It was a day of ‘returns’ for two of our fellow Ploughmen as Matt Ashton returned from Oz (where he recently asked the lovely Maddie to marry him – luckily for him she said yes!!) and Steve Houchin made a return to playing ways following an 8 week lay-off with a broken leg. 

The game got under way with the men of the Plough taking to the field on what looked like a pretty good batting track.  Si Carson opened the bowling with Matt Ashton steaming in from the other end and it soon became apparent that our initial thoughts were correct – this was a batting wicket.  Despite bowling good line and length deliveries, both Matt and Si failed to break down Rajput’s opening partnership which was already worth 50 odd runs before the first bowling change was made. 

John Barron came on for Si Carson and right from the start John was causing the batsmen problems.  The run rate dried up as John had batsmen pinned in their crease and Simon Wilkinson was brought on at the other end.  Wilko too posed the batsmen problems with turn and bounce and the pair worked together to stifle the run rate. 

At this point it is worth mentioning that the fielders gave great support to the bowlers throughout the game not only verbally with shouts of encouragement, but also with a huge effort in the field, chasing down every ball right to the boundary on what was a very hot day with a very fast outfield!! 

Wickets began to fall and Barron was replaced by McEvoy who struck with his third delivery.  At the other end, Wilkinson was replaced by Pring who strayed from his usual medium paced rubbish to the far more sedate off spin – needless to say however, that WideBoy opened up with the now customary wide! 

Runs continued to come from the bat through a couple of big hitting middle order batsmen finding gaps as the total crept up to the 150 mark after 30 overs.  Lonnen came on in place of McEvoy to partner Pring in the closing stages of the innings.   After a straight 15 over bowling session for the firsts the day before, Lonnen became slightly aggrieved at Pring’s revised three-step bowling action as he was given less rest than he would have ideally liked between overs!! 

Nonetheless, a few more wickets fell and the Rajput innings finished with Matt Ashton bowling the last over – desperate for a wicket in his first match back.  He was unfortunately denied when a rocket was hit to point which John Barron got hands to but couldn’t hold.  It was a tough chance.

Rajput close on 221 – a good restricting effort from the men of the plough.

The PCC innings opened with Feeney and Jackson.  Yours truly was utilising the toilet facilities when the first ball of the innings was delivered however it is understood to have hit the deck and kept no more than 6 inches off the ground to dismiss the disbelieving Feeney.  Could the wicket have turned on us in such dramatic fashion? 

A leg bye off Lonnen’s pads bought up the first run to leave Jackson on strike.  After his heroics the day before (2 runs from 45 deliveries helping the firsts towards a well earned draw) he was full of confidence and looking forward to opening.  Sadly it was not to be as Jackson was bowled by the same bowler in the same over – not a good start for the men of the plough. 2 for 2 after 1 over.

So we had to rebuild.  Steve Houchin joined Tom Lonnen in the middle and the defended like fury.  They poked and prodded the ball around the outfield for ten overs before they felt comfortable enough to pick up the pace.  Lonnen was the first to fall after a solid partnership when he played on off his pads.  The Shaminator was next in and in typical style he wasn’t going to hang around.

After facing about 9 balls, Sha had 12 runs coming from 3 cracking fours (for reference, I think he swung and missed the other 6 deliveries) but the evil rush of blood that gets to us all meant that Sha wanted further glory.  Instead of finding the boundary rope he found the fielder as he scooped one up in the air.  4 down.

Pring was next but after a few solid forward defensives and a leg glance (very rare) to get off the mark, he was too early of a drive through the covers and spooned the ball to mid off.  5 down.

Enter Matt Ashton.  On his return he was desperate to play his part and help Ploughman‘s towards victory.  He, and the now very red faced Steve Houchin, battled well for a solid partnership of over 50 runs however Matt was out on 29 which brought Si Carson to the crease.

Si lasted all of 5 deliveries before Steve unfortunately ran him out leaving us 7 down and needing 80 odd runs in about 12 overs.  Next up was Kevin McEvoy who batted superbly providing further assistance for the now absolutely knackered and tomato red faced Steve Houchin.  Steve was eventually out for a fantastic 60 which had made the Ploughmans score more than respectable. 

Kev was joined by his good mate John Barron and the two of them kept the score board ticking over nicely towards the required total.  The run rate was not an issue – it was the wickets in hand that was eventually going to let us down. 

John lost his wicket to leave Yorkshire the prospect of facing the opening bowlers who had come back on especially for him (they could smell a rabbit!!).  He dealt with them superbly by despatching them to the boundary on not one but three occasions to great applause from the rest of the team.  Sadly, however the fairytale run chase was not to be as we lost our last wicket whilst only on 190 runs, some 30 odd short.

It had been a valiant effort from all involved and a great match to play in.  Congratulations to all involved in a great game played in great spirits.

TP