21st June 2025 was the Summer Solstice and proved to be the longest day of the year for Pacific in more ways than one. 

Pacific CC marched into London Fields (strangely on time) undefeated in the NELCL to take on the only other unbeaten side in the comp this year, Bloomsbury Royals. 

It was an exhaustingly hot day with temperatures reaching 33c on a parched outfield and a comically short boundary. Timbob tossed up as the players lathered on the sunscreen and much to our disappointment he returned to let us know that bad news - bowling first!

Debutant Olly Cox started strongly bowling a good pace and making the batters uncomfortable with ball lifting off an length (a canny bit of recruitment at the North Nineteen). Unfortunately, at the the other end Noor started much as he went on, struggling to find his length and was punished. 

Olly finally made a breakthrough catching the glove of their opener through to the adroit Ben Burnham. The hot day meant shorter spells and Dan and Luke joined the attack. Miserly bowling from Dan was complimented by a classic 'Bang, Bang' at the other end from Luke who had the Royals in disarray with 2 in 2. Mehta joined in the fun, snagging the wickets of their remaining "top order batsmen" with a couple of catched by Olly. 

However,  the lower middle order/ engine room/tail for Bloomsbury began to build partnerships and imposed themselves on the game. Mendel bowled with great discipline picking up the big wicked of Sakil for 50 and probably deserved even more than his figures of 2-29 showed.

Then came the final 10 over carnage. at 30 overs Royals were 197-6 but their batters 8 and 9 put on a big partnership for the 8th wicket with Shovo scoring 60 and Sojib 41. The Pacific bowlers were dispatched as they targeted the short boundary, and despite a couple of late wickets from Olly, Royals finsihed 312-9. 

Somewhat disheartened, but certainly not defeated, an buoyed by our strong batting performances this year, messrs O'Connor and Houlihan strode out for the chase. 

O'Connor found out there are two types of leaves and succombed to the skiddy bowling of Sakil. Jack H soon followed him to a very sharp catch from the keeper and the early going was looking shaky for PCC. 

This brought the inform Mark Mehta to the crease who set about steadying the ship. However, the other end continued to wobble as Dan and Luke were both bowled in quick succession. When in danger sound the Burnham alarm and without much fuss Mark and Ben put on a 50 run partnership. Would this be the moment the tide turned in Pacific's favour...?

Not quite! Burnham targeting the short boundary didn't quite get hold of one and was caught at (deep) midwicket for 23. Olly, Rowan and Noor all reached double figures (and all registered a six) but alas none could stick around long enough to build a partnership. When Mark fell for a superb 67 so did the glimmer of any Pacific hopes of victory. Tim soon departed and Jack M (in his first bat of the season) was left standing. 

Credit to Bloomsbury Royals, They were excellent in the field and look every bit the league leaders. But there is still plent of the season to go and we are still very much in the title race. Next up in the league are old foes St Clements and chance to put the pressure back on the leaders. 

The roasting hot day was too much for beers to survive in the park so numerous members decamped to the shaded ally of The Old Ship for the team debrief. 

We Go Again!