Evan at 11 o’clock on the morning of the match after heavy overnight rain and with drizzle and grey clouds, the idea of starting a cricket match within 3 hours, let alone completing one, was unthinkable.

As it turned out, Reed’s 2nd XI headed to the north London wherea first-class pitch was waiting under covers which, when removed, revealed a hard, dry and true surface as befits a ground used to host county cricket. In the sky, the sun shone and shared it space with a large Arsenal FC banner that was being towed round the capital by a helicopter advertising their new stadiom near Highbury.

Wicket-keeper Steve Dunn got proceedings underay when he deftly stumped the opposing opening batsman down the leg side off the bowling of Neal Haslam. Shortly afterwards, Bob Costen, fielding at backward square leg, accounted for his partner. Costen dived full length and whilst still sprawled on the ground, threw at the one stump visible resulting in a direct hit leaving the batsman inches short of safety.

Solid batting from the next three Finchley batsman took them to 141 for 4 at one point. Marcus Baker, (2 for 38), Ed Garrot, (2 for 23), and wickets for Costen and James Cross then reduced the home side to 199 for 8. Steve Dunn added 2 neat catches to his stumping in his first outing of the season. A total of around 215 would have been acceptable, but although Haslam took a second wicket, Maliger and Basha had other ideas as they peppered the boundary in the last 3 overs to boost Finchley’s score to 239-9 from their 45 overs.

Unfortunately, in the reply after tea, Basha took Reed’s first wicket in the opening over. Dave Johnson, and Rob Willoughby (13) gritted it out for a while, then they were followed by Keiran Ward (16) and Marcus Baker (top-scoring with 32) who had some fun of their own striking some hard-hit boundary shots.

Costen too middled one out of the ground, but one-by-one Reed’s batsmen succumbed, mainly to Navin and Bass who took 3 wickets each, and were eventually all-out for 125.

Not a drop of rain all afternoon, although the sky was darkening, and the Arsenal banner had long since disappeared over the horizon! Somewhere near “the new Wembley” stadium I believe!