None the less, the Plough march on with a keen eye on a game to win and a side eye on the club captain's birthday bash in the evening at the hallowed DSG.

A lot of chat in the team group to take on board Hugh's idea of bring a team tea. With a questionable cheese and onion pasty by chef Lonsdale, rumours of cubanos a la chef Cobbett on the menu, and Cassin and Spencer rumoured to be providing the healthy options of watermelon and squashies.

While Sade taught the Ploughmen how to be a mermaid and generally put them in their place. Skipper Wilby won the toss and opted to bat first with both openers still enroute.

The arrival of Cassin and Butlin meant our delicious tea was accounted for with a handy refrigeration in the shed, tea was set to be a feast. The bowlers however took the opportunity to tuck in to some delicious sandwiches.

While the bowlers lathered each other in sun lotions, Butters and Cassin set about putting together a platform. At 53 Butlin was out lbw, Iqbal in.

Shortly after Cassin tried to hoike the oppo skipper to Croydon, missing it to be bowled on 46. Shortly after, Parks chipped a simple one to gully. Tunnacliffe chipped a simple c&b to the skipper.

Iqbal and the Cobbett set about trying to reestablish some control and safely saw things through to drinks.

Iqbal needing some lessons in focus was lbw first ball after drinks. The partnership of Cobbett and Lonsdale looked so good that this writer was too focussed on his delicious cinnamon roll and missed Cobbett being caught for 29. He was shortly followed by Lonsdale trying to hit the leather off a straight one for 9.

Azza rule of thumb if you're gonna hit it, hit it, AJ2 seems to have missed that and chipped one to mid-off. Rumford and skipper Wilby in. After all the chat from last week about the amazing track, Wilby was bowled by one that rolled through. Romford and sons looked comfortable after his last weekend exploits.

Well in to the tail, the spinners who devastated the batters bowled out. Spencer and Rumford looking very comfortable against the toothless not so pace attack until Rumford got caught at point.

Plough all out 162.

The bowling started well with the skipper opening up until the 4th ball where he fell over in his follow through and called an end to his spell and bowling for the day.

He looked up, and threw the ball to the first bloke in his line of sight, iqbal.

Bowling a tidy 2 overs with Haque looking imperious at the other end. Rumford to replace Iqbal for some seriously good bowling against 2 scratchy openers.

Lonsdale replaced Haque and looked absolutely gun. Aside from a few wides and no balls, Lonsdale bowled through taking the first wicket caught behind.

Out came the number 3 looking to cut Oli's induckers. Oli looked dangerous the entire spell, getting the number 3 caught by Cassin at short cover off a no ball. Followed by an edge heard around Croydon except by the umpire. 3rd times the charm though with the bloke feeding another catch to Cassin. A short ball from Oli was pulled straight to Butlin at light speed, Butlin did well to save his head but a drop non the less, much to the chagrin of Oli.

Cassin came on to bowl at the other end, bowling full and straight outside of off. The number 4 fancied Cassin with his flowing locks and put one nice and high for Cobbett who made a horrific chance look easy.

Cobbett replaced Rumford, bowling a tidy spell taking a nice caught behind wicket. With a tidy 4 over spell.

Haque came back to replace Lonsdale and after a couple looseners looked incredibly dangerous again.
The skipper threw the ball once again to Cassin for a breakthrough.
With Spencer replacing Haque at the other end.

Ultimately the Plough came away with a loss, probably falling around 30 runs short on a tricky wicket.

The oppos' opening bat doing a job, patiently reaching his 50 in the 30th over and ultimately finishing 70odd not out. Gritty batting on a wicket that needed a lot of focus against a strong bowling attack.

The Plough needed to ball a little tighter with a lot of extras credited to the oppo, and many loose balls that were dutifully pulled away.

We'll go hard for the next match.
Plough on.

Match report produce by Umar Iqbal