The name Epstein has not had a good time of it in recent years. Jeffrey doing for Epstein’s everywhere what Jimmy did for Saville’s before him.

That was all to change one afternoon in Crouch End where one Epstein battled to win back the honour of his name.

First though there was cause to celebrate as it was the elder JD's birthday.

Pacific won the toss & Captain Garrett opted to bowl.

The openers Smith & JD the Younger started well, keeping the runs down however wickets were tough to come by with both opening batsmen pushing their luck to the fullest with edges galore.

Only one wicket came from the opening pair. Shipon attempted to hit Smith for 6 but only finding Garrett who caught well at long off.

Joe D deserved more reward for his bowling on what proved to be very much a batters pitch.

Joe D was replaced by PBD who continued in the same vein as the openers bowling a good line and length.

However despite the tight economy of the seamers, Garrett succumbed to the mistake of many captains before him & decided to introduce spinners. There went the run rate, and with it any shine left on the ball.

Hadley Wood began to take advantage of the pitch and the short boundary at cow & started to loosen their arms.

Catches appeared to be the order of the day which immediately put Pacific at a disadvantage.

Several went down, & Epstein was agonisingly close to one hit over his head off of his own bowling, a catch his 6 foot tall namesake Jeffrey may well have reached

Ahmed & Garrett were introduced & with it wickets began to fall. Nee was first to fall, caught well by Toby at cow corner off of Ahmed. Saif was next, looking anything but as he was bowled by skipper Garrett. Shajid was next to fall to Ahmed’s guile, hitting hard and flat and straight down the throat of Smith. Sha (with no H on the end, as he was at pains to point out later) was the next victim, Birthday boy JD reacting quickly to come off the boundary and catch well 10 yards in front of the rope.

Bilal and Banny were down next, both bowled well by Hussain to bring up a very well deserved five wicket haul.

The wickets came at a cost with Hadley Wood putting the tennis players and the neighbouring cricket game at ever increasing risk over the short boundary.

Pacific’s over rate slowed, much to the umbrage of Toby in particular who was vocal in his encouragement of Pacific to hurry through the overs. After all every minute Hadley Wood were at the crease was one less he could bat for. Sorry I mean was one less Pacific had to chase the ever-increasing total.

Junior Deighan & Epstein both returned to the fold, JD stemming the runs with a further tight spell, reminding the spinners what a dot ball was, while Epstein bowled out Abdullah.

Smith was reintroduced for the final over, which much to the annoyance of an ever moodier Toby was taking place at all. “What’s the point, why aren’t you declaring” he asked of Hadley Wood.  The over was kept tight for the first 5 balls, costing only 2 runs and the wicket of Rana was caught well by Toby. His economy was devastated however when he was spanked for 6 into the netting by the clubhouse off of the final ball of the game, bringing Hadley Wood to 300.

As Pacific trudged off exhausted, facing their highest ever run chase to win, they could rely on their past captain Toby to keep up their spirits high & ready them to to face Hadley Wood’s bowling attack. “Play for the draw” he roared.

Spirits were low at tea until JD opened up the Colin the Caterpillar cake bought by Jas & Shaline in honour of the big Three Seven.

Then came the batting. Jas & Toby opened, Jas succumbed early, on six when he was caught behind off of Abdullah who bowled a very tidy opening spell. Burnham fell the same way off Barteep, the pick of Hadley Wood’s bowlers.

JD joined Toby in the middle & both set about making Hadley Wood work to defend their total. Fours & sixes followed, leaving their bowlers at sixes & sevens, as they ate into Hadley Wood’s lead.

It wasn’t only boundaries keeping Pacific on track, with the pair working hard to take advantage of misfields & overthrows

Toby’s 50 came first, from 58 balls, JD joining him at the milestone a short while later.

At drinks though the hard work was only partly done. Pacific required 165 from the final 20 overs.

Toby fell 5 overs after the break, on 74, nicking one off Bilal ending a fine partnership of 167.

JD ploughed on solidly however his stint wasn’t without it’s moments. Hadley Wood taking one straight out of the Pacific training manual, dropping him before his ton, followed by an almighty LBW appeal. Umpire Burnham however was unmoved, heard to claim later “a lesser man might have given it.”

JD’s 100 came with some impressive big hits, including a huge 6 over the long boundary. “Now’s your time to shine,” came the shout from Garrett.

Dhir played his part keeping the runs coming with a solid 17 from 23 balls before being caught behind off of the returning Barteep. Pacific required 73 from the remaining 9 overs.

Epstein entered & with JD took further advantage of further Hadley Wood mishaps, running a four before disaster struck as JD was bowled by Barteep, finishing on an incredible 125 from 101 balls. His top ever score. 59 required from 7.

Epstein & Garrett continued on the attack but soon Garrett fell, Epstein reversing the roles & leaving Garrett hanging as they attempted to run a three to slow the increasing required run rate. As Ahmed entered the middle 33 were required from the last 3. Pacific’s focus turned to one of saving the match rather than winning it. Or so everyone thought.

Epstein, not content with shutting up shop & finishing in a teen, decided the best form of defence was attack. Either that or he decided to completely disregard his captains instructions.

Epstein became the Epicentre of an Epic Episode of cricket, 16 off the next over turning the game on it’s head & putting Pacific suddenly in control.

17 needed from the final 2.

First though Ahmed was to be the next victim of Epstein’s aggressive running strategy, a single attempted with the ball in the keepers gloves. Ahmed went leaving Epstein’s net wickets for the day at -1.

12 runs off the remaining balls proved Epstein’s decision was a wise one. PBD remained a spectator as Epstein continued to hit runs at ease much to the joy of the gathering crowd.

Entering the last over 5 were required. A 2 was picked up leaving Pacific requiring 3 to win.

And with his 50 approaching this Epstein was not to be left hanging. He brought up the victory and his first half century by smashing the bowler for 6 over cow, sending the crowd wild & repaying the Hadley Wood bowlers for his same earlier fate.

The crowd went wild, Hadley Wood looked deflated. Cans of craft beer were enjoyed all round, courtesy of JD Junior for his brother’s birthday, alongside several jugs of pale ale & plates of Highgate CC’s usual Thai fare.

 

Man of the match was a tricky one with several contenders.

Ahmed took 5 wickets, Toby for 2 quality catches & his 75. JD for his top score of 125; or Epstein for his match winning 50.

However in a game of over 600 runs at an average of over 6 a phenomenal economy from Smith of 3.5 an over stands out.

 

Facts of the day

JD hit his highest score

Epstein took more Pacific wickets than Hadley Wood wickets following the run out of Hussain