Sundowners back on track

The Special's current injury crisis was made worse by skipper Medlock's withdrawal from the team to face oldest rivals Walthamstow Horizontal on the morning of the match due to illness of his 'partner' and Tony was left holding the babies. My mobile and lap top had previously been very busy with the usual cry offs and sob stories.

So only 10 took to the field at Southover, our first home game for seven weeks. Manager Rowan excelled himself by arranging a Sunday friendly soccer game on the day we wanted to start early to catch the World Cup Final. This 'friendly' game did finish just after 1pm after being decided by a golden goal. What's that all about?

New Skipper for the day Mark Naisbitt won the toss and put a 10 man Horizontal's team into bat. A new 'new' ball attack of Ned and South African Chris Steinbach bowled aggressively but Horizontal openers Richard Burgess and keeper Gaskell batted well. Steinbach made the breakthrough bowling Gaskell for 16. Burgess continued to put the bad ball away but Dave Scally was beautifully bowled by Ned for 1 and just as Walthamstow were getting on top- 2 run outs in quick succession of Barry Needham and Craig Murray, the latter without facing a ball, put them on the back foot-one a direct hit by Steinbach.

Ned was bowling a marathon spell. Naisbitt rotated his bowlers at the other end bringing on Clive' Brookside' Moore who was sporting a new bearded image as he was acting in a Chekov play and then Alan Russell who has asked to drop the moniker 'DJ' as he felt it was now inaccurate. Meanwhile Mark Naisbitt got his 399th wicket by dismissing Ken Leon. Walthamstow started to play more aggressive shots and the dangerous looking Roy and Fowler were dismissed by Russell thanks to good catches from Ned and the returning Sean 'Flavela Funk expert' Stroud on a lightening visit from a sabbatical in Brazil Burgess was finally bowled by Ned for an excellent 66. In the end Walthamstow were bowled out for 151. Arif not out on 9. Special mention also to Luke for a tidy performance behind the stumps

At tea time everybody was pleased to see Ringo back from two months in Botswana. Specials started their innings with Stroud and Herlihy opening. Scally and Murray bowled well, the former with some severe outswing, and were unlucky to miss the edge and the score progressed to 33 before Stroud was bowled by Murray. Moore and Herlihy played carefully but put any loose ball away for 4. Herlihy was finding the boundary and took 5 fours off South African Roy. He passed 50 whilst Moore was also in good form. The score reached 115 when Herlihy was caught on the boundary off Arif by Barry Needham for 60. Steve Golding came to the crease anxious to put some low scores behind him and escape the pressures of being John' Quizmaster' Henderson's new temporary landlord.

The Quizmaster having taken refuge on Steve's couch at a peppercorn rent. They progressed to 139 before Clive was caught behind off Walthamstow legend Ken Leon-the coolest dude in North East London.

Bagmaster Cotsen and Golds then in leisurely style saw the team home to a 7 wicket victory in a match played in great spirit.

A good comeback against our oldest rivals who were also missing some key players. The team congregated in former sponsor's Winters Bar where old favourites Dave Reed, Gareth' Six ducks in a row' Williams, Barrington Cosgrove and Ivan Naisbitt were watching the final. Ivan still nursing a hamstring injury was moaning about having to open the batting on his only appearance of the season against a 'quickie'. I referred him to skipper Medlock who made that decision, made my apologies and left after the penalty shootout.

Next week it is Palm Tree.