Match Report

Another crucial game for the Plough in our quest to top the league at the end of the season started off by the opposition asking us to bowl first after they won the toss. Little did they know that we had Messrs Bolshaw, Gray, Lonsdale, McEwan, Silvapulle, Pretorius and Prasad licking their lips at the prospect of going to work! Needless to say I was very happy with their decision. Grayzer and Bush were at it right from the start, bowling perfect line and length whilst both of them adding some extra spice (apparently Bolsh had been to the gym in the morning and Liam had clearly had his Weetabix for breakfast). Both beautiful men took early wickets and we were instantly on top having London Welsh 12-5 at one stage! This even included a ball with extra pace and bounce that surprised the batsman hitting him square on the forehead, Bolsh appealed for the catch before realizing the damage he had caused. The batsman was fine to continue, but he then had the prospect of facing Ross Lonsdale! Not the most friendly of first change bowlers to come on. Ross continued to have his man up in trouble from the off and eventually ended up taking 2-20 off his 4.3 overs. AJ held up the other end with not much luck ending with figures of 0-11 off his 2 overs. In the end London Welsh ended up 77 all out with Bolsh taking 5-29 off his 9 overs and the Earl taking 2-15 off his 6 overs. I want to point out that we did also manage to drop 4 catches during this onslaught so just imagine what we could have had them out for! Although I’m not sure Duray would have survived the night if we had finished any earlier!

Now during all this chaos I had Pauly Hynes in my ear the whole time ‘I don’t like batting on Hollies’ ‘ooo I don’t want to have to wear a helmet when batting’ constant moaning basically. I did my very best to calm him down and point out that the oppo had batted poorly, plus our bowlers bowled well and it was nothing to do with the Hollies. I told him that the Hollies just makes you bat properly and watch the ball that bit closer, realize that you are probably not going to score a quick 50 or even at a quick rate really. To which he agreed and settled down a bit. He proceeded to show that he took absolutely no notice of what I had said and took apart their bowling attack scoring 40 off just 26 balls – completely pointless advice from me! Leaving us in a brilliant position when him and Oli Lonsdale finally departed in came the back to form Adam Barraclough. Keen to push on he set out to enhance his increasing average smashing a 1 not out to help see us home with myself 20 not out.

All in all we were all finished up and in the bar by 4.00pm an early finish and some well earned beers which apparently went on a bit longer than some had planned (Duray, Silva?!). Well done lads, an excellent win and onto the next one!

Man of the Match: Matt Bolshaw for his 5fer despite dropping one off his own bowling

Dick of the Day: Duray, for knocking in his bat in between balls again, and again, and again!

PLOUGHON!

Freddie