For our club skipper, the closest game was only a 20-minute scooter ride. As we all descended with coffees being ordered from the cart in overcast conditions, in true plough tradition, we were having a bowl at first.

Elmo and Crane opened the bowling with both going for more than 6s in an over due to a lightning-fast outfield. Giordy, replacing Elmo, brought back some control in his initial spell but went wicketless. The openers motored on with both getting 50s, and in came skipper extraordinaire and snairs them both in consecutive overs, ending with figures of 27/2 off his four overs. On came spin duo Carson and Khan, or ‘Arn’, in the scorebook, both trying to gain back momentum on either side of drinks. The latter took a wicket.

Elmo and Crane came back on bowled, trying to shift the momentum and picking up a wicket apiece for their efforts. However, the batters kept hounding Ploughmans throughout the innings, and with a fast outfield, the run rate had skyrocketed. Diangienda and Lonsdale came back on as death bowlers, and by then, their set batters were going hell for leather. London Fields scoring 322/5 off their 40. A special mentions to Tennant as they had spent hours on the boundary trying to prevent boundaries and was dedicated throughout the day. Mills being hit a few times and still persevering to keep wickets for the entire innings. I think a few major organs were left injured by the end of play but what a keeper.

Our openers were Britto and Lonsdale. Britto, looking in excellent form, played positively from the start, putting away the bad balls. Lonsdale tried to join in the act but was unlucky to lose his wicket, and that jarred open the door for Ramesh and Tennant to lose their wickets too. In came Mills, who started steadying the ship until the heavens gave away. Grayzer went over to the oppo skipper to offer a handshake, which was duly accepted. The game was abandoned with Britto on 42 not out and Mills on 10 not out.

A few beers XI turned up for the Plough with 1s skipper Pretorius running around us. Cassin also joined us for a little while with some friends.

A great day out as always with the Plough.

Match report from Mo Khan