Pacific vs Chiswick 3rds

With the ball

With an unavoidable loss at the coin for Tim, we were sent out to field, slightly cold and moany, but with rapid openers Tom Gane and Toby Jarvis things looked optimistic. 

Tom set us off with a blinding maiden over, swiftly followed by a screaming diving catch from Dan (wk) to dispatch their first pesky lefty. Toby followed this up with some top class pressure from the South East end, pocketing a beautiful maiden for his troubles, and together they really looked unstoppable. 

Not so much for Chiswick however who lost another wicket at the hands of Tom G, or as Riz coined “the Anglo Saxon Bumrah”, this time an astonishing catch in the slips into the safe hands of Jamie Bomford. 

Pacific had never looked so good, and Chiswick were on their knees.

At this point the skipper thought to change things up and ease off the poor buggers. Things backfired in this regard at the hands of the big man, and bday boi, Riz Siddiqui who managed to take out their promising number 3 in an explosion of stumps and bails in an impressive wicket maiden over. 

At the South East end, the much taller, handsome and interesting of the two Lincoln-Gordon brothers was plying his leg spin, increasing the pressure but predictably, and as per usual, not quite snagging a wicket.

Luckily we had the birthday boy at the other end cleaning up the mess, and another catch was taken at the hands of Toby Jarvis at cow corner, which he of course took his top off in celebration on his lap around the ground. 

On paper the Pacificos really seemed to have upped their game in the catching department, but in fact we were in a ceaseless game of tug of war, drops and catches, of which I can’t quite remember when they happened (apart from the 3 off my bowling) but you can be sure that they did. But by this point I think we were in perfect harmony at 3-3, catches to drops. 

Next there was a change in bowlers, and the skipper Tim Garrett took his rightful place at the North West end. After getting his arm warmed up and eye in, he got his man at the hands of, you guessed it Toby “Sticky Mitts” Jarvis, who to everyone’s glee managed to drop and fumble the ball 4 times before the inevitable soft landing in his sticky right hand, truly a sight to behold and I’d say catch of the year, or so we thought… 

Catches to drops: 4-3

Meanwhile another star spinner was ripping from the opposite end. Jack Mendel was flying through the upper middle order, getting a solid two-fer, including a lovely catch from Tom Gane and straight bowling their number 8. 

Catches to drops: 5-5

Tim being the lovely man that he is, wanted everyone to go home with a wicket, and so Toby and the taller LG brother returned to their marks. Quite annoyingly, and to Pacific’s dismay they both got spanked for 26 runs each off 3 overs, ruining their figures and not even getting a wicket… whoopsy. 

Luckily we had Tom Gane to help and he came on for the final over to get 2 wickets, the first being a very clever fielding move by himself, moving the much taller LG brother to short third man, with the next ball fizzing straight to him. Followed by the final ball, a well placed rocket at middle stump, which went firing past the number 9’s bat. 

Catches to drops: 6-7

169 at Wray crescent! We exited the field pondering how quickly we might get to the pub and giggling to ourselves about the oppositions reluctance to “go for it” at Wray.

With the Bat

Jamie Bomford and Tristan LG confidently stride out to their marks, with not too much to worry about it seemed. 

Quite annoyingly, the reason Chiswick struggled so much with the bat was that they - as it turned out - were all bowlers, and the openers were pretty nifty.

After a dropped catch and shaky start for Jamie he did however quickly find his rhythm and started to really cause a nuisance for the residents of Wray crescent. Not even a 15 metre high net could stop these shots, and it was a sight to behold. Basketball players cowering, Friends of Wray frantically emailing the council, and the openers were looking particularly worried.
The game was in the bag, we’d be in the pub in no time.

Now what happens next is a bit hazy. Something about Chiswick only having 10 men? Then someone who I can’t really remember, was daydreaming and accidentally catches a blinder above his head without really thinking, which inadvertently gets our best batsman out for 32, which in the end loses us the game… think it was one of those LGs, the short one maybe?

Well no the short one was still batting but sadly found himself missing a straight one right onto his stumps and was also walking back for 14. 

Luckily we had a true solid wall of batting prowess in Ed, who was still out at the crease, and holding fast in the face of uncertainty, whilst Dan, Jas and Tom all fell for ducks ???? 

And so in predictable Pacifico fashion, we were once again saying, “at least we still have Riz” as he strode out like a warrior of old. 

Whilst a very worried younger Lincoln-Gordon ponders the knock on effect of his spectacular catch and Judas-like betrayal, but mostly about the amount of apology pints he’s going to have to buy. 

Bday boi Riz looked very good however and things looked bright as he and Ed grew a promising partnership. We were now at 123, and the younger LG’s hands were much less sweaty. 

Unfortunately Ed managed to find the hands of the opposition but not before hitting a lovely six straight over the bowlers head. 

All we needed was one more bat to go with Riz, could it be Toby Jarvis?

It could’ve, but it wasn’t. 

Now was the turn of the younger LG to make up for his error, his betrayal, probably the best catch ever by a Pacifico playing Pacific? 

Nope, out for a duck by stepping on his own stumps. 

Surely the skipper could take us over the line? Surely Tim G had the stones? He looked particularly good for a time but Chiswick’s Marsh was quite fast and handy with the ball, and Tim fell victim to the pace. 

Mendel was our last chance, our last hope, we only need 35 or so runs, could he see off the pace, and get Riz on strike? He wandered out reluctantly, but managed to see off the first ball. It seemed as though he might be able to do this, our last hope.

The Chiswick fast bowler smirked, and sent the second zipping low and fast, hurtling into poor Jack’s delicates. The whole of Wray winced, a noble effort from Mendel and to give him credit he continued on without conceding his wicket. 

Riz came back on strike but the bday boi’s time had come and was caught by a happy Chiswick fielder. 

Pacific had lost, our middle order had fallen apart and the lower order couldn’t help, but really who was to blame? Surely not a sub fielder? Surely one wicket wasn’t all that lost Pacific the game?

I think if anyone WAS at fault, they’d say they were really really sorry, and probably shouldn’t be allowed to sub field again, and that perhaps we should all remember that forgiveness is what cricket is all about.

I really am sorry Jamie.

Match report from R LG