Match Report
Ploughmans last game of the year game of the year.
The day started off well as the email stated to arrive at 12pm was not really required as about 30 people were playing soccer, Thanks Simon! luckily only myself and Gray were early so we got talking tactics (great minds).
After everyone arrived, captain leader legend Simon Carson won the toss and chose to bat to my delight. I was under immense pressure from Steve Britto to finally score a 100, and he was ahead on both our start of season bets; most sixes and most runs.? About 20 phone calls during the week ensured I did not forget.
Play started well with myself and Hamer navigating the openers without too much trouble. Hamer was dropped on one of the worst attempts at catch I have ever seen (even worse than Nigel off Beasley), unfortunately following not too long after. I fell in the next over and tried to avoid all contact from Steve. Julian Bell and Tom “603 wickets” Lonnen were the next 2 in, and a sticky situation followed. Bell taking 18 balls to get off the mark and another 13 for the next run. Tight lines from the bowlers meant runs were not free flowing for either batsman. Both departed when the score was at 84. Posh Tom was next in, and as usual played some dashing cover drives. With Tom out on 15 it was left Leo ?Hawkeye” Hawkins to hold the innings together. He played some very unorthodox shots but managed to get the job done in what I believe is his highest score of 22 not out. Kevin Chau caused “Big Trouble” by messing up the entire batting order as he decided to take a conference call, this ensured Uncle Nigel had his first bat of the season and scored his first run. Not a lot of other notable batting.
The Plough posted 127 from our 35 overs, Kevin post conference call; 3 not out.
I’d be lying if I said I didn?t feel any pressure knowing a chance for Lonnen’s 600th wicket may come my way, but the honour was not mine, Kevin “W Chi Grace” was the lucky recipient and to Toms dismay grassed the big chance. Knowing he couldn?t leave it to chance again he went for the best option and uprooted the openers stumps and the pressure was lifted. We could all get on with the day. A steady flow of wickets fell with Carson, Lonnen and Gray taking one each to begin. All bowled well and didn?t let the oppo score consistently. The bowling was shared around with Nigel also doing his part and tying up an end while some part timers tried to do their best at the other, Kevin opting not to grunt in his bowling run up amused me immensely. It was getting really tight and we needed the strike of Lonnen back and he took 3-0 in a few overs, one courtesy of an astounding, over the shoulder catch by skipper Carson. We were in with a real sniff of victory. I was lucky and got to bowl the second last over and to my dismay Simon recalled a batsman I believed I had LBW?[Skippers note: he smashed the cover off the ball, I heard the edge at square leg!]?and my over was done with them needing 4 off the final over. Enter Steve Hamer. While bowling off the wrong foot and confusing the oppo he managed a few dot balls and a wicket. It came down to them needing 1 of the final ball for them to win, we needed a dot for the tie. The bowling was too good from Hamer and for some reason the striker decided not to run leaving both batsmen at the wrong end. It was like the mighty Australians beating the South Africans in the 1999 world cup.
Adam Barraclough
