Things began well on a chilly day at Thames Ditton. Following the inspirational urgings of the skipper, Ploughmans Navy’s attack, Lewis Wilby, Giordy Diagienda, Azharul Haq and Greg Willis, bowled ‘dry’ and restricted the Thames Ditton to 59 runs from the first 20 overs. The ball was regularly beating the bat, and there was good support for the bowlers in the field (apart from the rather rusty arm of your guest correspondent). After drinks, and in accordance with the captain’s instruction to ‘win the next 24 balls’ the Plough did exactly that; taking two wickets for 13 runs.

Things went downhill thereafter. ‘Dicko’ the Thames Ditton captain made a hard hitting 42 in good time, and found some support from the lower order. Extras made a good contribution as well (16 wides, 11 no balls) as the Plough stayed true to the Sunday spirit in ensuring that everyone had a chance to get into the game. Lewis Wilby, taking 2 for 13 of his 8 overs was probably the pick of the bowlers, and some good catches were taken, particularly Steve Britto’s effort, just a yard inside the boundary at cow-corner, in swirling wind, but Thames Ditton’s final score of 176 was probably 30 more than had seemed likely earlier in the innings.

The Plough innings started disastrously. Thames Ditton’s young South African, bowling briskly, recorded 4 overs for 1 wicket and 1 run, off Fred Gumpert’s inside edge. The scorecard records that the highest total among the top five batsmen was a princely 3 runs off 32 balls by ‘Max Gumpert’, with the elderly imposter actually responsible for this sluggish effort happy to have been the victim of mistaken identity. It’s a common name. There was some discussion about strike rate among the spectators and the Plough’s batting behemoth may want to have a word with the record keepers.

At 14-5, the game looked over. But Lewis Wilby and Greg Willis put together an elegant and entertaining partnership of 66 and at 80-5 the Plough looked to be coming back into things until Lewis was run out. Despite Greg going on to a well deserved 50 the required rate proved too steep and the game subsided to a tame end.

Man of the match for the Plough (if it rests within your guest correspondent’s gift): Lewis Wilby. In addition to the bowling noted above he also hit a six which must have been 80 yards long, well over the longest boundary on the field.

Match report produced by Ben Gumpert