To Southall, where the mighty 'Gate headed to London Tigers knowing only maximum points would suffice - Stella (Mrs Liam) and Bloycey Senior very kindly cheering us on.
After winning the toss on a roasting day - Sammy could barely contain his excitement when he instructed the boys to "bat and bat long" - and bat long some of us did. Tigers' pitch - generally perceived as an absolute road - was a strange mix of synthetic and turf which came on wonderfully from a length and fuller but was a little more changeable halfway down.
Rors strode out with Mus to face the music and though the pairing started well, with Mus in typically pugnacious form, both were dismissed to the wily opening bowler - who realised early on that skiddy half-trackers were the way to go. At 30-2, SCC could have capitulated and wilted in the heat, instead - enter Stefaan Fernando who joined the serene Liam Collett to guide SCC to an outrageous total.
Both players started circumspectly before gently upping the tempo - Liam with wonderfully timed cover drives whilst Stefaan blended power with technicality. As the partnership eased past 50, then 100, the stokeplay became gradually more expansive - punchy drives and hard sweeps being complemented by dabs and placement to see the pair scoring off the good balls whilst capitalising on looser deliveries.
Once Liam passed 50, there was a degree of inevitability about the knock which is not to detract from its class - the man has been ruthless so far this season and was in no mood to give any let-up to the tiring Tigers attack - stylish and pleasing on the eye - Colly accelerated to a phenomenal ton in front of the adoring crowd (Stella, Collo, boyz).
Stefaan was every bit as impressive, proactive and aggressive against the spinners whilst leaving zero margin for error on anything short, wide, full or generally in his vicinity. Stef cruised past his ton shortly after Liam for a first ton in SCC colours and thereafter - party time in the stands as the boys wracked up an imperious 296-2.
Tea was solid with some optically questionable sarnies proving to be surprisingly tasty - whilst the pasta had a cracking kick, great scran,
So to our bowling effort, with Billy McLoughlin and super Joshy Holmes again proving far too good for the division's openers - Bill in particular had them in all sorts of bother - swinging it both ways for zero reward, despite having their best player stone dead LBW. Indeed, our only early breakthrough came from a pleasingly cataclysmic run-out which saw both batsmen playing rock-paper-scissors in the middle.
Collo, shades on and in full rhythm, came on first change and broke the game open, prizing the key wicket of their opener with some flight and guile, resulting in a cheeky C&B. The big man followed it up admirably - getting one to skid shortly thereafter to trap their number four - SCC were in.
Bloycey came on and immediately hit his straps, quick, full, stumps, poles. Again, unlucky with the adjudication at times but George deservedly snared the #5 to the delight of the support - a real crowd-pleaser well earned from a fantastic spell.
Tigers showed a little resistance thereafter but then Pasoon "Big Show" Rahman came on and did his thing - picking up three crucial poles, including the obdurate #3 for a nuggety 60-odd - using his deceptive pace and uncomfortable angles to slice through the home sides' defence.
Collo and Pasoon then engaged in a race to the Michelle "Fifer" - with neither quite making it, Pasoon rearranging the #10's furniture either side of Collo getting his just rewards for a tidy spell. Both ended with four and bowled fantastically.
An emphatic W for the 'Gate - Liam and Stef showing poise, touch and hunger to wrack up a formidable total (and a record SCC 3rd wicket partnership in the process) whilst the bowling unit hunted as a pack to secure a cracking win for the lads.
Ice creams all round for the squad to celebrate a big victory before hightailing it back to the Walker for another excellent W as England bested Norway in a World Cup thriller - UTG.
Rory Miscampbell