South Woodford 151-6 (Heard 4-22).
  Mandarins 152-7 (Temple 60-odd)
Mandarins won by 2 wickets

Victory this afternoon constitutes a magnificent performance by an "experimental" Mandarins side who were facing a capable and competitive South Woodford eleven. Absence of our usual talents was unavoidable, but keenness and commitment were replacement enough. It had not been an auspicious start. The skipper started on one of those team-talks that the old lags like me have come to recognise as bad karma ("we're all responsible for this performance, we can win this if we think positively...", etc. etc.). (Ed's note - I trust the irony wasn't lost on you, Andy??)

Dismay as we took the field and a head-count showed that this was to be a typical South Woodford start: 20-minutes late but we're still a couple of men light. Worse: the minimalist team-selection (who needs eleven players anyway?), meant there were only 8 Mandarins actually on the generously-sized pitch as Andy "beamer" Heard came charging in to bowl the first over. Heard is not normally a first choice opening bowler, and his first over showed why. Eight runs came off deliveries that we can most charitably term "looseners". But there is a challenge in being tossed the hard new ball and given choice of ends. Downhill with the wind behind him, the momentum imparted by the 14-stone (ish) bowler did eventually result in a few good 'uns, but more importantly the pies that get wickets. At 22 - 3, South Woodford put up the shutters and neither Martin "averages" Hurst's three-spells of relentless accuracy, nor Chris "skip" Healey's little teasers could easily shift them. Nudging and occasionally stroking their way to 100-odd, Healey did break through when Barrie took a good catch at deep mid on. Simon "wides" Scott-Taylor put in a nice spell despite a nagging shoulder injury, and the team as a whole chased and dived with energy, commitment and enthusiasm. There were drops, but it would be churlish to mention them. Hurst was probably the most unlucky, and today was not a day for ell-bees.

This target was well achievable. The opening bowlers were tight and scoring was hard, but Alun "steady" Evans and Jeremy "gloves" Jarvis got us off to a good start before Alun nicked one and walked. A lengthy partnership with Barrie "is this still middle-&-leg" Temple secured us a respectable outcome, but by now we were believing the win-talk routine. Great little cameos from Chris "slogger" French and Matthew "didn't touch it" Jarvis (umpire: Jarvis, J) brought Malcolm "knees" Field onto the pitch, then skipper Healey. Steady scoring took us to within reach when Barrie took one on the pads. Umpire French thought long-and-hard: no doubt about the flight of the ball, and, just perhaps the source of his lift to the ground. A decision was made and Temple's back in the pavilion for a crucial 60-odd. Chris French will no doubt have reached Battersea under his own steam, by sunrise anyway. We were still 25 short, but with plenty of time. Scott-Taylor brought at the wicket and a few more on the total. Hurst and Healey completed the memorable victory.

Andrew "gratuitous epithets" Heard

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