Match Report
Ploughmans CC won the toss courtesy of some solid coin work by the beloved skipper Simon Carson and elected to bat first, which was especially handy given that only 7 blokes turned up to the game on time due to the standard traffic, tube, sleep in delays. Openers Leon ‘The Mailman’ Parks and Julian ‘Tinkerbell’ Harris got the club off to a flier, punishing the Crossbats attack in a marvellous display of batting. Julian eventually fell LBW on 36, however he more than did his part with the score being 88 for the first loss.
In came the always chipper, Mr Evergreen, The King Mirage, Nikki Niraj Tailor who looked good early, accumulating 12 off his first 4 balls including some fine boundaries off the opposition’s best bowler (who was a lookalike Ed Sheeran that had swapped over the six string for a shiny 4 piece Woodworm). The Mirage was later caught for 15 which brought in ‘The Big G-Banger’ Gaz Shaw who blasted a quick fire 19 that consisted of 4 boundaries. Suri contributed a handy 24 runs whilst Leon Parks continued a fine batting display, reaching his 3rd hundred for the club in style. Hats off to Leon who also chose to retire on 103 in order to give the rest of his team mates a hit.
A mix up between Harry ‘Club Tattoo’ Davis and Jon ‘Joan Rivers’ Ryves added a late bit of spice to the innings, as Harry was unfortunately run out and his ol’ man’s kit copped the Mother of all hydings on the boundary as a result. Joan Rivers went on to finish strong with possibly his best innings for the club, playing some very nice shots to finish on 24 not out. Ploughmans CC reaching a solid 282 runs for the loss of 7 wickets after their allotted 35 overs.
After a solid lunch put on by Crossbats, it was time to hit the field and Ploughmans wasted no time having the opposition 5/1 with Matt ‘Jonesy’ Jones 1/33(5) finding the early edge to dismiss one of the openers who looked solid. Harry Davis was instrumental bowling a tight line and taking 2/27 off 8 overs, the first of his wickets bowling the opposition batsman around his legs reminiscent of the great SK Warne to Mike Gatting!
Yanni ‘The Big Souvlaki’ Baveas was energised as always in the field keeping the spirits up whilst Ploughmans kept searching for the next scalp to fall. After the 150th plane soared overhead en route to Heathrow, The Mirage had his first wicket for the day, having one caught on his way to 1/35 off 5. Si ‘Scooper’ Carson continued to work hard with the ball, tying the oppo down at an important part of the game.
Leon’s dominant century aside, one of the Cinderella stories of the day came when the great Jonathan ‘Joan Rivers’ Ryves took his first wicket for the club off his first ball for the day. Joan bowled a first up bouncer at the batsman’s throat which found the top edge to which Julian Harris who was in slips, ran back with the flight of the ball and took a ‘Hand of God’ like one handed screamer which had the team up and about in stitches.
Crossbats eventually falling short on 223 with Ploughmans CC comfortably home by 59 runs in what was the second of a triple win weekend for the club.
Plough On!
Silva
