In what felt like the first weekend of the year when the weather was right for cricket, PCC turned up to Springfield Park top of the NELCL table. Granted, it was as much to do with the ammount of matches each team has played (Tower Hamlets opening their account with this game) as our dominance of the league, but expectations were high given the lteague table and our recent streak of victories. After a healthy debate amongst the Pacificos of the merits of bowling or batting first, the toss was lost and the decision was thrust upon us - we'd have a bat. It seemed like a brave decision from the Tower Hamlets skipper, who had only 6 men and a 12 year old with him at the time (though one more would eventually show up), but never look a gift horse in the mouth, as they say. Mark and Toby strode out to open the innings, and were faced with a sparse field with plenty of gaps to aim for. Not quite believing their luck, they set about accumulating quickly, and it was a solid opening stand. A quick consultation with the unnamable records shows the opening partnership of 222 is the 2nd highest ever for Pacific, and I believe Toby's 150 is the highest ever score for a Pacific batsman batting at number 2, overtaking Tom Ireland's 136*. When Mark fell accelerating in the last few overs for 86, Rajku and Kieran were both out quickly hitting out to try and run up the score. Kaleem had a nice little cameo with the bat at the end, and our total of 292 (287 if you believe the umpire who didnt have the benefit of a book) looked comfortably enough to defend.

Tower Hamlets and their 9 men played with great spirit throughout, but couldnt overcome the imposing total. Kaleem struck early to remove an opener who chopped on, but the 12 year old who'd opened the batting proved stubborn and difficult to remove. He eventually fell, caught at cow corner by Kaleem off the bowling of Tim, the first of his 3 wickets. With a plethora of bowling options to call on, 8 Pacificos had a bowl - Aly Duncan providing the champagne moment with a C&B from his first spell in a good while. It was great to see him back in a Pacific shirt after a lengthy absence, hopefully the first of many appearances this year from him. Elsewhere, Jithin bowled a parsimonious spell, though his excessive swing and a very tight interpretation of the line for wides cost him more runs than he might have conceeded otherwise. Once Jack found his length, he bowled well and picked up a clean bowled, whilst Eppy had a man caught by Toby. Korgy also bowled well, though sadly without reward on this occasion, and Kieran rounded out the innings to add a little game time after only having an opportunity to face the last ball of the innnings with his batting. Overall it was an enjoyable day in the sun, and several of us went on to the Rowing Club, who'd kindly agreed to keep the bar open for us until the game was over - many thanks to them. Beer was drunk, and happy Pacificos eventually wondered off into the night to begin mentally preparing for next weekends travails. 

Report by TG