Sunday sizzler fizzles out to tame draw

In direct contrast to last week's affair against Belmont, this week's fixture (a first against Palm Tree) was, apart from the result, the type of game that keeps you playing from week to week.

Glorious weather, strong, friendly oppo who stayed around long enough to have a few beers and buy a few teams on our scratchcard.

The Specials' ranks were once again depleted this week as Tony Medlock, Steve Golding, Dom Pilgrim, Paulo Manzi and Paul Ferdenzi were all missing.

Among the replacements was all-rounder Clive Moore, yet another product of that cricket academy Ronaldsway, L49. He is now the fourth player from that small road 220 miles away to have made a significant appearance for Sundown Specials.

How many streets of Finchley can lay claim to such a proud boast? Not many I fancy.

Chief tosser Smiler lost and the oppo skipper, Hamer, elected to bat first. He probably wished he hadn't as in the first over he was out - cleaned bowled by Dave Cattell.

In truth, the opening overs were a tale of two ends as Dave bowled maiden after maiden coming down the hill whereas the bowling from the Richard Bathard end was tonked without mercy to all parts of the field.

Mark Naisbitt, whose first ball almost inevitably found its way into the rough beyond the boundary, produced the comparatively miserly (see last week) figures 1-0-15-0 before giving way to Ringo Tailor. Unfortunately his first couple of overs were received with equal glee by the batmen who seemed to be setting up industry making hay, as a succession of long hops and worryingly high full tosses were give the full treatment.

Ringo then adjusted the length of his run up and produced a far better spell of controlled, tight bowling culminating in the capture of Dalton, LBW for 21.

Another Sundown Specials record may well have been broken during this spell, incidentally, as the combined age of our two strike bowlers totted up 102. It could even be a world record.

Palm Tree, enjoying the benign conditions and a fairly dead track started to accumulate runs at will as debutant, and comparatively youthful, John Royle joined the attack producing good figures in the conditions of 5-0-27-0.

Mike McGowan brought himself on from the top end and soon after clean bowled Russel for 68. (I was going to say "well-made 68" but Dave Cattell reckoned "he was a cowboy".)

Clive Moore and Smiler bowled out the remaining overs with Clive clearly the more impressive of the two as he tended to get the ball to bounce and be within radar range of the off stump.

The highlight of this session was Jani's superb catch of a real skyer, which may well have eclipsed as catch of the day Mark Naisbitt's full length diving effort (he actually appeared to be lying on the ground before the ball arrived). Let's just say they were equally impressive in their own way.

After a superb tea (with smoked salmon AND prawns on the sandwich menu - this had to go down as the most impressive tea of the season so far) we started off on our quest to reach Palm Tree's total of 232-7.

In all honesty, Palm Tree batted for far too long and set us too high a target. Still, with a weakened batting line any result was possible, but a draw was most likely.

Their opening bowling attack was the difference in many respects between the two teams in that both Smiler and I, although not being in too much trouble, found scoring runs quickly almost impossible.

With the score on 6-0 from eight overs it's fair to say that we were lagging somewhat behind the target of around six an over. After what seemed an eternity - and reacting to skipper McGowan's gesticulations - I started to hit out and, predictably, was promptly caught out.

Two balls later Jani followed for nought - still he took a great catch.

Clive came in to add a quick 23 - including one big six that was timed perfectly to greet the children coming out to play in their garden. The narrow escape from the manslaughter charge seemed to inhibit Clive and he was caught shortly after having seemed to hold back on a similar shot.

No such fears for McGowan, who clearly profited from Palm Tree's tactic of trying to buy a wicket. Nevertheless it was a well-made 74no - the bulk of which was made alongside Smiler who, quietly and with protection of his wicket at the very forefront of his mind, made his way to a Tavare-esque 50. "You can't score runs in the pavilion" is a sound maxim for any opening batsman and one you can't knock - just look in the book.

In the end the game fizzled out into the draw that always seemed on the cards with Specials finishing on 185-5.

All in all, though a useful exercise not least because we've found some decent oppo.

On to this week's winners and losers...

Winners
Mike McGowan 74no. The runs were there to be scored and he scored them. Sadly, with yet another not out to his name, that was the cracking through the covers performed by Mr McGowan this week.

Smiler. Another 50, another jug - although he's still in arrears.

Clive Moore. A debut couple of wickets and some useful middle order runs.

Pat the tea lady. Even by her superb high culinary standards this really was the tea of the season. Sorry, Meds!

Losers
Mark Naisbitt. His last two overs have gone for 39. Not even a catch involving a triple toe loop could make up for that

Jani. No runs and not many balls faced. The vultures are gathering.