It was a similar scorecard to last year, with Pacific batting first, making a big total, and Fields not really coming close.
Paul and Luke put on what must be our highest opening partnership of the season so far with their 142.
Toby Chasseaud quietly passed 5000 career runs for Pacific and also surpassed Craig Jones's 5006, making Toby the club's fifth highest run scorer after Steve Lay, Jon Webley, Pete Hollman and John McDougall.
Had it not been for his faulty satnav directing him to Walthamstow, Webley could have again overtaken Lay. His late arrival meant that, under the skipper's new zero-tolerance-to-lateness policy, he was dropped down to No 9 and did not bat, leading to speculation that the evil Lay, hiding away in his Scottish lair, had hacked his satnav.
Thanks and apologies must go to Jonathan Hardisty for diligently scoring for most of Pacific's innings only to be cruelly run out by Riz when his turn to bat finally arrived.
Pete, umpiring, was particularly unimpressed by Fields' slow over rate (just 14 an hour!) and was only dissuaded from fining them by the warmth of the September sunshine.
In response to our big total, several of Fields' batsmen looked good but when they were dismissed their side lacked the strength and depth that Pacific (for once) enjoyed. If only we had such a batting line-up for league games.
Our weight of runs gave us the opportunity to try out some new bowlers, with Mark Woodland, turning his arm over for the first time, looking promising and being unlucky not to get a wicket.
Special mention must go to Aly's friend Neil who, on his debut, not only stopped everything that came his way in the field but also joined the select few to have taken a wicket with their first ball for the club. They are now:
Senna Gooneratny v Scala Cinema (31 July 1983) Chris Turner v Our Price (26 April 1987) Andrew Wood v Bramhall (26 May 1992) Evan Gard v Weston Colville (14 September 1997) Joe Cannon v Flying Wickets (22 September 2001) Garry Durston v Squirrels (21 May 2011) Neil Gregory v London Fields (20 September 2015)
Thanks to Kieran for raising a strong side and to everyone for making it such an enjoyable day. Onwards and upwards!
Thanks also to Nuggsy for coming to support the team. He enjoyed the batting display but, obviously unimpressed by our opening bowlers (particularly the one from the Broadway Market end), fell asleep for the second half of the match. Still, his presence was much appreciated.
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