The journey felt a little like we travelled back in time, with us Ploughmen being very confused after getting a receipt when taping on to the bus. Very 1970s.

The lovely driver did however make a special stop to drop us directly at the ground. You wouldn’t get that in London.

We strolled out to easily one of the nicest grounds inside the M25 with weeping Willows & mighty Oaks littering the boundary. What a lovely place to spend a Saturday.

Skipper Ajit Prasad won the toss & the plough padded up. Himself & Yanni went in to open. Unfortunately the wickets fell a little too quick but Yanni knuckled in & scored 20 whilst wickets tumbled around him.

They next stand came from Jay Patel & Junaid Ahmed who made a valiant stand scoring 20 & 22 respectively.

A couple more wickets fell & it was squeaky bum time for the plough with us sitting around 80/8. However we had no need to worry.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Callum Daley strides in at 9 in his first game since suffering a devastating hamstring injury that saw him sidelined for all of last season. Boy did he make a comeback. Against some tricky bowling he caressed a stunning 57 to keep us ploughing deep into the innings. Notable contributions from those who stuck around with him at the end. Tom Elmslie was looking good until unfortunately getting triggered lbw & Giordy “loves to bat” Diangienda stayed with Callum untill the very end scoring 4 off 12 not out. One for the spreadsheet.

The Plough set 152 & it was time to take the field.

We knew we were probably 20 runs short of a par score & we needed to switch on. Boy did we.

Opening up was Giordy & Oscar who set the tone. Besides the occasional bad ball that was punished the bowling was tight & EVERY chance was taken. I think it may have been one of the finest fielding performances from a plough side with filthy catches being taken left & right.

George Boughton plucked a rocket out the sky at mid-on and Jay Patel snagged one at square leg that he had no right even getting near. Huge shoutout has to go to the man that can Mr Yanni Baveas taking 3 edges behind the stumps. Stunning performance from you sir.

The Plough were looking strong at 64-6 but there was still work to be done. We knew that we had to keep going until the very last ball & we had to keep attacking.

The skipper, ever innovating, stuck with two slips & two gullies to pile on the pressure and the dot balls racked up. Some excellent line & length from Amain Jain (Another AJ?) saw the wickets continue to fall & all of a sudden we were 123-8.

The Plough dug deep in this game, we never let off & we knew what we had to do. Some tight bowling from Tom “Elmo” Elmslie & the hero of the day Callum Daley saw us home with the plough bowling out the opposition & winning by 9 runs.

What a lovely day out with some great blokes. PloughOn

Match report from Oscar Sawyer