Match Report

Sunday saw the Plough in the charming Surrey village of Chobham, home to several plant growing businesses and Fairoaks Airport, an operational general aviation airport just off the A319. We had good luck with the weather, and an evenly-contested game ended in a Plough win.

Put into the field, we bowled and fielded well, working hard to keep Chobham down to 187 on a flat pitch which offered more to batters than bowlers. We were probably helped by one or two slow scoring batsman – who stayed in a long time without scoring many runs – which kept their run rate down to a very gettable 4.5.

However, this is not to take anything away from the bowlers, who by and large, kept things tight, with Dave C, Harry and Nigel each picking up a wicket, and keeping their spells economical. Pick of the economy ratings was DC, who only conceded 26 off his 8 overs, which included 2 maidens. Simon and Adam also had tidy 6 over spells, the latter coming on mid-over when poor James ‘Nissan’ Tisato started to suffer mechanical problems, before eventually limping off the field with suspected clutch failure.

Highlights in the field included a very good catch by newb’ Leo Hawkins at mid-on to send their best opening batsman back to the pavilion – and for a lot, lot less than he might otherwise have got. A very useful catch. They do make a difference.

After tea of mainly egg sandwiches and a selection of cakes (6.5 – 7) the Plough headed out to bat, while chuckle brothers Uncle Nigel and Matt Rees kept the scorebook, smoked heavily, and came up with a dazzling variety of European translations for the phrase ‘dot-ball’. Not just pretty faces those two.

Steve and Adam got us off to a brisk start, Adam especially making it all look rather effortless – as he usually does – until he missed a slow, simple, straight one – as he usually does. With Adam gone for 38, Steve got his head down and grafted, playing a solid, responsible innings of 63 which would eventually see us home. Like the great man said, you can’t score runs from the pavilion, and plenty of us with poor batting averages (I speak mainly about myself!) would do well to emulate Steve?s approach. His powers of concentration are made all the more remarkable by his whole innings being conducted in what Leon described as ‘full talk mode’. Will the upgrade come with a silent mode? The world waits with bated breath!

Leon batted well for a quickfire 20, and after a mere 15 year absence from the game, newb’ Hawkins looked as though the old technique hadn’t deserted him entirely, but succumbed to a good stumping by their fast-handed keeper. Unfortunately neither Lockhart nor Rees added much and suddenly our position seemed a little more tenuous at 135-5, and we were back in the sort of situation from which we’ve managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on past occasions.

Emergency mechanics were sent for, and after a slight delay the cheering crowd of 2 old men on a nearby bench was offered the dramatic sight of skipper Si Carson slowly wheeling James ‘Nissan’ Tisato across the paddock. Cometh the hour, cometh the reasonably priced hatchback!

Assisted by a runner provided on the club?s breakdown policy, Tisato steadily moved through the gears, knocking a chanceless 21, and together with Steve saw us home. A really good-effort from Nissan, batting despite looking in genuine pain at times.

Thanks to Chobham for hosting us and likewise to Leon and Simon for sorting the game out, both at short notice. An enjoyable day.

Tom Lockhart.