The winning run continued on Sunday with victory against our local rivals and friends Homerton CC. There were contributions across the board, useful innings from Ben Burnham (27), reunited with the ground he made his Pacific debut on in 2015. A most fluent knock of the season from Aly Duncan (20) who managed to essay a four straight and true over the top just as his girlfriend Cecilia was arriving to watch – good timing in both sense of the word. We saw another fine knock from George Moses (28), who looked particularly strong over the mid-on region, and later, kept wicket expertly. James Collis continued his best season for Pacific by seeing off Homerton's best bowling at the top of the order, despite it not being his preferred position.
Once Mullens was out hitting a ball which bounced twice from the corn-rowed Marcus Weekes straight to the silver haired seamer and illustrator Ned Woodman, Pacific managed to find themselves in a sticky position at 115/6 after 25 overs, just as they had in 2015.
But enter Stockton and Chowdhury* for a remarkable partnership, combining elegant strokeplay from the Skipton lad (64no) and destructive hitting all round the wicket from Navid in a 92no containing 10 fours and 6 maximums, his first Pacific 50 and a ‘Daddy’ half century it was. Navid is off home to Bangladesh for a fortnight to see the family Chowdhury in Chittagong and in his all-round performance he seemed to be maximising his possibilities before the break.
Kieran, who has a penchant for popped corn these days, had bought some Happy Shopper Popcorn from the local store, and, as Aroon pointed out, the cinematic snack was the perfect accompaniment for the visual feast put on by StockChow. In the blink of an eye, Pacific had surged to a formidable looking 272/6, sapped the spirit of a helpless Homerton, and could relax during the tea break in the wide expanses of Clapton’s Millfield Park.
Chowdhury and Davis took the new ball and their contrasting talents married agreeably. This was a very much a pitch for PBD, suiting his ability to extract a little bit of life from a slow, low track very similar in nature to the Alexandra Park pitch on which he’s done considerable damage. Chowdhury, quickly getting accustomed to the slowness of the pitches in this wet, wet British summer of 2016, found the perfect Yorker length twice, using his speed through the air to take out numbers one and three, Ahwal and De Glossop. Meanwhile, Hutch, whose 50 had aided the home side's victory march in 2015, was holding Homerton’s innings together, punishing anything too full or short. Sam Howes, in his salad days as a leg spinner, will learn much from having to bowling on a pitch with such fine margins for error and when his considerably bruised thumb heals, will return stronger.
Davis manacled captain and climate scientist Sagar Bora, coaxing him into slicing a drive to the safe hands of Korgaonkar at cover. Mullens nipped out Dan, before suffering a bout of the micro yips from which he thankfully recovered. Stockton came into the attack after drinks, hit Hutch (76) on the toe before sending him back to the hutch with a low full toss he surprisingly missed. The butcher of Hackney Chowdhury couldn’t be kept out of the game, executing a superlative run out from the boundary to dismiss wicketkeeper and cigarette puffer Sam, before Kieran followed suit by running out Tony, perhaps the most sedate cricketer he’s ever seen, a man whose bowling action makes Carl Hooper look like an ADHD sufferer.
Homerton kept fighting but the Pacific attack was a cornucopia of infinite variety. Aroon Korgaonkar returned to the pacific fold to take his 130th Pacific wicket with his refreshingly singular chinaman - big loop, heavy turn. Ahmed, who’d been holding himself back all afternoon but now plainly wanted a bowl, came to the stage and performed a treat, seeing young Marcus hole out to that man Chowdhury again at cow, before settling the deal by knocking back the off stump of the swishing Woodman.
Stat’s entertainment
. Stockton and Chowdhury’s partnership of 157 is the second highest 7th wicket partnership in 33 years of Pacific play.
. Following his not out 64, Stockton, whose previous innings was a 139* against Bussey, has now scored 203 runs without being out. He’s into the top 10 and we hope the run continues.
. Navid’s superlative 92* fell just one short of Saif Shamsuddin’s 2009 93 against Roving Reporters. It was also one of the fastest innings in Pacific history (46 balls). If he’d been able to continue his innings he might have been able to surpass Conrad Chandler’s 100 off 50 balls vs London fields in August 2009.
