The first VPCCL match to be played away from Victoria Park for 8 years was infused by the effervescent Best Nationals keeper SJ who kept everyone entertained throughout this highly enjoyable if slightly uneven contest. BN are indeed a very friendly, decent opposition hailing from Morgan Stanley. Pacific won the toss and batted.
Darren Tempany despatched the orange beacon to all boundaries but was lost in a distant garden in the 4th over. Tempany was superb as ever in hitting 50 off 19 balls. After Darren’s retirement the innings lost impetus, 60/0 off four overs became 90/4 before Lucius and Aroon stabilised the situation with a sensible partnership and the eventual score of 147 looked enough. BN Skipper Dan Williams had been the main pain inflictor with 2 wickets, a run out & 2 catches to dismiss the returning Darren Tempany 1st ball to end the innings 1 ball short of the allocation.
In reply the Pacific seamers gave little away – Sheldon Greenland taking 1 for 7 off 3 overs, James Gleadow bowling a maiden & Lucius Faisal bowling his 3 overs for just 13 + left arm chinaman Aroon Korgoankar leading the wicket takers with 3. Moses behind the stumps was near infallible with his catching & direct hits. Indeed, the BN batting never looked likely to threaten despite a smattering of boundaries and Tempany donating a dozen wides as Pacific's concentration wavered as the match petered to a close.
Alistair Chisolm was top scorer coming in at number 4 but the target was never under threat & the beers not drunk were removed again from the fridge in the pavilion kitchen.
A good start to the midweek season but things will have to be sharper next week - the opposition dropped at least half a dozen catches and we can't expect that generosity every week. Thanks to Pete Hollman for umpiring. Meanwhile, hopefully it will not be another 8 years before the next game at Wray Crescent was the universal opinion on the way to the despatch boxes.
Sheldon Greenland, James Gleadow, Peter Hollman, Aroon Korgoankar, Justin Roy*, Darren Tempany, Moses Hutchinson-Pascal & Jon Hardisty
