Cricket was the winner as a fine, full 80-over contest was played despite games being culled all over London this weekend due to the weather.
Pacific's innings was a faltering one, with wickets falling regularly. After another week of rain, the outfield was even slower than the previous weekend, with little reward for shots played along the ground. But Toby Chasseaud remained steady, holding up one end. With a combination of clips for one, drives, lofted shots, and cuts through the off-side, he batted through drizzle to reach his fifty before the 20-overs mark. He was well supported by skipper Ben Boorman (21), Rob Allum (22) and Sandeep Nair (19). In one over, Toby hit 18, including two sixes over midwicket. When he was dropped on the deep square leg boundary, it looked like he might go on to post a big score. However, he became distracted when a clipboard-wielding health and safety monitor from the council appeared. Given the lingering threat of Pacific being banned from playing at Wray Crescent, Toby thought it best to retire "hurt" in the 28th over, not realising he was on 96. As wickets continued to fall, Toby was allowed to return to the crease with a couple of overs to go to bring up his hundred - his third century in four matches (including one in Brazil). Pacific finished on 215 for nine.
For the first ball of London Fields' innings, Tom Ireland bowled a bouncer well over head high that was called a wide. His second produced an edge that was caught one handed low to his right by keeper Rob Bastin. Tom then produced a fine spell of six overs for four wickets and seven runs. Unfortunately his second spell, of two overs, was more expensive and he was unable to claim his fifth scalp.
James Smith somehow managed to repeat his usual trick of lumbering round at fine leg to con the batsmen into attempting to take two before pinging the ball into keeper to run a startled batsman out, reducing Fields to 22 for five.
A battling hundred (including another retirement - this one for cramp) from debutant Nathan Theys enabled Fields to reach the respectability of 179/9 but the result had never been in doubt after Tom's opening burst. Just when Oli Haill's Collingwood crown was slipping after dropping two tough chances, he took a super one-handed caught and bowled chance above his head.
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