Things didn’t go to plan right from the start, when stand in Skipper Allan Roberts, it was generally felt, got duped into agreeing a limited over format without a limit on the bowlers.

Things did not get better as opening Fulmer bowler Patel, put the ball on a length that the batters bar Guy Wiehahn, found difficult to play. Add to that, that he could swing it away & seam it in, & Pacific’s long batting line up failed to engage in any significant crease occupation – that was until Jai Rajaraman joined the opening bat Guy Wiehahn, thereby, making the highest Pacific partnership (36) of the day.

Sadly, Wiehahn’s edge brought that to a close & the score to 5 down for 76. Jai remained a solid force until bowled & useful tail end runs from Rees, Bastin & Roberts were made, & despite being bowled 6 runs short by the returning Patel (10.2-2-25-5), on a pitch with variable bounce, 140 felt competitive.

After the interval, things again didn’t go as all has hoped, Pacific's bowlers didn't bowl as Patel had earlier & lack of options for Roberts grew in evidence. Rees & Davies, despite regular intervals of beating the bat & the former's wicket, the Fulmer batsmen Randall (78*) & Fisher (40) remained resolute, their experience of the pitch & their adaption to it contriving to a match winning partnership of 101.

Opening bowler Davies unveiled their secret “they leave the short stuff alone & hit the length ball.” Attacking fields outstayed their usefulness, Rees bowled the odd bad ball – always punished, Davies bowled too long as indicated by Roberts’ 1st ball wicket, & Jon Webley had a day to forget. Davies was unlucky seeing Randall dropped twice but Captain Roberts did eventually ring changes with Fulmer still requiring 18 runs & immediately picked up Fisher at slip.

Sadly, there was no Edgbaston style drama as no further alarms went for Fulmer who have now won 3 matches on the bounce against pacific.

A bad day at the office, a sub-standard batting display, a lack of bowling depth, 2 crucial dropped catches? It could be said that minds were elsewhere given this was Tom Brown’s last match last year – certainly his bowling was missed. However, the regular screams from the pavilion whenever another Aussie wicket fell, led some to believe that this wasn’t the only match unfurling.

Current XI is : Rob Bastin, Jim Davies, Adrian Duthie, Peter Hollman, Shane Mundie, Sammy Purcell, Shayne Rees, Allan Roberts*, Jon Webley, Jaikishan Rajaraman, & Guy Wiehahn.

David Pedley, Fixture Secretary, writes "I must say I am shocked to see the news about Tom Brown. Of course we will be willing to play you again next season, and I am sure we will be happy to accommodate any form of tribute you might wish to incorporate into the day. I will discuss this with the rest of the committee at the next meeting if you wish. Let me know what you might think is appropriate."