hours after the event.

It was good to see Sundowner legend and now Station manager Richard Bathard pop by for the latter stages and looking well. He would have licked his lips if bowling first today.

Last game of the season next week against Pymmes- before Sean Stroud sets off to Brazil for the year and V to the Wirrall, if the latest rumours are true. He hasn't formally informed the senior management of the club of his intentions for 2006. We look forward to hearing his report from the Everton/Portsmouth game I am sure it was worth the journey.