Pacific saw off Highgate rivals Black Rose in a short, sharp encounter where the visiting bowlers swung and seamed the oppo to their lowest total in the contest’s history.

Played in glorious sunshine among the sunbathers and Frisbee throwers of Highgate Woods, Pacific bowled their hosts out for just 79 thanks to a perfect display from Pacific's formation of swing bowlers.

Opening bowlers James 'Gunter' Smith and Darryl Roberts extracted pace and bounce from the usually sluggish pitch along with the more accustomed grubbers in between. The first breakthrough went to Roberts who was making the ball swing and seam with perfect control in the humidity, giving the batsmen many problems.

Smith was replaced by Webley after he had buzzed vigorously in the skipper's ear as they both stood in the slips. He promised to deliver some inswing, and initially bowled a fairly mixed bag of beamers and long hops which had the captain pondering his decision.

Black Rose, who had not lost at home for over two years, were at this stage looking comfortable at 38 for 1 before the Dorset-bred allrounder inspired a dramatic collapse in his nine-over spell. It was the first time in 2 years he had bowled pain free after a long battle with shoulder injuries.

Along with Roberts, who took his 400th wicket for the club among his three on the day, and South African Shayne Rees, who took two tailenders, the Islington side only required four bowlers to toil in the heat as the first inning was brought to a halt after just 24 overs.

Despite the low target, Pacific’s reply took a stuttering start as veteran opening batsmen Peter Hollman, who’d earlier taken a superb diving catch in the gully, and South African Justin Roy struggled to make headway against the tight lines and very attacking fields of opening bowlers Mishra and Zane. Hollman was the first to go caught at slip to a spitting delivery from the spinner Mishra, while Justin 'I need more cricket' Roy followed soon after to a pacy full pitcher from Zane.

But this only served to hasten the wilting of the Rose as towering Australian Darren Tempany, vice captain on the day, was brought to the crease.

The 6 foot 6 run machine then proceeded to thrash the ball to the boundary – smashing two bats in the process and threatening to decapitate any close fielders – in a 32-ball half century that made victory comfortable for the Islington side. Newly specialist batsman Oli Haill hitting the winning runs with an uncharacteristic forward defensive.

Skipper Atkin was a proud man after the match: “Today couldn’t have gone any better. Credit has to go to Jon for putting his hand up and delivering, and also to the other bowlers and players for that clinical, disciplined display”.

Man of the match: toss up between Tempany and Webley, though the Dorset man wins it due to it being against oppo that have frustrated him before and the slow pace of the Australian's innings

Packing the kit: James Smith – although he worried the batsmen with his Gunter-like pace and aggression he remained the only bowler not to take a wicket

Pacific XI was Chris Atkin (c), Darren Tempany (vc), Rob Bastin (wk), Peter Hollman, Justin Roy, Shayne Rees, James Smith, Darryl Roberts, Oli Haill, Aroon, Jon Webley