Walthamstow's plans wind up in the dustbin...

Sundown debutant Ned Ghaghda probably produced one of world cricket's most sensational debuts when he took a hat-trick with his first three balls for Sundown Specials.

Sundowners season kicked off in spectacular style at Walthamstow Horizontals's new ground: Winchmore Hill CC. Here's hoping the real WHCC do better on their home pitch. Ned came on to bowl at the debut-friendly position of Horizontals - having won the toss and elected to bat - at the beginning of a mini collapse.

They had made 29 without loss, and had just lost three wickets to long-time Specials openers Pilgrim and Cattell to relatively reel at 33 for 3.

The pitch, new to both teams, had a Lord's-like slope and took a bit of getting used to for bowler and batsman alike. But under the grey skies, new skipper Tony Medlock threw the ball to Ned, as much to give the new guy - who had simply answered an ad in our home ground's social club - an encouraging run out. Removing the useful Arif first ball, caught behind McGowan, was all any team could ask for from a new boy.

"It's all downhill from here," chirped the Sundown wits, almost in harmony. To bowl Barry Needham with one that nipped back a few inches and met no defence was a wittier response from Friern Barnet's Ned. To have Willcok, who the previous week had conjured a century, caught at second slip with your third ever ball for the club to complete a hat trick was, well, could Ned do anything about Wayne Rooney's broken metatarsal?

Ned Ghaghda: new Sundown legend

Obviously, it did go downhill from there. There were four dot balls before his next wicket, another slip catch to the mercurial Clive Moore. A loose full toss on leg stump went for four, followed by another maiden, and that was enough for Medlock. At 37 for 7, he opted to open up the game and brought on Ferdenzi and Naisbitt. But these wily old cats merely cleared up the tail, the pick of the wickets being Paul F's extremely slower ball that fooled Webster into lofting it to second slip to end the innings.

A few blows from Walthamstow skipper Murray had dragged the home team to 50 all out, and it wasn't even four o'clock.

Going straight out to bat, a hungry Jani got his first taste of opening along with Merseysider Moore. Webster's whippy arm supplied some handy byes and Jani stroked a lovely four through the covers. But Clive fell at the slips and Jani was cleaned bowled by first change Arif. But Arif's arm was not to be repaid.

A hungry, and not satisfied, Jani after his dismissal

Medlock hit the next, his first, ball for six. A further three fours flowed and by the sixth over Specials needed 16 to win. Herlihy made little impression, done by a surprise inswinger from Webster, and McGowan came out to help wrap up the victory in 9.2 overs.
Walthamstow were wasted. And tea was just about ready.

Winners
Ned: four for four and hat trick with his first three balls for his new club.

Losers
Guess….

© Dominic Pilgrim 2006