After loosing the toss, the boys were asked to bat first on a hybrid astro strip that was just about winning its battle with Mother Nature. McGurn and Connolly had the honour of leading the line up with the former looking as if he’d been sleeping in his pads all winter making a solid start on a tricky deck. Leo was unfortunate to receive one of many balls that kept rather low throughout the day, leaving a refreshed looking Chicken Shop to the stride to the crease. Chicken was watchful and patient during his first spell back before flashing at a wide one that found the welcoming hands of gully. McGurn continued on his merry way before also falling, a ball that nipped back and trapped him in-front was to be his end, despite rumours of an inside edge.

This brought the returning Nicko Dowell and Max Gumpert to the crease. Sadly Max’s stay was brief with a suspected back spasm ruling the Plough’s hard hitting all-rounder out of the game (wishing him all the best for a speedy recovery). Nicko showed glimpses of his class with some lovely punches down the ground in a swift 17 before missing a straight delivery. The sides new skipper, Duray Pretorius steadied the middle order, clubbing Dulwich’s tidy left arm offie for some crucial runs as the wickets continued to fall at steady intervals, Suri, Willis and Lonnen fell in quick succession before Duray himself was castled to leave the Plough 134 for effectively 9. A strong tail end performance, from by no means tailenders, CRS and Azza (AJ) brought the Plough’s final total to 160, a respectable knock on a tricky deck.

Before the second innings commenced, new vice-skipper Leo Connolly took to his role with relish leading a vigorous warm up pre-fielding. The downward dogs certainly seemed to lift the team as CRS and Azza started tidily, with Chris beating the outside edge time and again before finally snicking off the Dulwich opener with a peach of a ball. Willis came on to replace Azza first change and struck early, trapping friend of the Plough Alex Bigham infront for a solid 18. CRS completed his metronomic spell with just 16 runs from his 8 overs.

Defending a lowish score was destined to require some control, and the combination of Lonnen, Connolly, Willis and Azza provided just that during the middle overs. Lines and lengths were spot on, movement in the air and assistance from the pitch saw Lonnen pick up 2 well deserved wickets, Azza snagged 1 and Leo started with his first removing the confident looking Dulwich wicketkeeper batter. With Dulwich 84- 6 at drinks confidence grew, but both skipper and vice were keen to remind the boys the game is not over and the run rate is not out of reach. Once again the combination of Lonnen, Connolly, Azza and Willis rotated to cover the final overs of the innings. Dulwich showed their grit with a few more boundaries flowing in the second 20 overs, while Connolly picked up his second and third wickets of the day with some excellent death bowling.

As the shadows grew longer, Dulwich remained in touching distance. Ploughmen dived and tumbled, scrapping to save every run, none more so than Duray, whose cat-like reflexes at gully and steady head under a skier calmed the nerves. An admirable performance in the field had brought the game to the final over, 12 runs needed for Dulwich, 1 wicket remaining for the Plough. And that’s where it went wrong, Willis screwed up the last three balls over the final over and Dulwich’s number 7 bat made him pay. 4,4,6 was enough to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and put a slight dampener on what had been a stellar first performance of the year from the 1s.

However, I’d like to end on a positive note: there were some wonderful performances all round. Sean and Duray showing calmness and power with the bat. CRS with nagging accuracy and skill to control the opening 15 overs. Azza with his trademark boomerang balls. Leo with wonderful composure to keep a close game in the balance to the last few balls. Suri and Nicko for some stellar wicket keeping and handy runs on a bloody tough deck for it. Chicken Shop and Max who ploughed on through the adversity of injury to back the boys wholeheartedly. And, of course, Tom Lonnen, who with his usual skill and sheer force of will took his 750th wicket for the club, a remarkable feat for a tremendous bowler and all-round cricketer.

On a final note, I’d like to thank the Plough for once again demonstrating its outstanding culture. It sucks to lose games of cricket and feel as if you’ve let your team down but from all corners came compassion, empathy and support, a mark of the truly great club we play for and the wonderful people we play with.

P.S. A big thank you to Dulwich CC for lending us multiple fielders throughout to ensure an excellent game of competitive cricket.

Plough On! Greg x