With Rahul making his debut as skipper there was an air of tangible excitement about the day, which could go ahead thanks to the last minute stepping-up of Ritik, allowing the Plough to field a full team. The result of the toss was the Plough to open the batting.

Max and Jamie, a duo not just on the field, opened the batting against a trickily consistent bowling attack. In fact, no extras were conceded in the first ten overs (excepting a bye or two). Despite this, Jamie and Max dug in to weather the new ball and picked up some runs in the process. Despite a valiant effort, Jamie lost his wicket around the eighth over.

Lonnen then took to the field, despite an groin injury rendering him unable to bowl (something the plough would come to rue later on). After seeing off the openers, McCreery and Lonnen faced a somewhat different attack. No longer the pitch perfect consistency of the openers, they faced a varied (in line, length and pace) attack from the first change. As the onlooking Cash almost prophetically observed, that's the type of bowler who will give you one good ball and get you out: that's precisely what happened and Lonnen returned to the pavillion, bowled.

Next came Ritik for his first time batting up the order in what would prove to be a stroke of genius by captain Rahul. With Max anchoring and Ritik's words echoing firmly in the ears of the Plough in the pavillion (I can only play T20), the partnership proved exactly what was needed. Ritik's attacking style injected a pace and vigour into the innings, while McCreery, egged on by his housemates from the boundary, made his fifty. There were some particularly elegant leg side shots, much to the joy of the spectating crowd.

Not long after, Ritik also made his fifty, smashing the bowling attack around and getting a gorgeous six through cover in the process. Alas, the partnership could not last forever and it was broken with McCreery caught on 53 with a partnership of 94. Ritik followed soon after, though the extra 15 runs he knocked in the process would indicate it was longer, bowled for 68.

At this point, the middle order faced a tough challenge, coming in late in the game to add quick runs, but also facing the last six overs of opening bowlers. Despite valiant efforts, Harry and Rahu lost their wickets on 1. Nevertheless, Mo Khan and debutant Joe McShane added a few quick runs towards the end to bring the closing total to 163.

After tea, the Plough took to the field, with the alliterative Giordy and McShane opening the bowling. Despite a couple, and I literally mean a couple, of boundaries they kept it tight and restricted the runs to well below the run rate. Giordy showed great control and restraint in bowling for the game, not the wickets (despite a hunger for them having got his club 50th the prior day); McShane, on debut bowled strong and had the oppo under the cosh.

After the opening spell, the pressure continued to be applied by Cashy and Ritik. Again, restrictive bowling meant the oppo were feeling the strain, but there were few chances. Nevertheless, Cashy made the breakthrough with a wonderful, fizzing delivery and sent the first bat back to the pavillion.

With momentum picking up, Ritik too got the wicket he deserved to add to his 68 with the bat.

Unfortunately, despite sharp work in the field and excellent restriction from the bowlers, number three and four dug in and started totting up the runs. By the time Mo Khan and Dave Yates came on for their spells, the bats were well and truly in and their was little the pair could do. Despite valiant efforts the run rate was picking up and the total of 163 looking less and less defendable.

Despite Giordy and McShane coming back on and bowling very tight, the defeat became almost inevitable (not that you would know it from the plucky optimism by the fielding Plough). Alas, London Fields made the total with a couple of overs to spare. Although not overly happy to lose, the game had several personal highlights and Rahul as skipper was marvelous to play under.

Match report from Dave Yates