When Grace's team members finally found the Raynes Park Sports Fields, some of us having already toured three or four other sports grounds in the immediate vicinity, we found a lovely expanse of green, a white pavilion, nets and all the facilities that the council tax payers of Merton could provide.
Even the weather, which was to play a decisive role in the result, looked cloudy but still fair. Opponents West One won the toss, and surprisingly elected to field. So Grace's went in to bat, the West One opening attack was playable and Swinburne and Stockinger settled in. Stockinger was unfortunate to middle a drive but find a fielder, and was caught for 18.
On debut for Grace's was Page, via St Alyosius in Sydney, and now living in Vauxhall. First ball there was a LBW shout, but umpire Camberwell found a case for reasonable doubt and the prosecution was disappointed.
Thereafter Page displayed a high left arm in defence, a straight bat, and increasingly sweet timing. You can't score runs if you get out, and he was determined to stay in. At the other end, Swinburne was playing his usual pugnacious drives and cuts, with the occasional nurdle. After about 20 or 30, Page suddenly took off. Flicks off his pads high over square leg were reminiscent of a very early Greg Chappell (well, more so than anyone else in the team). Page passed 50 on debut and the partnership had reached 101, when he was finally out for 56.
Swinburne was run out attempting ANOTHER quick single for a vital 65. So Grace's were in the pavilion at 168 for five. The only concern was that we'd already had to take an early tea, due to showers, and the rumour that West One were a better batting side than they were a bowling side.
With Curtis deciding not to play and Silva not turning up, our bowling attack was a little on the light side as well. But skipper Shofiq struck twice, early in his first over and was only just denied his hat-trick. At the other end, Rishafi opened up bowling his medium pacers, before reverting to spin. He removed West One's most dangerous batsmen when a towering on-drive steepled into the safe hands of Stockinger at deep mid-on. From then on victory was assured, except for the rain. It pelted down. The match was called off when elements of both sides decided that getting back home to watch the football was probably the wiser course of action. So, a winning draw for Grace's, a match marked by a sweet debut innings, and the new rallying cry of the team - a stentorian bellow of "chuck it!"