UCS Old Boys wrested back the hallowed trophy from Pacific’s sweaty grasp in a cracking match, played in the best of spirits, what!

Pacific 212 all out (Wiehahn 51, Campbell 39)

UCS Old Boys 213 for 5 (Roberts 2 for 33 off 13, Campbell 1 for 15 off 5)

PCC captain Dave Murray lost the toss and was inserted by the oppo. Due to late arrivals and the whimsical outlook of skipper Murray, Pacific opened with said captain and club legend 'JC' Campbell.

A couple of overs later and Murray was back in the pavilion, not having troubled the scorers (apart from with dots).

Enter the previous day’s batting hero, surly Aussie all-rounder Rademaker to rapturous applause from around the ground. He instantly engaged himself in some pearly shots, creating hurly burley amongst the watching girlies. Whirly drives and curly cuts were sent rasping to the boundary with the Queenslander’s typical burly aplomb. However just as his innings was about to truly unfurly he was unceremoniously dismissed upper-thigh-before-wicket for an over-early 15, after a pathetic appeal that came only from the bowler.

Wiehahn unable to reach 50 the day before, managed to gather his half century with a compact innings containing much punishing of bad balls and skilful working of the good ones. Steve Lay joined the fray and began to slay the ball to the boundaray.

JC was, meanwhile, amassing a neat total of runs with some adroit and powerful strokeplay. He, too, then went (harshly, he felt,) to the combination of bowler Orford and the umpire, dismissed lbw for 39.

Wiehahn was bowled by spinner Ossack and Hollman was then in and out like a schoolboy in a brothel, bringing Bastin sauntering to the crease. He, Davies and then Haill all played a few shots and got a few fours to help boost the Pacific innings nearer a considerable total with Roberts, D. and Black adding a few runs too. All out 212.

UCS batted for a short while before tea, losing only the attacking Adams with the total on 17 to last year’s dominant bowler in the match, Roberts. After tea, UCS’s Orford and Abel put together an impressive partnership, with no bowler escaping the sword. The relationship of 116 was ended as Abel attempted to push for a cheeky single and Haill niftily flicked the ball at the stumps from square leg.

Orford fell, shortly, again to Roberts, and so did Gross for 0 to JC. Rademaker injured his arm while bowling and Murray had to take over in the middle of the Aussie’s third over. The skipper and Ulsterman Black bowled very tightly. The UCS batmen stole ones and twos and squeezed a few fours (even to Roberts) until Davies and JC were brought on as the death bowlers. Both bowled with great control and accuracy, and managed a maiden each as the game tiptoed towards a terrifically tense termination.

Pacific fielded very tightly, on the whole, but were unable to entirely stem the flow of singles. Doran Garfunkel, in a rearguard routine reminiscent of an innings that saved the game against Pacific back in 1997, resolutely kept out the Pacific attack and in the end managed to score the winning run though the last-ball fielding cordon.

Man of the match: Wiehahn and JC, runs for both and tight death bowling from JC

Packing the kit: Dave Murray, captain’s innings of 0

XI: Dave Murray*, Steve Lay, Peter Hollman, Jim Davies, Guy Wiehahn, Jonathan Campbell, Kurt Rademaker, Darryl Roberts, Rob Bastin +, Oli Haill & Colin Black.