Match Report

When Bumbling Boris oddly described the cricket ball as a ‘natural vector for disease’ during the height of the pandemic, it seemed to us all that not a ball would be bowled this summer. However, low and behold, Ploughmans CC has had 3 glorious months of cricket and beer that will live long in the memory as one of 2020’s few silver linings.

After the dust had settled on the festivities of Saturday afternoon and England (and Ireland)‘s tantalising victory over the rest of the world in the inter-club game, attentions turned to our final opponents of the season, our rivals and friends, Southbank. Having lost 7 in 7 (or 8 in 8 no one quite knows) against Southbank, there was a sense of desperation in the air for the Plough, we had to win today.

Southbank won the toss and elected to bat and got off to a flying start. After Tom Fantasy Football Lonnen dismissed one of their openers early on in typical Lonnen fashion, Southbank’s other opener began to wreak havoc, quickly pumping his way to 50, and in no time at all the opposition shot to 100-1. Could this be a long afternoon for the Plough?

Enter new boy Adeel Riaz and the Plough’s most punctual member, Logan Cassin. Adeel bowling spin from one end bowled a stunning 8 over spell of 3-25, crucially breaking the big partnership after Archie Fiddes took an unorthodox catch at long off, preparing himself for football season by controlling the ball with his chest out of the sky. Logan at the other end clean bowled their dangerous opener with a beauty and also finished with magnificent figures off his 8 overs with 3-20. These two, accompanied by Mr Consistent Ashish Paul, slowed the run rate right down, and with a wicket apiece from skipper Si Carson and birthday boy James Tisato (going against doctors/wife’s orders and bowling medium pace), managed to keep Southbank to a very respectable 215 all out.

So, 216 runs needed for the Plough to end their years of hurt against Southbank. The Plough have chased down bigger totals this season, but they knew if they were going to do this then their in-form batting line up would have to perform at their very best…

They did not. Iskandar Eaton capped off his debut season for the club with a golden duck and he was shortly followed by Paulie Hynes a few balls later leaving the Plough 0-2 off the first over. This very much set the tone for the innings. Logan and Suri were also both bowled not long afterwards (message Mr Parrish for enquiries about his latest photography exhibition “Ploughmen getting bowled”). Adeel looked solid and dug in for a while, accompanied by his runner Iskandar (Iskandar’s sole contribution to the day), but the score soon tumbled to 44-6 and the game was all but lost. One Ploughman showed both class and grit with the bat, birthday boy Tisato simply would not roll over and hit an impressive 73* against a good bowling attack. Well played ‘Tis, good to have you back. Plough all out for 127, losing by 88 runs. Well played Southbank once again.

All in all a disappointing end to what has been an incredible season both on and off the pitch. However, with the club going from strength to strength both Ploughmans and Southbank know that it’s only a matter of time before we achieve that illusive victory. Next year is our year.

Plough on.

Iskandar