It’s a universal truth that no true cricketer really wants to play cricket, and this was born out again on Saturday when consistent and persistent rain almost prompted mutiny under the trees at Springfield Park. Fortunately, however, Pacificos persevered, and pulled off quite the win.

Dan losing the toss meant a hasty WhatsApp: “Tristan, Jamie, are you close? You’re opening and we’re batting first”. Weather meant the first three overs were a bit of a hokie-kokie, but some wayward Camel bowling and a still-quick outfield got us off to a good start.

Between Camel offers to drive and buy some sawdust, and umpiring analysis that “until there’s water coming out of the strip when you stand on it, we’ll be fine”, it was an uncertain start to the game, but once underway both openers set off quickly, tucking into Camel bowling until Jamie picked out deep midwicket for a jug-avoiding 47.

Mark came and joined Tristan before falling to the first ball of the actually-very-handy 6th change leggie who bowled in his wrap-around shades. Tristan fell not long after for a 37 which battled the muggy conditions as much as the tricky deck.

Dan jogged out next, running aggressively between the wickets before being caught & bowled (and helped push us towards a competitive total alongside JD, who worked the gaps in the field cleverly to make 20 before being stumped (wrap-around shades at it again).

Kaleem and JK scampered a good final partnership of 20 to get us to a close of 166.

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Toby and JK kicked us off, bowling with good control, so it was natural that Toby’s full toss brought about the first wicket in the second over. Batters 2 and 3 then put together Camel’s biggest partnership of the innings. Both took their time against some tight bowling from the openers, and pressure continued through Alex and JD who came on first change.

With the partnership set, and both batters looking to kick on and make a dent in the chase, JD bowled to his plan and

Cap’n Dan pulled off a remarkable one-handed diver in the deep to remove the opener. The very next over and immediately after drinks, Alex removed the dangerous 3 (the aforementioned sunglassed leggie) as he lured him into a big heave which carried to Tristan at slip.

Between deliveries immediately preceding this, there had been some discussion from gully to backward point about how “with the outfield this long he’s going to have to smash the cover off everything now”. Unconfirmed if this and the dismissal were linked.

From this point on it was a case of excellent fielding, backing up miserly and threatening spin bowling from Tim and Sam. Dan continued his series of one-handed grabs taking an excellent snag at short square leg off Sam, whose line and angle challenged both edges (3-18). Tim found a nagging length, and got in on the act with a couple more wickets, finishing with 2-35.

Despite some late resistance from Mr Raj, the final wickets fell in a clatter, as 104-4 turned to 129 all out. Six catches, a runout, and some excellent ground fielding backing up bowlers meant that it probably wasn’t all that bad a turnout that we got a game in after all.