We were worried about getting 11 men at midday, when club skipper Mick McGowan decided that his back would survive the afternoon but that he wouldn't be able to keep wicket.

Dave Reed stepped in behind the stumps - his first keeping since his bad back (spot the recurring theme throughout our team) forced him to give up the job two years ago.

We should not have worried about being short - Enfield had only eight fit and ready men.

Smiler lost the toss and handed over the reins to myself to captain the team. Mick, for the second week running, stepped down from his elected role.

Enfield was to bat in our first limited over fixture of the season.

In the absence of our only quickie (Dom Pilgrim), Cattell and Tailor opened the bowling. Enfield's ground is small and has a fast outfield so stopping runs was hard.

Cattell's first spell was tight - only 11 runs from six overs. Tailor suffered a little more conceding 28 from four.

The two opening batsmen, Cole and Demant, were no spring chickens, and we got away with singles when fitter men would have scampered at least two.

Mark Naisbitt replaced Ringo, and kept Reed on his toes behind the stumps. "Bad back" McGowan was being peppered in the slips, but failed to hang on to a couple of half chances, one from Cattell's bowling, one from Naisbitt.

With the bowlers limited to eight overs, I decided to mix and match the bowling as much as possible. Cole had already reached his 50 and Demant was looking difficult to remove.

I came on to replace Cattell, and picked up a couple of wickets. One an excellent catch behind the stumps by Reedy, from the finest of tickles, to remove Cole.

Steve Golding, bowling an excellent legside line, kept the tenacious Andy Vernon busy at deep square leg. V obviously had something to prove after my comments regarding his speed last week!

Herlihy and McGowan (back sufficiently improved to bowl five overs of searing pace) took their turns with the cherry in the merry-go-round of Sundown bowlers.

McGowan was the only other successful bowler, trapping the number four Mehta LBW for 19. He should have picked up a second when your correspondent spilled a chance in the deep late on in the innings.

Apart from my drop we fielded excellently. Notable performances came from: Mark Naisbitt, who suddenly rediscovered his throwing arm; Paul "boundary patrol" Ferdenzi playing his first game for 12 years; Paulo Manzi, who showed his youth, stopping several boundaries which no other member of the squad would have had a prayer with; and not forgetting the aforementioned Verno who left the pitch proudly displaying his blooded arm caused by repeated heavy contact with the hard, concrete-like outfield.

Enfield concluded their 40 overs on 202 for 3. Although a small ground and only eight men in the field, we would have to bat well to achieve this.

Andy V and Smiler occupied their usual opening berth for Sundowns.

Herlihy set off like a train with 3 early boundaries. He then retreated into his shell for a more tortoise like performance. This was the Smiler we know and love.

V holed out to backward point, off the excellent bowling of Silva who troubled all our early batsmen. Silva bowled his eight overs straight through and had the stingy figures of 8-3-9-1. We were relieved to see the back of him.

Golds meantime had come in at number three, but was unable to continue his good form of the previous week, departing for just four.

Once again we were in a bit of trouble. We appeared unable to "step on the gas" and were 33 for two from 14 overs. Having required just over five an over at the start, the run rate had crept up to nearly seven an over.

Enter "invalid" in-form club skipper McGowan. Once again he put bat to ball aggressively, and slowly the innings started to turn around. He was eventually out (lucky Ann!), for 62, an innings containing three sixes and 4 fours.

We had reached 132 for three in the 30th over, still seven an over to win.

Smiler, meanwhile, had moved passed 50 and was now required to carry his bat in the anchor role if we were to get home. Paulo Manzi joined him and hit a swift eight before being bowled one over after Mick.

The game was close, and I moved Paul Ferdenzi (probably a bit rusty after 12 years without a game) down the order, and promoted myself.

Between Smiler and myself we got the score moving with a combination of quick singles and picking off the large gaps in the field for boundaries.

With two overs left we had whittled the target down to just six from 12 balls. Five runs early in the penultimate over ensured we did not have to do anything silly. So I tried to put the ball out of the ground!

I missed the fifth ball of the over but connected with the last to finish on a flourish with a maximum, leaving me on 47. Just short of buying a jug, much to Mark's disgust.

Smiler finished 81 not out, batting through the entire innings to ensure victory. Welcome back to form Smiler.

We had successfully chased over 200, although they did only have eight men. A win that was overdue, let's hope we can maintain this run feast of the last couple of weeks.

On to the days winners and losers:

The Winners:
Mick "dodgy back" McGowan - I'm sure he has developed the back problem so that Ann has to suffer! He managed to score 62 and bowl five overs but limped to the bar!

Smiler - back to his accumulating old self - well played Boycs.

Dave "bad back number two" Reed - creditable performance behind the stumps in the face of some wayward legside bowling at times. Remember with our slow attack he had to stand up to every bowler!

All those who fielded excellently - see earlier text.

My good self - two for 13 and 47 not out, sorry about the drop Mick!

The Losers:
Paul "do you mind dropping down the order" Ferdenzi - did not bat, did not bowl, did however field with gusto!

Golds and Verno - had to face the best bowler and suffered as a result, only getting four each.

Next week we did have a home fixture against Walthamstow Horizontals, a team I remember fondly, as they provided the oppo the day my son Luke was born. Despite a phone call I stayed to finish the game, and in punishment was made to wait 10 hours at the hospital! Unlike Dom.

But they have cried off and we are now playing Belmont.

The game follows our Club summer party, so we may need to nurse a few hangovers through next Sunday afternoon. Watch out next week for not only a match report but snippets from the party as well.

© Tony Medlock 2002