Match Report

The rain held off and a 30 over game was agreed and played between Ploughmans CC and the Spencer Sharks. The Spencer Sharks XI were at the ground on time, they won the toss and elected to field. Not much went right for them from this point on…

Batting first, Ploughmans captain L. Gray (of the East) orders his batting line up based on good looks in a move to unsettle the Shark’s young opening bowlers. The tactic works. M. Hickson and Logan C. take advantage and smash loads of runs. The Plough are 75 off 8.4 overs when the first wicket falls (Hickson, 18 bowled). Smooth as you like Suri joins Logan and the scoring quickens. A controversial LBW gets Suri for 18, which bring Max to the crease. Now if HE-MAN learnt the rules of cricket, was given a bat and some pads, and was taught how to build an innings… he would be Max.

The run rate slows a little while Max gets in and attention turns to Ben’s bacon sandwich from nearby Dulwich Village. It was a fine-looking sandwich, large in proportions… Back to the cricket as Logan and Max wrestle back their teammates attention from bacon to batting.

Logan ploughs on. Solid in defence, and brutal on attack. He dances down the track looking for his 5th six of the innings. Misses it and is stumped. He falls 5 short of 100. It was a classy knock against an attack that was at times very good. Logan ends with 95 off 77, including 11 fours and 4 sixes.

Max gains pace and some Old Sharks take a hiding. Max ends with 56 not out off 49 balls. The Sharks pay the price for not holding their catches. The Ploughman reach 216/5 off their 30 overs.

Captain and Brick Lane Bagels spokesman L. Gray throws the new ball to C. Silvapulle and L. Gray. At the Tramps Playground End Suri at mid-on whispers in Gray’s ear: ‘these boys haven’t seen a full toss since Mum gave them throwdowns in the hallway’. Liam knew what to do. Out-swinging in-cutters mixed in with the Suri Surprise works a treat. The top order is dismantled. Gray gets 4-30 off 6. Puff comes on to feed on the bleeding sharks. He’s virtually unplayable and a joy to watch. He sucks every last drop of blood. 1 for 10 off 6. J. Hockings dines out and gets 2 wickets. Barraclough gets a tidy 1 for 4 off 4, and a run-out. Standard. Add in some fielding kudos to Silva, Jo, Issie and Max and the Ploughmans CC win by 135 runs.

Thanks to the league umpire, the weather gods, the DSG groundsman, and the visiting Spencer Sharks. No scorebooks were lost. The covers went on. Attention turned to Paddy’s Ploughman XI over on the other field and the birthday shindig for Mr 10,000.

Hickson (M)