CRS opened the bowling in typical CRS style: beautiful lines and zero runs. This was followed up with similarly economical bowling from daddy Vibes, nicknamed the 'brator by CRS in the field. As the openers dotted up the overs, the pressure was mounting for the opening batsmen, who seemed unable to read the line of either bowlers balls. In the end, it was Vibes who took the first wicket, with a wonderful catch by Hicko (and I do mean wonderful - this was taken running at full pace with a bit of a drive at the end) in the covers.

Very quickly, the first wicket was followed with another: clean bowled by C Vibes. Carl bowled excellently and thoroughly deserved both wickets, but I'm sure he won't mind me attributing some of the wickets to the pressure created by CRS, who's first spell finished with just one run and three maidens off four overs. As I'm sure any bowler would agree, I'd take a maiden over a wicket any day of the week and I think CRS epitomises the skill and control required for this. Anyway, enough effusion.

With CRS taking a breather, he was replaced by an equally numerously initialled compadre: TGJ. The only downside to TGJ's bowling was that it meant his sledges from deep fine leg were less audible. My personal favourite involved McVities biscuits. Rather pallendromically, Tom went for 1-0 off his first over and 0-1 from his second, much to the delight of the supporting Plough.

Then on came Yates. If you only look at the overs in which he took wickets, this was a rather good outing: 4-2. So, that's where I'm going to leave it for this match report. Praise must go to Ean, who took a corker of a catch at square leg off perhaps their strongest bat who leathered it towards the boundary. Talking of Smith, he took had a great day out, getting a wicket caugh over the shoulder at 45 by Yates.

Hicko then came on delivering some devilish pace that proved too much for the rather short statured bats, who could do very little with it. Finally, to close out the bowling, third change Lewis Wilby came on for some death bowling, which he proudly declared to Grayzer after he critiqued the lack of bowling at the stumps. Showing excellent speed and control, CRS and Lulu closed off the innings going for just 13 off the last 8 overs.

It was a stunning fielding innings all round, with some excellent bowling on display and, perhaps more importantly, remarkable fielding. If I remember correctly, there were no midfields all day and, more importantly on atypical plough style, no dropped catches. This would go on to prove, as the old adage goes, catches very much do win matches.

After a quick tea, with the England game later that evening firmly on everyone's minds, the plough took to the crease. Jay and Hicko opened, taking 1 and 2 respectively. After the batting innings, the plough were feeling fairly relaxed when it came to the bowling attack but very quickly changed their attitude after seeing the opening pair. Tight, fast lines were the order of the day and Jay and Hicko did very well to see off their openers first spell.

Alas, the Hollies being the Hollies, Jay was very unfortunate to lose his wicket to a prime nut that bounced in an utterly unpredictable manner. This was pretty much replicated by the skip, Leon, who went out to face two identical pitches balls, one of which practically rolled along the ground, the other pinged up and was gloved through to the keeper. Despite a bit of bad luck with the bat, Leon was Stirling as captain all day, making sure everyone got a game and managing the runs and play so that we had a good game but never felt behind the rate.

In at four was Grayzer, who had not had to bowl all day and was very excited at the prospect of upper order batting. During this, Hicko had been going off. Flies in, smashes boundaries and flies home. He was creaming the ball around and looking good doing it. A personal highlight for me was the ball through the leaves of the Hollies' tree. With a strike rate at basically 100, things were going well and the onlooking Plough were settling in on the boundary. Alas, the oppo brought their own ump who gave Hicko LBW. No more will be said on this report other than, he is a specialist ump for the oppo so they must see something in him. With Hicko out, Grayzer soon followed suit and all of a sudden the Plough were in need of some stability.

This game in the form of Barren and Smith, who has looked immovable all season. With plenty of overs to go and a very achievable run rate of about 4, Smith and Barren got themselves in and started increasing the total. There were some sexy boundaries in their, both seeming to favour a cut down to backward point. Unfortunately, as the Hollies tends to do, Smith got an unfortunate nut that bounced up and actually managed to get a cherry on his gloves before being caught behind by the keeper.

Now just a little twitchy on the side, the Plough were very glad for the depth of their batting lineup, the likes of Vibes and CRS hanging around the tail. Much to the distress of the onlooking Grecian hound, it was Wilby's turn to take to the crease, and take to it he did. Barren and Wilby began building a very tidy partnership with sensible restrained play and the occasional boundary to keep the score ticking over. Alas, disaster struck as Barren, who batted magnificently all game, popped one back to the bowler.

Nevertheless, no hope was lost as initials was in next. TGJ and Wilby then played a magnificent innings, getting a 58 partnership to take us home with exactly 4 overs to spare. TGJ showed restraint and skill, hitting a few boundaries and setting himself up for what would have been, no doubt, a very high total had he a few more overs and runs to chase. But praise indeed must go to Wilby who was creaming the ball around. Two new balls were required from Wilby launching the ball clean out of the ground and his efforts at the crease got him a though roughly deserved 45*, the Plough the win and perhaps most importantly, us back to the pavilion with time to spare to grab a pint before the football.

Match report from Dave Yates