The sun was shining. And it was hot. The outfield was dry, and the pitch looked flat. Perfect conditions for batting. Not perfect conditions for running 3s.

Skipper Grayzer, who has played a lot of cricket in his time has mastered the art of the toss. Why bother tossing a coin to decide who gets to choose whether they want to bat or bowl, when you can negotiate instead? With this philosophy in mind, his sound negotiation skills had the Plough batting first on a pitch which looked and smelled like runs.

Australian duo Yanni and the writer (Cake) opened up and started steadily against some tight bowling. Yanni played some swash buckling drives and cuts. Some of those shots hit the gaps, some didn't. But he could've easily been 50 at drinks. Repaying the Captain's faith, both openers had survived to drinks and brought the score to 76-0 or 0-76 (depending on which hemisphere you were born in). Shortly after drinks, Yanni tickled one down the leg side departing for a well-made 34.

Suri then came in. Those who have played with Suri know that in addition to his majestic stroke play, he can be a tad volatile optimistic and audacious in his calls for runs between the wickets. I told him at the outset that I would absolutely not run any 3s that day. That didn't deter Suri who still called for 3 almost immediately, only for me to tell him to get lost immediately.

Around that time, the bowling started to taper off a little bit. This brought about a couple of interesting anecdotes that only cricket can provide and which we could all learn from.

The first takeaway is that if you want to play cricket but are not selected, turn up and bring your whites anyway as you never know when injury or illness will strike, especially on a hot day. You may be required to play. That is what happened to the whippets as one of their better bowlers was forced off unexpectedly. In his place, came their sole spectator wearing a bright green shirt and blue shorts in what gave off true Sunday village cricket vibes.

The second is a lesson in how to assert dominance. After Suri had just hit one of their spinners who was having a tough day into the bushes for the third consecutive time, the ball was lost. As a delay in the game ensued and the ball was searched for, Suri took it upon himself not to ask the umpires or his batting partner to tie his shoelaces, but the bowler who he was in the process of dismantling. An ultimate Alpha move.

During this period, I was fortunate to get a few loose deliveries myself and converted that into a score of note. I then tweaked a hammy and had to retire hurt as a precaution. Fortunate timing I would surmise.

Cossie joined and played what I would describe as the shot of the day, creaming a cover drive through the covers for 4. Unfortunately, he fell soon after trying to up the run rate.

Theo then joined Suri in the middle and the two set about scoring as quickly as possible and running as many 3s as possible. Suri would get his running fix after all. Both were scoring at a rapid rate before Theo departed on 38 in the last over with Plough ending up finishing on 297 from their 40 overs.

Suri finished not out on 88*. I recall him saying that this was his first not out for the Plough. The sun must have slightly jaded his memory though, as it is in fact a feat he has accomplished 7 times already according to our stats page.

It was Plough's turn to take the field. And it was now very hot. 40 overs in the dirt on a scorching sunny Sunday is exactly why we play the game. Our Swedish vibe king Carl opened up with our Kiwi Crane. Their bowling partnership, considering the heat was nothing short of sublime. They gave the opening bats very little to hit and thanks to that tight start, we knew the outcome of the game was determined and it would be simply a matter of margin for victory.

The Earl and HP came on and continued where our openers had left off. The latter picking up 3 classy wickets in a spell spanning 8 consecutive overs from the one end. By this time, our bowlers were doing a tremendous job toiling in the sun whilst the fielders like me trudged about in a trance like state watching the game unfold but forgetting we were part of it. The game had been going on for so long that Keogh remarked that he was heading straight to the office afterwards because he thought it was Monday.

Credit to the Whippets who valued their wickets and batted the 40 overs when they could have otherwise thrown in the towel. Late wickets to Mace, Gray and Crane meant our opponents finished off on 214 for 8 from their 40 overs.

Credit also to the other Sunday side for staying and supporting and providing entertainment in the form of a running race between Sean and Giordy. It's well publicised who won.

Afterwards, the carbonated drinks were flowing given the heat and the company. Someone (I can't recall who? Maybe Theo? Apologies if I have defamed you) reminded Keogh to ruin people's weekends by sending out the match fee demands for the weekend. But spirits remained high, nonetheless.

As the night set on the always sunny DSG, many Plough were not ready to bid auf wiedershen to the weekend and went to the local watering hole Hootanannys for just one more. Sean (key member of the Sunday 2s) got excited and went rock climbing. And rumour has it when Hooanannys closed, some Plough even went to another local watering hole. Solid form for a Sunday.

Thanks to all for an enjoyable afternoon out at the greatest cricket club in the world.

Cake