With mid-summer arriving in April, the scene was set for a clash of the superheroes. On one side: the London Avengers. On the other: Pacific’s very own anti-heroes – armed with a vague sense of purpose. In 80 overs' time, we’d know whether good would triumph over evil. Who the bad guys were though was anyone’s guess.

While the Avengers limbered up in what looked suspiciously like a group therapy circle, the Pacifico's filtered onto the stage at Wray Crescent – not quite Hollywood, unless Hollywood had a crumbling cricket pavilion.

Pacific took to the field with a new superhero in our midst: young Harry – or "Olly", as Riz kept calling him. A keen new joiner who informed the skipper he was an opening bat and a keeper. So, naturally, Timbo – using his powers of telepathy – knew that what he really wanted to do after a few years out of the game, was to open the bowling.

So Harry and Soden got things started well, using the short ball on a slow, bouncy pitch to keep the Avengers guessing where to hit the next boundary to... A few wickets fell, but the visitors kept assembling and worked their way to a solid position by drinks.

Then, from stage left: Mack Jendel. Was he a bird? Was he a plane? No – just a man laying down the law with a red ball. He stormed through the middle order and marched towards a fifer. It was all set for glory, until Sid put the fifth one down behind the stumps. Spider-Man he was not.

The Avengers finished on a healthy 283, not beyond reach on a sunny Wray Crescent afternoon.

Saad and Tristan opened up for Pacific. Riding high after an 84 the previous week, Saad looked to take no prisoners – except himself, and was back in the hutch before the scorers had really noticed.

Tristan stuck around longer, making it to 48 – or 52, depending on which multiverse you’re in – before falling, leaving the middle order with work to do.

Dan and Riz dug in and added a handy 70-odd partnership, with some typical class shown from Riz alongside Dan's swipes and slaps. One day he may not play across the line, one day. When Dan fell, Aakash arrived – our very own Iron Man. He delivered a thunderous 87, dragging Pacific within striking distance of a dramatic finish and the total disassembly of the Avengers.

But alas, this wasn’t a Hollywood ending. Too much was left to do for Soden and Harry in the closing overs, and Pacific closed on 267 – just 17 runs short.