Match Report

On a warm, humid Sunday in a beautiful ground next to the river Thames, a surprisingly punctual Ploughmans team entered the field – almost all of us there before any of the opponents had arrived, even though it was the morning after the big Saturday night birthday party of the sexiest guy of the club.

We actually all felt very proud about this until we
discovered it was because Carson had given us the wrong start time.

Skipper Grant went out to do the Toss and the opposing captain (with 40yrs of cricket experience) chose to bowl, and seemed confident. But he didn’t realise there are now a couple of killer kangaroos playing on our side.

Confident in his resources, Grant sent Alex and Maxi out as as openers. Débooooo Maxi quickly identified the weak fielders and started playing his favourite shot, chopping it down to the gully to score a neat 15, and forged a good partnership with our Ton star before returning to the pavilion.

With special top order batting privileges offered by Grant on the condition of a responsible knock, Suri joined Alex next, and stayed around to help out for a while, but was out for 32 chasing a legside wide ball and giving away an easy catch!

Grant came in next, and played a very aggressive innings, with some nice cover drives and straight fours.

Bob came after the Grant dismissal, and showed us a sexy glimpse of the classic Freeway moves, but it was not his day and he returned early.

Rohin then joined Alex, and started
hitting out from the first ball, using up at least 3 of his nine lives in a fun innings to watch.

Alex started the day slowly, playing a classic game; but as soon as he reached 50 he started hitting the ball to all the corners of the ground with two lovely sixes down at cow corner helping
him to his first overseas Ton and first Ton for the Plough.

He was the star of the innings, starting from the first ball and staying at the crease right until the last one, like a big Australian wall. It was a delight to watch his game.

Ploughmans gave a tough target of 224 for the oppo.

Two youngsters came to open our bowling attack: Lewis started swinging it out at one end, and Dan swinging it in at other.

Lewis got two early wickets – one excellently caught by Alex in the slip, and another by Si at cover.

Dan worked hard, but it was a case of pure hard luck for him – at one point the ball even hitting the stumps without the bails falling off.

Skipper G then started deploying his secret weapon and introduced Trent as a first change.

What a fantastic bowler, with a perfect line and length and with unplayable swing! Trent got
three bowled and two catches, one by Grant and the other (catch of the day) by Max. Trent took a 5fer in just 5 overs, the best stats of his career. It was one of those times when it’s a privilege being wicketkeeper, and being able to watch it all up close.

Simon Crane then came on and started bowling his beautiful left-handed outswingers. He is a happening bowler, who plays with a lot of passion for Ploughmans. Great effort Si. He worked
hard, and really made the batsmen struggle.

Leader Grant then tried out his next strategy – with Lockhart, the wicketkeeper, the batsmen, the fielder and the bowler, one and only the Posh
man at one end, and at the other end Bob Keogh, a lovely stylish guy who was now wearing his smart new shoes.

Unbelievably, both got a wicket! Who said bowling is easy? Lockhart bowled the batsmen and Dan took the catch for Bob.

Finally the time came for the skip himself to work his magic, bowling to the oppo’ captain, who came in as last man. Grant got the ball to nibble his inside edge, and he was caught by the keeper who was eagerly waiting for this opportunity since the first ball.

And so Ploughmans closed the oppo’ for 147 all out in a great win for the club, and celebrated the post-match drinks happily with every individual having contributed.

Here are my Heroes of the day:

Best captain: Grant – Great leadership, used his resources to best of their strengths.

Best Batsmen: Alex – First Ton for the club.

Best Bowler: Trent – best bowling performance; First 5fer for the club.

Best Allrounder: Lockhart.