Medlock-McGowan magic subdued by Southall

Sunday the 2nd of June 2002 was a long day for most of the Sundown players. The first football world cup game of the day was Argentina v Nigeria - kick off 6.30am. This, of course, was followed by the stress of watching England v Sweden.

Having got over the disappointment of the England performance, we had to get ourselves up for a home match against a new opposition, Southall Dragons.

Several regulars had decided to take this game off for a variety of reasons, the most colourful being Gazza Williams, who developed "flu" during the England match and declared himself unfit at 12.30.

Our name to rival the Sri Lankan test team's Haminder Joseph Ushantha Patabendige Warnakulasooriya Vaas - Alessandro Mario Noe Ceasare Benito Boggia - cancelled a date and stepped into the breach (thanks Fahma).

And so to the game. With no Smiler available, the skipper (Mick McGowan) was forced to toss himself.

He won, and we were fielding. A good decision, until we looked around the changing room, and could only see nine bodies. Mr Boggia had not yet turned up and Dave (2.30ish) Reed was once again missing as the team traipsed on to the field.

We were a little worried about Dom Pilgrim's pace - he was sporting a new, shorter, haircut - but happily he did not have the Samson affliction. He bowled six overs down the hill without success, but conceded few runs.

In the absence of Cattell, Mark Naisbitt opened the bowling from the Bathard end. He bowled with guile and not a bean of luck, seeing three catches go down.

Paulo Manzi was the unfortunate fielder on all three occasions who, I think it is fair to say, was not having a good day with his aerial balls.

This bad run for Manzi continued when new-boy Dave French replaced Naisbitt. His first ball looped up to Paulo and once again was spilled, denying French a perfect start.

French put this behind him and produced Sundown's first breakthrough shortly afterwards. Hop-a-long McGowan proving agile behind the stumps to take the catch.

Dragons had made a good start, with an opening 57 partnership. French was again the wicket taker for the Specials' second breakthrough, 22 runs later. He once again combined with the skipper to remove Dragons other opener.

Ringo Tailor's spell from the top end varied between the sublime and the not so, and after beating the bat several times his old bones retired gracefully after six overs.

The next wicket was not to fall until Dragons reached 117. Yours truly bowled a rank full toss that was mishit in to the covers. The "Italian Stallion" (that's Boggia, not Manzi) who had made extra cover his own with some remarkable stops involving every conceivable part of the anatomy, flung himself forward and scooped an excellent two handed catch. His first ever for the team.

Golding came on at the Bathard end, taking over after an excellent spell from debut boy French: 6-1-30-2.

Pilgrim, replacing myself down the hill, partnered him. These two picked up two wickets apiece. Pilgrim continuing the habit of clean bowling players in his second spell, and Golding going for the Bishen Bedi floated approach, getting one stumped and one bowled.

Dragons declared at tea on 167, a challenging total on the still-damp Southover wicket. I feel the total need not have been so great had our fielding been better (apart from the unorthodox Boggia).

The following were all culprits:
Manzi - four drops (enough said).

Pilgrim - positioned himself well under a high ball at long on before spilling the chance onto his right cheekbone.

The normally safe Reed - misjudging the ball at deep square and dropping the catch.

And comedy moment of the day, Golding - losing his feet and creating a perfect arch in his dive for the ball to shoot through for four.

Sundowns' regular openers Herlihy and Vernon were both on their jollies, so a new partnership was required. McGowan plumped for Dave Reed and Steve Golding.

Steve Golding was first to fall, to a sharp catch in the gully, for only a single. This meant Reed was joined by Paulo Manzi, a man with a point to prove. These two set about putting a partnership together, which was further complicated when Manzi injured his hamstring and required a runner.

Reed was the first to fall, bowled by Jas, for a well-made 18. Bearing in mind this was his first knock of the season: not bad. Sundowns were relieved to see Dave doing his stuff with a blade in his hand and not a cherry (see previous match reports).

Jani was next man in, still striving for his self-confessed target of double figures. Sadly, after playing himself in well, he played a shot of the highest agricultural proportions and saw his middle stump dislodged. Only eight scored for the lad from Ladbroke Grove.

Dave French strode to the wicket to replace Jani. He continued his excellent start for the Specials, making an aggressive 29, including four boundaries.

Manzi, meantime had departed, after repairing some of the damage from his fielding. His innings of 22 was full of good strokes, especially as he was being hampered by a dodgy leg.

When McGowan hobbled to the wicket to join your correspondent, 68 were needed from 11 overs. A perfect setting for us to continue our run of winning partnerships.

Alas this time it was not to be. I holed out on with the score on 142, for 16.

Fielding demon Alex Boggia joined the skipper. He employed his building skills well, using the bat in a similar fashion to a sledgehammer. This was effective for four balls and four runs before bowler Ron realised a well pitched up delivery would snare him a clean bowled decision.

Then the shock happened, Mick McGowan our skipper, was out. This, you will recall from previous reports, was the first time he had been dismissed in the 2002 season. The Sundown players watching all grimaced as they realised our best chance of winning was now on his way back to the pavilion.

We may have been grimacing, but one face on the boundary was alight with joy, his girlfriend Ann who had been deprived of her conjugal rights until Mick was dismissed. Fireworks in Nether Street?

Mark Naisbitt had replaced Boggia, and quick bowler Pilgrim now joined him, with 22 required to win from three overs. One lusty blow from Mark encouraged us a win was still on, but with only Tailor to come these two saw out a respectable draw. Sundowns finishing 18 short.

So our first game to finish without a win - at least it wasn't a loss. I'm sure a couple of chances held in the field would have meant a different result.

On to the days winners and losers.

The Winners:
Definitely new boy Dave French - two wickets and top score of 29.
Mick "swollen toe" McGowan - two catches, a stumping and 24 runs, however he has lost his winning run as skipper and will be required to perform on Sunday night, a sore toe not being a relevant excuse!

Ann Whitbread - see above!

Dom Pilgrim - two for 16 from 9 overs

Alessandro Boggia - top fielding display and Jonty Rhodes-esque catch (look it up Alex!)

The Losers:
Paulo Manzi - four drops and injury, although his 22 went someway to compensating.

Fahma Osman - no date with Alex (maybe that should be a winner!)

Next week we take yet another fixture from the Cricket Conference, Wembley II, so tune in, cricket lovers, to catch up with the latest Specials escapades, and see if they can get back to winning ways.

© Tony Medlock 2002