The day began in classic Plough fashion at Finsbury Park, when Harry, Van, Tom and Ajay were boarding the train and Van Naidoo’s kitbag somehow clipped his flip flop, launching it perfectly underneath the train. As Single-Slipper Van stood there saying, “What a start to the day…”, Tom’s emergency extra pad came to the rescue. Little did we know the day’s bad luck had already been used up.

We arrived at Winchmore Hill by midday with only one missing Ploughman thanks to London traffic — a successful start for Sunday. Train 1- Slipper 0. By the end of the day it was Train 1- Slipper 112.

With the previous game overrunning and North London serving up furnace-like conditions, everyone was crying out for shade before a ball had even been bowled. Rahul lost the toss and Plough were sent into the field on what looked a very flat deck.

Freshly baggied-up Kelly and Van Naidoo were handed the new ball by skipper Nair. Leo struck early with a probing line and length, helped by a sharp catch from Harry P in the opening over. Unfortunately, “got to want it” became the theme of the bowling innings as Plough proceeded to put down 12 catches in the heat. The batter who eventually retired hurt on 145 was dropped early — by the bowler himself, no less.

Ithesham and Harry entered the attack but by then both opposition batters were fully teeing off, racing to 150 after just 18 overs.

Rahul then turned to Ajay and Winter in what proved a mini-masterstroke. Both brought much-needed control to the innings, with Thomas striking immediately thanks to a superb catch from Van Naidoo. Ajay bowled tightly throughout and deserved far more reward for his efforts.

Then came the warmth of the Librarian from Winter. The innings was finally slowed, with further wickets falling to catches from Ithesham and Raees with Mohammed’s 50th and 51st wicket, while Van Naidoo produced a juggling caught-and-bowled in the death overs that nearly gave skipper Nair a heart attack. The opposition eventually finished on 323-6.

As Rahul prepared to demolish the excellent tea, he overheard the opposition skipper confidently telling his side they already had “more than enough” and that everyone should get a bowl once the openers were removed. Rahul had a quiet chuckle to himself — mainly because he hadn’t opened in years.

What followed was one of the greatest chases the club has witnessed.

The Greek God Yanni, celebrating his 100th cap, opened alongside Rahul and the pair started positively, absorbing the fast bowler pressure and sharing a 36 run partnership before Rahul chipped one to the opening bowler for 19 in the 7th over. Enter Van Naidoo — or perhaps Van Gogh, because what followed was pure art.

Soon after, Yanni was bowled for 11 in the 9th over, bringing Stallion Raees to the crease with his new slick-backed look matching his batting prowess.

At first the pair rebuilt steadily, nudging the scoreboard along and weathering the difficult phases expertly. As the runs scored, so did Plough belief. Ajay supplied positive vibes from the boundary alongside a worrying case of pad rash, while Stallion and Van Gogh gave absolutely nothing away.

Both passed fifty with class before the innings ascended into complete batting nirvana.

Rahul began outshining Billy Bowden, Raees seemingly decided dot balls were optional, and the pressure got so bad the opposition keeper removed his pads to have a bowl himself. Nothing worked.

The Duke ball received a brutal assault as Raees and Van Gogh dismantled everything in front of them. Raees powered through cramps to race to a magnificent 159 not out— his highest score for the club and his first ton— while Van Gogh remained flawless in bringing up his maiden Plough ton with 112 not out.

Together they shared a record-breaking 286-run stand that left not only Ploughmen but even opposition players in disbelief at what they were witnessing.

And naturally, for the benefit of his fans, Raees finished the chase with a six in the 34th over.

A ridiculous run chase. A record stand. A Greek God’s 100th cap celebrated in sty

Amongst all this a TFC for Michael who along with Ajay will have to explain the pad rash to their respective halves.

From Winchmore Hill — Plough On.

Some notable milestones that were achieved:

Yanni playing his 100th game for the Plough
Mohammed getting his 50th wicket for the plough
Raees hitting his 1000th run for the club
Raees hitting his highest runs for the club
Raees hitting his first century for the Plough
Van Naidoo hitting his first century for the Plough
Van Naidoo hitting his highest runs for the club
Raees and Van Naidoo hitting the clubs highest partnership and highest 3rd wicket partnership

Match report from Mo Khan