A bittersweet 18 run loss in our second league match of the season vs the always convivial Mayfield yesterday afternoon. A Phil Smith 5-fer, his first for the club, backed up by Ravi (2 fer) Vincent, Toby and Pranav (1-fers) enabled us to restrict Mayfield to 215. After the early loss of batting totem Chasseaud, Creese and Steyn essayed their finest strokes and showcased strategic nous in a 156-run second wicket partnership to take Pacific within sight of a stellar victory. After Theo was run out for a pugnacious 80, a career high score, Oli was soon out out to a spectacular catch by Imran Khan at deep mid on for 67. Both scored their first Pacific fifties. Pacific's remaining seven collapsed like a mineral water bottle at a recycling plant. Mayfield had been run ragged by the dynamic power play and decisive running of Steyn and Creese, but buoyed by the stentorian sounds of Mr Ravi Sondh, played their last card by taking the new ball late in the day. It worked a treat as Pacific, unsure of how best to get over the line and perhaps unnerved by the emergent pressure, crumbled to 193 all out. Tough to take but hopefully the experience will prove cathartic for later league challenges in the season.

So we sunk their ship in last year's game but were unable to repeat the feat.

Mayfield are currently celebrating their 90th anniversary year.