Specials batsman fail to follow up bowling heroics [ed]

Highgate Woods was looking a picture. The sun was shining, the temperature was around the 30° mark and, for our annual match against Black Rose, we had a full crowd (well a small proportion had come to watch, the rest were sunbathers and picnickers).

Not only was it a glorious day but we were blessed with the presence of some old faces and some new ones. It was a chance to catch up on some of our long-term injuries and some of our future players.

Euan Soutar informed us his bum was recovering nicely and he hoped to be available in the next couple of weeks. I had to explain we now had over subscription for places and he would be forced to take his chance as and when!

Euan also took the occasion to introduce us to his daughter, Callie, whom, at seven months old, already looks less likely to bowl an over of swinging beamers than her old man.

Richard Bathard (he of his own bowling end at Southover) was not so encouraging. His knee was still in a bad way, and one of our most experienced all-rounders would not be back to the fray in the foreseeable future.

And the final introduction goes to Milo Pilgrim, who I'm sure you have all seen plastered over this web site by his proud dad. I know dad, in time, will tell his son he witnessed his father start his innings with a six over cover.

I'm not certain how much young Milo will remember, as he seemed to take the warm afternoon sunshine as an excuse to snooze the hours away.

So, to the days cricketing proceedings. Black Rose skipper Andre Mishra won the toss, and elected to bat. Great, two and a half hours in the field in searing heat for us!

The format was to be a 40 over match, somewhat of a rarity for us.

Dom Pilgrim and Andy Farrell (recruited from Lionel Length for the day) opened the bowling. Both men bowled a good line and length. Dom enjoying the bounce and swing from the hard wicket and Andy getting some turn and bounce.

Andy got the first breakthrough, getting Cathelly bowled with a ball that turned sharply. We were on our way.

Further wickets came from Steve Golding and myself, and that is when we ran in to difficulties, or should I say ran into Andre.

Black Rose's captain scored a very rapid 48. When I say very rapid that's exactly what I mean. He took only 19 balls to reach 48 with Cattell and myself (more so) bearing the brunt of this.

Certainly in my case nearly all his runs came in the arc between mid on and midwicket, including one which Smiler dropped over the boundary for six (OK, I concede, a very difficult half chance).

Reverting to medium pace I eventually got Mr Mishra, Andy Farrell taking an excellent catch from a mishit attempt at another six.

From this position Black Rose slowed considerably and our bowlers breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Skipper Mick McGowan finished with the creditable figures of three for 13 from four overs. Mark "the fielder" Naisbitt took an excellent catch at gully off Dom and Dave Reed had a good performance behind the stumps, deputising for the skip.

Oh, and I nearly forgot, Alex got a catch and stopped the ball with every conceivable part of his body except the five fingered things at the end of his arms which appear to gain the status of "missing in action" when he goes into the field.

Black Rose had set us a target of 197 to win in our 40 overs.

We all traipsed over to Rosie's pub (once the Black Rose) for our tea. We were tired and dehydrated. Unfortunately the tea was not up to Pat's standard. The array of food included banana sarnies, a first for most of us for 25 years!

We started our chase with our usual opening pair Andy V and Smiler. V was the first to fall in the fifth over for five. He seemed to be suffering the effects that several litres of red wine the night before tend to have on a boiling hot day.

In fact, it was one of those days when the heat seemed to get to several of our players.

Smiler (17), Steve Golding (27) and myself (11) all got starts before succumbing to what was a fairly mediocre attack. Once again we were struggling to score runs quickly enough.

Only the skipper Mick McGowan dug in. He scored an excellent 50 to continue his rich vein of form this season. When he fell caught and bowled by Middleton in the 31st over we were in need of some inspiration.

Old timers Reed and Naisbitt only lasted a short time for one & four respectively. Pilgrim and Cattell, two that don't get to bat that often were called upon to perform miracles.

Unfortunately despite some gallant hitting they were not up to the difficult task. Dom's "off the mark" shot, a six over extra cover is well worthy of note on a day when his son came to his first Sundown game.

Last man Alex Boggia came in when Dom was bowled and he departed seconds later, spooning a caught and bowled to Mishra for a golden duck.

Oh well, another defeat at the hands of an oppo who had one batsman who devastated our bowling.

We retired once again to Rosies pub to discuss the ups and downs of the Sundown summer and to quaff some well "not" earned ale.

On to the days winners and losers;

The Winners:
All those who didn't have to bowl at Black Rose skipper Andre Mishra

Mick "follow my example" McGowan, 50 and three for 13.

The Losers:
Your correspondent - three for 66 from eight overs and taking the brunt of the whirlwind innings

Dave Cattell - eight overs, one for 53.

Alex Boggia - Bruised all over and a golden duck

Next week we have a return game against Highgate (remember the infamous "Dick" who Dave Reed took a particular dislike to). A chance to avenge our defeat of a few weeks ago. Let's hope the weather continues but the form improves!