A beautiful baking hot day was a much-needed relief from the rain of the past few months. Jon tossed up with one of United’s eleven captains, called correctly and elected to bat. Walthamstowians Lahri and Toby opened up, with Lahrie enjoying a fluent start before falling for 23. Toby was more watchful, before hitting eight fours and two sixes in his 79. He kept his concentration despite United’s disunited front, as they argued endlessly about field placements and the like. Good knocks from Rohan and Jon Brown, who finally managed to get off the mark this season after two ducks, helped Pacific to 185 for seven.

After a good tea Nuggsy’s metronome and Satish’s away swing helped tie United CC down at the start. Change bowlers Giaco and Tom bowled some super balls occasionally but there was too much wild stuff and at 100 for three after 20 we were struggling. Skip Jon and Ahmed bowled well but it was always in a losing cause at that point.

The Pacific XI: Toby Chasseaud; Ahmed Hussain; Giaco Bridgett; Jon Brown; Jon Webley*; Lahri Mohamed; James Gleadow; Tom Ireland; Jon Hardisty; Rohan Khurd & Satish Thiagarajan