Match Report

On the hottest day of the year so far 11 gently melting Ploughmen arrived at the bucolic Morden ground. Your correspondent was carrying a hangover of such brutality it belonged in a cage, so I was much relieved to learn that, despite?Captain Scoops again losing the toss, we were put into bat (for the second time this season).

Britto & Barras tore into the openers. Well, Barras did, with Britto departing on 9 to a wafty cut which plonked straight into point?s hands. This brought in Hynes and his 57 varieties of drives. He and Barras plundered in the sun until Barras fell for and admirable 37 (bowled again). Hynes continued about his business while Buckers served it straight back to the bowler for a quacker & Lockhart carved a stylish 11. Freddie lent his diminishing frame to the effort for a solid partnership before Hynes fell short of his ton on 97, attempting a big-un over long off. Chi Wang Chau came in to keep the non-strikers end warm while Freddie tidied things up for 22 not out. Plough ending 188-5.

Refreshed by the usual excellent Morden teas we resumed. Chris Lilford produced a Jekyll and Hyde opening over, following a beamer with a spectacular caught and bowled, taking a rocketing straight drive with both hands while the umpire leapt out of the way in a most undignified fashion. One more beamer later the off stump was rattled by a length ball that hooped spectacularly.

Skipper had a nervy start resulting in two lost balls in two overs. Chi Wang had a trundle complete with a grunt that would shame Sharapova, before the spin twins Nigel and Barras came on to break a potentially match-winning partnership and generally bamboozle all-comers. The home side were slow to update the scoreboard until reminded of their duty by a clearly livid Mr Chau at a volume that could have been heard from space. The end came swiftly thereafter with Barras & Lilford (4 each) and Nigel (2) taking all the wickets.

A few beers in the lengthening shadows topped off an all round lovely day.

M. Rees