The first game against new oppo Catus involved a two-and-a-half-hour drive through torrential rain, with irregular driver Oli Haill leaning hard over the tightly-gripped steering wheel like a half-blind octogenarian. As we fielded in the second innings Kurt slipped and ruptured (he later discovered) his hamstring.

Catus's kindly gentleman cricketer Martin/Martyn, codename 'Bunter', offered his services to Pacific and then joined us for the rest of the tour, even lodging with us at Le Bastit. (Whispered allegations Bunter was a charmingly sly John Robie-alike cat burglar were soon put to bed after a missing Dog Soldier painting was located in the bedroom of Adrian Duthie's festival-loving daughter.)

Summary -

Debut fixture on tour list

Drive for two hours through rain

Arrived hour and a half late just as rain arrived at ground (confusion over start time)

Won toss and batted

Steve 30odd, James 41*, Aroon 22* steer total to 150/5 off our 25

Oppo made brisk start to 52/2 off 7.5 before Kurt pulls hamstring in pouring rain

Match abandoned

Oppo very tolerant of late arrival, have very nice ground and lent us Bunter for the whole tour