Pacific were left to rue their failure to post a more challenging total against Crouch End on Sunday. 

Despite a spirited bowling performance, the highlight of which was Ahmed Hussain’s eight overs for 19, Pacific’s total of 189 always looked within reach for their opponents, whose progress towards victory was significantly more steady than the progress of the well-oiled clubhouse chef homewards on his bike as the Pacifists were enjoying a post-match pint.

Crouch End knocked the runs off with 4.1 overs to spare, thanks primarily to a ton from Scottish opener Neil, who delivered a jug to the Pacific dressing room immediately after the match to confirm his affable demeanour in the middle was not an act, and to challenge the match report writer not to include a cheap shot about defying national stereotypes.

(Had he offered a catch to be dropped, the thirsty culprit could have been accused of complicity but there were no chances in his assured 116).

That Crouch End took as long as they did to cross the line was a credit to Hussain, who stifled the scoring with a fine loop and length, picking up a wicket along the way, and to fellow spinner Aroon Korgaonkar, who helped to apply the pressure with a wicket of his own.

Hussain also secured the champagne moment with an acrobatic dive in front of the sightscreens to prevent a four.

Pacific’s innings had started strongly with openers James Soden and Kieran Mullens accumulating at a decent rate for the first 10 overs before both perished in the low 20s. Number four Sumeet Sharma was the pick of the top order, who played some crisp strokes but holed out on 32 when a big score looked likely.

Chasseaud (2), Burnham (0) and Duncan (3) will have been frustrated to have fallen early against one of the ostensibly less threatening attacks Pacific have faced this year – and there was an appropriateness to the boozy game of Dingbats the trio enjoyed after the match that was perhaps lost on them at the time.

If Pacific’s bowling salvation was Hussain, Tom Ireland played the role with the bat, striking a composed 51 despite coming under fire from beamers and a verbal assault from Crouch End’s feisty bowler and vascular surgeon Shiva Dindyal.

Ireland was well supported by Korgaonkar and Sharan Timbadia as he pushed Pacific to a total that always looked challenging to defend.