The start of the season has seen Pacific counter the unsightly concrete squares around the boundary edge by taking every opportunity to add touches of class to a day's cricket, each edifying micro gain distancing us from the unsightly abominations that negate this green N4 oasis. Carrying on from 2014 we're putting out teas to be proud of. Yesterday saw a Paul Davis rice and pea combo which wowed the opposition, homemade scones from Kieran, a quiche made by newcomer Theo's wife, and some chocolatey honeycomb wonders (Crunchies on speed) courtesy of Emma, a friend of last year's Best Newcomer Juliana Silva. Perhaps the piece de resistance were gleaming blue bars of soap to be found in Wray's chrome dominated toilets, another civilising addition from the assiduous skip, no soap bar being more apt for a cricket match than Cusson's Imperial Leather. If only we could have cleaned up the London Fields batsmen when we bowled the leather at them.

In patches Pacific looked the part. After Fields won the toss and elected to bat, a probing third over from swing king Timbadia resulted in the wicket of opener Rice in the next over for a returning Vincent Croft, aided by a neat catch at backward point by Pacific debutant Theo Steyn. A great example of bowling in partnerships. Rizwan Siddiqui hit a probing full length, then changed his field and bowled a snorting lifter which Down gloved into the soft hands of Oli Creese, a wonderful instance of bluff from Riz. Shortly after the destructive Friend looked to have been stumped off an Ahmed twirler via the quick hands of gloveman Creese (given not out), he cuffed a ferociously hit ball to cow, which Kieran agriculturally parried, juggled then pouched, much to his delight. After Friend’s dismissal, Pacific piled the pressure on new batsman Lord, who looked vulnerable early on to Siddiqui’s heavy-ball lift. Several times he played and missed but, adhesive and passionate as ever, Pacific couldn’t prise him out. Davis, Steyn and Mullens (two wickets with his 2015 version of Peter Such) delivered good balls but Fields ran hard and hit hard, profiting from any wayward bowling to finish up with a mammoth score of 292, 52 of which were extras.

Afer tea, Fields’ canny opening pair of Miller and Glover demonstrated the virtues of a nagging line and length, stymying openers Creese and Collis’ reply. In truth it was hard to find the break-out shot to such accurate bowling and, while both looked technically accomplished, Fields’ pressure-inducing start left Siddqui and and Chasseaud needing to score at 10 an over to keep up with the rate. Briefly it looked possible as Chaaseaud, most memorably with gorgeous blade flashes through mid on and a lofted straight flourish for six, and Siddiqui, who was finding his rhythm, cuffing the nervous debutant Tear to all parts of the ground. In fairly quick succession both were out, Riz trying to tear into Tear, proceeded to loft the ball straight to a gleeful deep cover. Shortly afterwards Chasseaud (37) was bounced out by Goodwin, spooning a hook shot to square leg while swaying his head out of the line of fire. Thereafter there were fighting cameos from Steyn (17), Lay (10), Croft (21) and Davis (8) to take the score to 170 but Fields finished as handsome victors.

Special mention must go to club statistician Steve Lay, who, down from Scotland for his 563rd appearance for Pacific, managed to inch his way back ahead of Jon Webley in terms of runs scored. If only the straps on his pads hadn't broken mid-run he would have surely added to his career total.

Meanwhile, Theo Steyn, on debut, generated good pace but struggled for rhythm in his run-up. His fielding was excellent and he scored some handy runs at No 6.

A post-World's End dinner was taken at Lulu's (formerly Hummingbird) Caribbean Cuisine on Stroud Green Road by a roving pack of peckish Pacificos. Intrigued by £6 cocktails and a menu that stretched beyond jerk and patties, PBD's recommendation sealed it. Plates of doubles, curry prawn roti, sweet potatoes, red snapper, lamb shoulder, and curried crab with dumplings were lustily disposed of like they were Jade Dernbach slower balls in an ODI … or Jade Dernbach any balls, really. However the macaroni pie, cooked not just with cheese but with subtle hints of tamarind and chili, proved similar to London Fields' 292 total: Pacific gamely chipped away, but in the end were unable to overcome.