We open to a sight that we all just love, a sunny DSG. Plough rolled in after what felt like the first game we had played where we were not on weather watch all week. The day was perfect and there was no where you would rather be

The young apprentice Viki took the reigns as a Plough Captain for the first time. An honour very well deserved. The selectors added a little extra pressure by having no less than 4 current and previous Plough Captains in his side. The pressure coming not so much from a leadership standpoint but more a burden of where to hide these fossils in the field. He won his first toss and elected to bat

There was a little something in the deck and in the blink of an eye, Cobbett, Dowell and Britto we back in the pavilion and Plough were reeling at 3 for 21 (If this format of scoring annoys you, then good).

Heads were down, mood a little sombre. This beautiful day for cricket was at risk of being over early. We needed a spark, we need something to get us going, we needed……..the Si 1,000. Now this part of the story was not just part of today’s script. This was the culmination of one of the longest and most talked about sagas in Plough history. Si strode to the crease.

Surely this was the day. A couple of dot balls that continued the tease. And then it happened. Got a full one and guided it beautifully for 4 down through backward point for 4. There it was. 20+ years, 236 games, 153 innings, 1,000 runs. This was Rocky 4 (5 doesn’t count), this was Return of the Jedi. This was Avengers End Game. Plough cheered and the oppo joined in on this well earned milestone for a leader who has just given so much to this club. And it was the spark we needed to get us going.

Si departed shortly after, and after that fantastic moment, we needed a little comic relief. In our first (but certainly not last) village moment of the day, A bat swap between Si and Dooz meant Si didn’t even have a bat to raise on his was off the field.

After Champion Boss departed shortly after Si (showing he was in fact human after his Saturday heroics) Plough was 5 for 57 and it need of some saving. Enter Dooz and Jay Patel. In a combination of brute force, delightful stroke play and rock solid defence, Dooz and Jay set about their rescue mission. Taking everything the bowling had as well as the constant chirp from the oppo captain. Dooz gave as good as he got to his fellow South African while Jay took the stoic, silent approach.

This partnership was a delight to watch from the umpiring position. The result -the highest ever 6th wicket partnership for the Plough. Jay finished with a fantastic 58 and Dooz with a heroic 117. And we were right back in this fight. An incredible fightback. Quick contributions from Jahangir on debut, Kerr and Captain Viki and our innings was almost complete. Through blood, sweat and tears we had got back into this match and we were going to tea with smiles on our faces. Those smiles got a little wider after Giordy (who in his defence, was scoring at the time) went full village and decided not to pad up despite being the next batter in. When Viki was dismissed, there was no time for whites, just pads over some blue trackpants. A very special sight. Plough all out in the 39th over for 257.

Post tea, we strode out to defend our solid total. As the goog guys, surely this story ends in our favour. The oppo obviously didn’t get the script. Viki and Giordy opened the bowling and copped a little early punishment through both some good strokes and some lucky swings. Cricketers CC raced to 53 from just 6 overs. This pace continued despite Giordy picking up two quick wickets with a caught behind and well held catch from Jahangir.

First change bowlers were Jay and Kerr. Jay bowled very well with zero luck. Kerr remained patient after a couple of boundaries and took the huge wicket of their opener who had raced to 55. This was the result of an incredible boundary side catch from Jahangir (much to the delight of Fred and Alex who were spectating right in front of them).

Once again we had fought back but this brought us to the final battle against out villain. This guy was not going down without a fight. He began to assert his dominance. He was our Darth Vader, Our Thanos, Our Ivan Drago.

Cobbett and Jahangir were brought into the attach. Spin from both ends. An incredible display of flight, bounce, turn and even pace. That both got wickets at regular intervals. It was incredible to watch from my keeping position (and bloody hard work at times). Despite the twin spin performance, our villain remained. And remained scoring. Some huge hitting. Cricketers CC had move over 200. Things were tense. On a knifes edge. Plough took the 9th wicket. Obviously time for another village moment. The Cricketers CC number 11 strode out in shorts. I am probably obliged to advise he was Australian. His excuse? Had spilled a pint on his whites. I don’t believe this was his first pint either. There must be something about number 11s.

The second ball he faced, he was just looking to block out to give our villain the strike next over. Our chirpy keeper (yours truly) was chatting far too long into the bowlers run up, only to get a response from the batter as the ball was bowled and he blocked it. The keeper was rightly warned by the umpire and ball was called dead. Myself and the batsmen both pointed out that not only did the batsmen respond but also managed to block it. He was not happy about the fact he had to do it again.

The next over, our villain was trying to ruin our story, our ending. Another couple of lusty blows. Cobbett was still bowling so well but it didn’t take too bad a ball for it to be dispatched. Another beautifully flighted delivery and our baddie went again but this time it wasn’t as well time. It towered in the air for what felt like forever. And in our Hollywood ending, who was standing up this towering shot from ou nemesis? Captain Viki. With the safest of hands. A true hero moment and Captain Clutch feels appropriate. Plough win by 52 runs.

Shoutouts to a heroes on the day. The Si 1,000, Dooz and Jay with the bat. Giordy (2), Benny (3) and Jahangir (3) with the ball.

And to Viki, our captain, leader and hero. Lead superbly all day. Was poised and calm. A pleasure to play with everyone and a storybook ending.

A couple of jugs in the sun was the post credit scene and Sundays don’t get much better than that

Cheers, Nicko