Match report
Ploughmans CC 2nd XI returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory at home, in glorious sunshine, against Ockham CC.
Ploughmans batted first and begun well reaching 122-4 from 28 overs with contributions from Jo Hockings (23 from 29), Elmo (12 from 25) and an outstanding innings from Leo Neiboer (62 from 75). Leo scored almost all of his runs through backward point before expanding his game as he became more confident, eventually smashing a 6 through deep midwicket to move himself past 50.
However, sensing that the wicket was good for batting, it was understood that Plough would need to accelerate considerably from this point. Alex Webster (24 from 15), Charlie (11 from 14) and Greg (15 from 30) cameoed before big hitters Benny Cobbett and Matt Spencer ripped Ockham apart. Benny smashed 54 from 23 balls including 3 towering sixes (which I’m sure we will never hear the end of) and Spencer 21 from 13 having flicked his first ball for 6. As such, Plough had set a target of 243 – a score which would not have been possible without Ockham dropping 11 catches.
Ockham began their chase poorly with Saji Francis barely breaking out into a jog before being run out for 1 by Spencer. This set the tone in the field and Ploughmans CC continued to field and bowl impressively. Despite this, Ockham got themselves into a decent position at 112-2 from 20 but the last 8 wickets fell for 74 runs as Ockham were bowled out in 31.1 overs. The wickets were shared around with Dan Rumford, Benny Cobbett, Tom Elmslie and Jo Hockings all taking 2, while Greg took the prised wicket of Saikumar Thunga who had looked threatening for his 34.
Alex ‘caught in his web’ Webster
(Editors note: Great effort from Alex Webster to turn this match report around within 24 hours of receiving his Ploughmans’ baggy, in a game which he took two solid catches, yet failed to mention them. The team took 8 fielding wickets – arguably the difference between the two sides (unless you’re talking to Benny, and then the difference is that we had Benny).
