There’s a mixed feeling in the air. The lads are pumped and up for the contest, while the forecast is for showers at 3pm. On top of an already wet week, there’s some apprehension. We know we need to win the rest of our games to guarantee promotion, but we’re not entirely sure where a washout would leave us.

Our trepidations are furthered once at the ground and we realise it’s an uncovered pitch. We walk through the outskirts of the outfield and it’s more than a tad moist.

“Well, we’re not playing today, are we?” Max exclaims.

Nevertheless, we stroll for the mandatory pitch inspection and see good grass coverage. It’s got a little moisture, but it’s pretty dry considering, the grass means it won’t get muddy and it certainly looks playable. With almost an hour till kick-off and the sky looking clear, time to get our heads in the game – we’ve got a job to do and we control the controllables… and it if rains, so be it.

Squashies have been procured, including Apple Sour and Bubblegum flavours, brining Dom’s first call of “utter woke nonsense” for the day.

We’re keen to bowl first, so of course, CRS loses the toss. But somewhat surprisingly the oppo choose to bat. This ground has seen a lot of runs this year, and their skipper sees no reason to change it up.

CRS & Ritik start with some tight lines. Ritk’s first over is a wicket maiden, finishing with the big scalp of their opener who scored 50 against us last time (& 120 a fortnight ago) caught behind.

Their other opener, a former Glamorgan 2’s player with some ASTRONOMINCAL numbers on playcricket (look it up!), sends CRS to the boundary in consecutive overs, before going after the fuller wider tempter and outside edges it to Umar at point who swallows it with his forearms. Thanks Umar!

It doesn’t take a sleuth to notice that any slightly short balls are sitting up and asking to be spanked on this wicket. While with some swing about, the fuller balls are proving hard to deal with.

CRS and Ritik both continue to dish up line and length, building pressure. And as it so often does with pressure from both ends, wickets fall.

At 31-4 we have a sniff of bowling them out early, which would be useful with rain forecast. But there aren’t many teams in this league who will roll over, and the next dozen overs see a nice rebuilding 50 partnership from the Roehampton skipper and Bubblegum Squashies Shoes.

Their captain, lucky to survive a massive glove behind off Aman, falls into the ego trap after CRS reminds him it’s the last ball before drinks. He then attempts to launch the next delivery into the pub across the road, only to find it’s gone very high and Ritik is comfortably parked under it.

A few quick wickets after drinks, including a CRS michelle, Dom dismissing Bubblegum for 50, and Max striking in his first over with a clean bowled.

At 108-8, again, the prospects of bowling them out early looks pretty doable.

Though once more, Roehampton manage some rebuilding, with some particularly strong hitting from their number 8, who we’re struggling to keep off strike.

Their number 10 has come out to bat in a backwards cap, while Max bowls to him in his backwards cap. We wonder if this is a Surrey league first? Canelo is more impressed with his arms. “He’s got blocker’s triceps!”, Leo exclaims, after the batter’s first forward defensive.

Triceps later falls to Aman, off an incredible James Barron running backwards catch, which almost feels routine at this point, bordering on mundane. Aman’s first slice of luck for the day, having bowled nicely and done well to keep his head under some trying circumstances.

Roehampton finish 181-9 off their 45. It feels like a decent total, we’ll have to bat well.

McGurn is a bit worried about batting tough. He was moved to the outfield for the last 5 overs, where he was parked next to a bloke smoking doobies. Sean doesn’t like weed. He’s pretty sure he’s inhaled a bunch of it down there. We reassure him he can munch it off at tea, which turns out to be Pizza GoGo. The olives one seriously good. Poppy tries to show how well she’s sitting in a desperate attempt to score any of that sweet delicious cheese, aka doggy crack. She looks like one of those Kindergarten children straining to get called on by teacher to answer a question.

Back at the ground, Sean and Umar head out there with clear instructions. We need 20 overs to be bowled before Duckworth Lewis can make it a match. Oppo scored 4 an over, so if we have wickets in hand we’d need a bit less than that. Focus on surviving the new ball foremost, but be mindful of the run rate.

Meanwhile, Britto is padding up and realises Lonnen still has his spikes, so he tries to navigate CRS boots which by now are on their 5th “one last season”, falling apart and with an elaborate system of cumulated makeshift knots.

Out in the middle McGurn is in an absolute f***ing mood with the bat. He’s HADOUKENing anything remotely pitched up, smashing 3 boundaries in the first over and several more along the way.

Umar, at the other end doesn’t take long to get in on it too. Both are the prefect mix of respecting the good bowling, defending well, and belting anything in their area. In a very short period of time, they have put all the pressure on the Roehampton bowling attack.

Dom Scott is tracking the over-by-over D/L par score, announcing it with utter glee after each over – Plough clearly ahead and the lads are loving it.

We’re joined by some local cricketing ladies, seeking refuge from the weather, who take a while to realise we’re actually the oppo (they sometimes train with Roehampton). We assure them we’re nice oppo, and by the end of the game I think they’re secretly reborn Plough fans.

Today we knew we’d have two opponents, and one of them is starting to loom large as drizzle and mizzle come and go. After Umar’s 3 fours in a row there’s even some semi-serious chat about whether it’s even worth hitting boundaries, as they might slow down the over rate.

McGurn is eventually dismissed for a dominant 58 (48), one short of a century opening stand. This clearly displeases the weather gods, as conditions immediately worsen significantly. We are off for rain one over later. A mere 2.5 overs short of the 20 we needed to face for a result. Flashbacks to Max running off in that downpour a couple of years ago in the league ensue. A game where we were cruelly denied what would have been a crucial result on that occasion. Surely not again?!

Determined to do everything we can, an orange Sainsbury’s bag (Nibbler’s kit for years) is run out to cover the bowler’s footmarks.

Thankfully, the rain shortly eases, though their umpire expresses some concerns over the conditions… “If they’re that worried, they can at least start by trying some of the sawdust”, CRS replies. He’s seen this play before, he knows the script and he’s determined to not be having any of it.

“Yes but you have to remember the outfield will be wet” the umpire counteracts with.

It’s pointed out to him that it’s been wet all match, and it’s unlikely that’s significantly changed. We’re here to play cricket, so lets get on with it.

We’re back out there within 10 minutes, and within another 10 we’ve faced the minimum 20. There will be a result! First bit of relief, but still a job to do.

In that time Umar has fallen just short of a wonderful 50, gloving an absolute rip-snorter that leapt on him.

But Angus and Leo come and look solid as. Assuaging any fears of a collapse, they continue where our openers left off – seeing off the good balls and deflecting/destroying the bad ones.

The Plough cruise home with 13 overs and 8 wickets to spare. What could have been a tricky chase ends up being anything but. Absolutely clinical from the lads.

We got the 20 points we came for. Now off for cold clubhouse showers and beers at the delightful pub nextdoor, followed by digging through FroxBox for highlights once everyone’s got home.

The equation for next week is simple: Win and get promoted, lose and we don’t. Can’t wait boys!

Match report from Chris Roden-Smith