Pacific and Birch’s Sunday best was not quite good enough as Graces stayed cool under pressure to edge a seesawing MEIL matchup by just two wickets and 11 balls to spare in their debut year in the comp.

This was a near triumph over several adversities, not least because a late change of venue from north to south, Broxbourne to Beckenham, by the sometime Greenford-dwelling Graces, had left us short of numbers and jeopardized our participation. The fine work of match manager Garrett ensured that an XI would honour our league commitment at the beautiful HSBC Beckenham ground.  

The south can understandably seem a distant, mysterious land for a club whose heart beats strongly in N4. Thanks to chairman Haill for stepping in and hotfooting it from a north London fun run down south, to Mutz playing twice in a weekend after substantial negotiations with his better half, Korgy for undertaking the tricky navigation from east to south and indeed the whole XI for making the journey.  

Credit too to Rob Birch who announced to our whatsapp group that he’d arrived by 10:30am, some two and a half hours before play. Having driven up from his hometown of Blackwood (Welsh: Coed Duon), Caerphilly in the Welsh Valleys, where many of the members of the influential rock band The Manic Street Preachers grew up, the real estate man made himself at home watching the cricket in the airport-style lounge of the clubhouse. Presumably he was inspired as openers Roy and Bairstow thrived at Edgbaston.

Rob proved, to coin a new adage, that the early Birch catches the worm, by seizing the day when asked to open the innings with Mullens. The pair accumulated patiently against nagging lines and lengths in the opening passages. But when afforded the opportunity, Birch, resembling more a mighty oak than the thin leaved deciduous hardwood with which he shares a name, combined powerful lofted drives in the V with sweetly timed drives and finessed late cuts.  

After Mullens (30) was out in the over after drinks, Chasseaud (51*) and Birch went through the gears at more than six an over in the last 20, the latter carrying his bat for a sumptuous 121*, his first of what we hope will be many centuries for the club. 215 looked a decent total on a vast, slowish outfield upon which batsmen were often denied boundaries.

After a bland, beige tea had dulled the senses, Mahender Pal stunned us with an opening assault with his very own powerplay. The left-hander cracked anything in his arc beyond the boundary. Graces were 73 off the first nine. The Pacific eleven were briefly silenced but soon responded.

Opening bowlers Howes and Haill adapted by changing up lines and lengths to counter the threat of Pal. Howes was disappointed by the lack of gluten-free choice at tea but showcased his own rich variations by shortening his run-up to trap namesake Sam LBW then bowl Pal soon after.  

Our sense that this was a key breakthrough played out as Graces now progressed more tentatively. The run rate dropped, their Manhattan flattened out to a series of lower rise blocks.

The chairman now found his groove. Having been taken for 37 from his first five, he conceded just six from the next four and came tantalisingly close to a hat trick in his ninth over. This was in no small part thanks to Rob Birch, who dived to his right at slip like a man who has a keen sense of the theatrical to pouch a terrific catch to dispose of Sanjeev.

With president Garrett bowling tidy stump-to-stump off breaks which have taken him to the top of the wicket-taking charts in 2019, debutant Keyana Sapp was brought on and duly unpicked the Graces lock with a wicket in his first over for the club. His rhythmic, fluid action generated slippery pace, seam and swing; two for 30 off 8 on a first outing reflects his obvious potential.

Hussain belatedly entered the action to dramatic effect, bowling Jeshant round his legs with his first ball. Graces were rocking at 155/6, Pacific whooped and hollered. It felt like we were on top and victory was within our grasp.

Though Hussain prised out the adhesive Ari and Keyana bowled captain Stuart, all rounder Newton’s smart 50 finally sent our hopes plummeting to earth. He shepherded his deep tail-end partners home by finding gaps which we were unable to plug.

It was tough to come so close after a wholehearted effort and also a shame that spinners Korgaonkar and Nick ‘Eppy’Epstein didn’t get their chance in a tight contest. Credit to the pair for remaining philosophical and sanguine. Their and Pacific’s time will surely come in the return fixture at Highgate in September. 

Possible Champagne/Mythos lager moments

Bearded Welshman Birch flinging himself full-length to pluck a great catch at wide first slip, topping off an all-round performance that helped to compensate for his golden duck the day before for his hometown club of Blackwood Town CC.

Also when the opposition opener Pal was thrashing shots round the ground but failed to reach a wide bowled by Oli, "We've disovered his weakness, lads!" called Birchy.

Husssain's first-ball wicket. A classic legspinner to bowl Jeshant round his legs.