Our hosts were trinity mid whitgiftians, the old boys club for one of the plough team today. The ground held memories for a few other members of the plough, reminiscing on a bit of a mullering the previous year, Leon, Suri and Rumford recalled the opposition hitting a couple of hundreds, a fifty and setting Ploughmans 300+ to chase. Safe to say we weren’t in the mood for a repeat of last years performance.

We arrived at the ground, sun was shining and we were playing on the main square, a lovely setting, great deck and pristine outfield. Leon tossed with the trinity skipper (one of Sean McGurns first ever cricket coaches). We lost the toss and set out to bowl trinity out.

Cracking opening spell from Dan Runsford and Daisy Dukes (Lewis Wilby) got us off to a great start, Wilby actually injuring their opening bat in the first over with a lusty blow that hit a poorly positioned box ?, the batter retired hurt. Dan Rumford got the first breakthrough, the thoroughly deserved wicket of their opener who eventually nicked behind and with the assistance of wicket keeper Suri allowed a simple catch for McGurn at first slip.

Enter stage left James Barron, bowling great lines with slightly above military medium pace, Barron tore through the top/middle order, taking 4/18 including a caught and bowled that Neo would’ve been proud of. A special shout-out to Vikki who bowled his first maiden for the plough, meaning he has basically completed cricket now, wickets, catches, direct hits, 4’s, 6’s and now a coveted maiden well done Vikki, unfortunately no wicket today.

The spin twins, Elena and TJG (because it’s easier to say this way round) came on to bowl next. TGJ bowled tight with plenty of bounce and drift from one end, though unfortunately had his figures slightly marred by the return of the injured batter who, with a Few overs to go smoked everything. Ellie found her rhythm but with 2 set batters at the crease, both lefties, it was a tricky task for our wicked leg spinner. Trinity set the plough 196 to win, a comfortably gettable target.

Quick shoutout to the teas, they were great.
McGurn and Poleboina then set about chasing the 196, Suri stylishly bringing up his 2000th run for the club and receiving a rapturous applause from those in the know, led the opposition skipper to congratulate Suri on his top score of 18, we laughed. Suri then employed a new and innovative tactic of withdrawing hurt, bringing Dr Merch to the crease, who himself almost retired hurt before falling to a vicious in-swinging Yorker. Parkes and McGurn continued to steadily chase the target, getting the plough to drinks requiring 129 from 120 balls with 9 still in the hutch.

Mcgurn fell shortly after drinks to a similarly vicious in-swinging yorker. Out came the revitalised Suri who begins dispatching all the bowlers to various parts of the ground, racing to 65 before being bowled by the 2nd Xi opening bowler. Leon almost became our 4th retiree of the day after smashing a ball in to his own calf and was run out shortly afterwards. It was around this point that the chase started to look like a bit of a tall order, trinity bowled well throughout, Rahul played some swashbuckling shots but eventually fell for 15.

And with 17 required off the last over Barron and Wilby had a lot to do. In the end the plough fell 4 short of what would have been a great win. A few light refreshments were shared in the bar with the opposition as the sunset. We all reflected on what was a really bloomin good game of cricket, Unfortunately we didn’t quite get it over the line. I’m personally looking forward to this fixture next year and making it 2-1. Up the plough, plough on/in/out.

Match report produced by Sean McGurn