2. Skipper for the day AJ Prasad won the toss and elected to bat first — a surprise to his teammates, given he's normally inclined to bowl first, something he likes to tell everybody, especially after three or four pints.

Ploughmans innings

3. Ploughmans opened with AJ Prasad and Ben Sadler, who got off to a steady start against a mix of quick bowling and well-targeted off spin. Boundaries flowed from the openers until Sadler chopped on. AJ was then joined by newly promoted Qammar Jamshaid, who was undone by a vicious in-swinger.

4. That brought together AJ Prasad and vice-captain Ajay John — the first time the club has had two AJs at the crease together, and it proved fruitful for Ploughmans. The "AJ-squared" partnership got off to a rapid start, boundaries flowing every over, and raced along at 7-8 an over with some sharp running between the wickets. Teammates on the boundary shouted "well batted, AJ" without either AJ being quite sure who they meant. Ploughmans reached 100 for 2 off 17 overs — a solid platform to kick on from. Ajay John played the role of aggressor really well. He was finding the gaps really well with proper strokes, playing with real aggressive intent — a very well-measured innings.

5. Ajay John was bowled by the leg-spinner for a well-made 40, bringing Dinesh "Ben Stokes" Kinger to the crease — he was a man on a mission today. Advised to take a few balls to get himself in, Dinesh clearly didn't agree — smashing his first few deliveries for four. The pair continued in rapid fashion, bringing up a hundred partnership that stands as Ploughmans' highest 4th-wicket stand of the season. AJ brought up his fifty after surviving an early chance, and Dinesh followed soon after — watch this space for the 100-strike-rate club.

6. Dinesh eventually holed out attacking as he tried to accelerate the innings further, bringing in Michael Scantlebury. Calm as anything off the pitch but all business with the bat in hand, Michael continued the charge alongside AJ. Ploughmans finished on 236 for 4 off their 35 overs, with AJ Prasad unbeaten on a career-best 76 — truth be told, he probably bottled a hundred, but that's a conversation for another day.

7. At drinks it emerged the other Ploughmans side on at the DSG had also posted 236, off their 40 — a nice bit of déjà vu, and always a pleasure having two games on at the DSG on a Sunday. After some well-earned refreshments, Ploughmans took the field.

I Don't Like Cricket CC innings

8. Ploughmans opened the bowling with Dave Yates and Qammar Jamshaid. Qammar struck immediately, a vicious delivery smacking into middle stump, and Dave followed up by setting up the next batter perfectly for a heave that was caught at mid-wicket. The opposition were 10 for 2 after two overs, and Ploughmans were on top. Qammar struck again to make it 20 for 3.

9. A double bowling change brought on James Harvey and Justin Cash. Justin found immediate purchase with some valuable spin, while James settled into his rhythm quickly, showing genuine pace. The opposition found their feet and began scoring at 5-6 an over, reaching 80 for 3 after 12-13 overs. Qammar returned to bowl a vicious spell, keeping the batters under real pressure despite a run of edges going for four. At drinks the opposition were 120 for 3 off 17 — the game very much in the balance, but the opposition knew they had work to do.

10. Ploughmans came back out a man light due to a player's scheduled departure. We may have had ten men on the field, but we had plenty of heart in the way we went about things. Superman Ben Sadler struck straight after drinks with a fantastic catch from Dinesh Kinger, shifting the momentum back Ploughmans' way. James Harvey came back into the attack and bowled a solid spell without luck, as the opposition began to find their feet again — one batter anchoring, the other attacking. Harry Wright came on to bowl three attacking overs, but sadly had no luck.

11. The opposition were cruising along at 180 for 5, and Ploughmans needed wickets — and needed them quickly. James Harvey (Plough #600)!! came back into the attack for a second spell and struck immediately, bowling out the set batter. From the other end, Ajay John came on to bowl and brought some tidy off-spin, creating a lot of pressure. James, running in with an extra yard of pace, then trapped the new batter for an absolute plumb LBW, helping swing the momentum further towards Ploughmans.

12. Ajay John continued to bowl tidy off-spin, keeping the opposition under real pressure. Michael Scantlebury was given the penultimate over and made it count, his off-spin creating chance after chance. One shot ballooned into the air. Justin Cash flew backwards to pull off an absolute worldy of a catch, diving backwards, hanging in the air, taking it one-handed, and the ground went wild — before Dinesh Kinger was held back for the business end. The opposition went into the last two overs needing twelve to win, and that wicket left them needing just two off the final over, with Dinesh Kinger — in what looked like a stroke of genius — handed the ball to finish the job.

13. Into Dinesh's final over, the opposition needed two runs off six balls — and there was only one team most people would put their money on. First ball, dot. Second ball, dot. Third ball, an inside edge, and the opposition scrambled through for a single, just about making their ground. Scores tied, the opposition had nothing to lose — or did they? Ploughmans brought the field right in: silly mid-on, short cover, no third man, no gully, nobody on the boundary, everyone attacking. Off a good-length ball, the batter tried to work it towards square leg, but not on Ajay John's watch — he leapt up to take a fantastic reaction catch, and the crowd went wild. The opposition needed one run to win, Ploughmans one wicket to draw, with two balls remaining. Calm heads, calm minds, came the call from the skipper. Dinesh came in with another good-length delivery; the batter again tried to work it away, this time to the leg side, and the same story unfolded — Ajay John, the man of the moment, jumped up to take a brilliant catch under pressure. The opposition were bowled out, scores level, and the whole XI went wild. What a game! The match was declared a tie — nobody was going to bother with a super over or any of that nonsense. Both teams walked off happy, both walked off proud.

14. Notable mention to Stan Martin for throwing himself behind the ball as wicketkeeper. Thank you to Dave Yates for covering a lot of ground in the field. Thank you to Ajay John for being a fantastic vice-captain, and a thank you to the Ploughmans Cheer XI for coming to support us for the final few overs.

Result: Match tied — 236 apiece.

With regards,
AJ Prasad
Development Officer, and a very proud Ploughmans captain