Match report
On Sunday 20th June, the Ploughmans Blue made the journey out to rural Chobham for the annual Sunday fixture. Greeted with a serene backdrop including the Grade I listed St Lawrence Church and the locally acclaimed Sun Inn pub, which despite its name, did not influence the weather, skipper Carson won the toss and batted on what looked like a decent batting track.
Britto and Suri opened up against what quickly became evident was a decent pace line up as Chobham released some of their young fiery quicks. Both did well to see off the initial 5 over onslaught with Suri playing his usual expansive drives and cuts and Britto looking assured in defence.
Unfortunately, Britto was on the receiving end of ball from their quickest bowler which kept worryingly low and was bowled. Cake Jullienne came in next and may as well have been on a batting merry-go-round as he had to go back the same way he came from within a matter of minutes.
Reez came in 4 and looked classy in attack and stout in defence. He began building a partnership with Suri before Suri flicked one straight up in the air off their first change bowler and was dismissed for 24. It did look like that the one table of patrons at the Sun Inn were going to be treated to a Suri classic, but regrettably for them, that did not eventuate.
David Nielsen-Scott (DNS) came in at 5 and was uncharacteristically cautious to start his innings, which is very unlike the free hitting spirit we all know he is. The two began steadying the ship before Reez was runout on a quick single where DNS could be heard shouting “sorry!” mid-run.
Leo came in at 6 and so began the brightest spot of the day for the Plough with the two combining for an industrious 40 run stand. Like DNS, Leo began cautiously but was ably supporting DNS who began smoking and middling them everywhere.
Unfortunately, which all but confirmed that it was not going to be the Plough’s day, the well-established DNS received a short ball outside off and absolutely smoked it to cover point straight to a fielder. The Chobham fielder took the ball chest first with a thump that could be heard from Woking, but somehow miraculously was able to hold onto the vital wicket of DNS for 41, who had threatened to break open the game. Safe to say the fielder will have stitch markets etched into his chest for days to come.
Leo then took up the mantle and began taking up where DNS left off. Unfortunately, due to some tight bowling, we lost our last 5 wickets quickly, and the last 4 for not many runs (0 runs in fact), and were bowled out for 119.
In what was the icing on the cake of the day, the sun decided to disregard the weather forecast and burst through the dark clouds which made batting conditions insurmountably easier for the Chobham side.
Despite this, our opening bowlers of Fiddes and Greeney bowled tight and very well without much reward with Fiddes having a tough chance go down off his bowling. Our first change bowlers continued the trend with DNS and L Connolly both bowling with scintillating pace but again not being able to find that all important breakthrough.
We turned to the spin of Carson and Cash who again both bowled well but couldn’t grab that wicket. In the end, Reez was able to pick up a consolation wicket but Chobham passed the total 1 wicket down with 9 overs to spare.
Although all bowlers bowled well with some tough chances going down, the fixture was ultimately a tale of not having enough runs on the board and not giving our bowlers a chance.
It was a day where the Plough showed glimpses of brilliance that we know all the players in the side can conjure but ultimately the stars (nor the sun) didn’t align for us on the day.
We will bounce back. Plough On.
Cake
