After our opening tour victory against Riviera, we were warned.
'Entrecasteaux are strong. They're a very good team. You'll struggle,' warned one Rivieran.
And so it seemed for much of a rain-affected afternoon.
But Entrecasteaux reckoned without two things - an extraordinary late-order innings by Selfish and a superb all-round team effort in the field by Cincers.
The result? An extraordinary victory by three runs with over eight overs to spare.
Under the shadow of the 17th-century chateau of Entrecasteaux, the Skip won the toss and stuck us in.
'Hmm. Is that the right thing to do?' muttered a few Cincers...a versatile reaction oft used when we bowl first.
After Saturday's triumph, the Skip decided to reverse (sort of) the order.
He opened with a very willing JP who, despite carrying a serious injury, was playing his second game in two days.
Despite that, Cincers got off to a quick start - courtesy of some pretty wild Entrecasteaux bowling.
At one point, JP and the Skip entertained the idea of touching gloves mid-wicket even though neither of them had actually touched the ball by then.
Sadly, the pace soon slackened.
JP walked after gloving one behind.
Peter A, gamely coming in at three despite not lifting a bat in anger for years, defended well, got a quick single but then popped up a catch just in front of the wicket.
A total of 27 for 2 off 10 (35 over game) was not healthy.
Mind, the weather was turning threatening so it looked like any total was going to be academic.
Frank strode to the wicket and told the Skip to get on with it..which he did, hitting a boundary to mid-wicket but getting out next ball.
Mark B, Selfish's older brother, arrived at the crease.
(On the way home from Riviera the day before, the Skip asked the Bevan Brothers' dad just who was the better bat. The answer must remain a secret..until the AGM).
Tragically, Frank miscued a drive to give a sharp caught-and-bowled chance while Richard de Q also went early.
It got worse. Stephen H, one of the batting heroes of Saturday, aimed an ambitious drive down the wrong line and had his timbers shivered.
Then came the rains. Heavy ones.
The Skip and his opposite number sighed and accepted that was that.
They even shook hands on it.
But just as on Saturday, the clouds parted and the sun came out.
Pity Cincers' batting fortunes didn't likewise improve.
Shortly after the restart, Jack went cheaply.
So too did Test Match even though Richard de Q had driven back to his villa and got his bat for him.
Cincers were tottering at roughly 80 for eight.
But enter Selfish, batting down the order at 10 (his lowest-ever batting position for Cincers).
What followed won him the Man of the Match award, a thrillingly destructive piece of batting which stunned Entrecasteaux and cheered Cincers.
Ball after ball was despatched to the boundary, including a huge six to square leg.
At the other end, Mark was also firing.
Cincers team members stopped admitting defeat and watched the fireworks sparked by the two brothers.
Was this a case of long-dormant sibling rivalry reborn?
Who cares!
The action continued even after Mark was bowled for 39 and Simon was joined by Stephen W in a cameo '0 not out'.
Cincers closed on 142 for 9 off 35. Not a huge total but at least something to bowl at.
The fightback began almost immediately.
Richard de Q produced a late in-swinger to skittle the opposing skipper while he also snaffled the other opener thanks to a sharp catch at mid-off by Frank.
At 14 for two, Entrecasteaux were no longer firm favourites.
But a stand of 76 for the third wicket changed all that.
Cincers' heads began to droop.
Until...Stephen H, fielding at deep square leg, pulled off a quite superb catch round his ankles to give Test Match a vital wicket.
The door was open.
A sharp stumping by Jack (who kept superbly throughout the day) and a brilliant outfield catch by Richard de Q suddenly had Entrecasteaux on 103 for 5.
They still had plenty of overs, with roughly 14 to go and only 40 needed.
But Cincers' tails were up.
Frank came on to seal up one end and add to the pressure.
Wickets still came but at 134 for seven with 10 overs to go and just seven needed, it still looked all lost.
Cincers, though, fielded like lions, egged on by Frank in his finest Aussie Serjeant-Major mode which involved bellowing at less agile fielders and pretty much usurping the Skip's executive powers.
But the pressure told.
All of a sudden, Entrecasteaux were 136 for 9 - seven short of victory.
To the crease strode brave 10-year-old Tom, son of one of their openers.
Despite the circumstances, the lad got some emergency coaching from Frank on how to hold a bat as Simon prepared to bowl.
It went down the legside.
'I can't bowl that slowly,' sighed Selfish in frustration.
Next ball, the batsmen, Tom and Entrecasteaux president Lennie, sneaked a single.
With Frank coming in from the other end, it was 139 for nine with just four needed for victory.
Lennie turned down a single to square leg.
But then he went for one.
JP, sore hip or not, seized the ball behind point and whipped it in to Jack.
The bails came off, the deafening appeals went up and up went the umpire's finger at square leg.
Cincers had sneaked a thrilling victory by just three runs with 8.3 overs to spare - a brilliant end to our finest tour yet.
Never before have we won both games on our travels, putting aside the fact that both Provencal teams were tough sides.
Many thanks to all who took part in the 2011 tour, with especial thanks to Mr Bevan Snr for umpiring both games and to first-time tourers Richard de Q and Peter A.
The 2012 Tour Committee (Mr Prenesti and Mr Hall presiding) is now in session.
** Many thanks to all at Entrecasteaux for fine sportsmanship and hospitality, including a very fine cricket lunch.
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