The DSG was utterly drenched in sunshine and cricket on Sunday, with all grounds in use. The hum, ebb and flow of multiple matches burbled all afternoon, weaving with birdsong, polite applause from spectators and a few growing frustrations regarding [cricketers!] ambling behind bowlers’ arms, all played out under the scorching sun.

Sadiq Khan issued a warning by early lunchtime that “it was a very dangerous day to be a beer in London...”

It was this writer’s first home match for the Ploughmans at HQ and virtually nothing disappointed about the day, the setting or the company for my afternoon.

Having settled ourselves in the shadiest spot, Captain Gray made the excellent decision to win the toss — tick — and stick the opposition in the field — tick — who were one short, with the ETA of their 11th not being clear — bonus tick!

Suresh and Cosgrove opened, both shaping up nicely on a track that, despite London turning into a kiln, still had a hint of green to it.

Cosgrove departed, bringing in Shaw, who looked to strike clean and hard from ball one. This saw the Plough begin to put their foot down and accelerate towards the 50-run mark despite some tight line bowling from JBIXI.

Shaw’s departure didn’t dent the PCC impetus to make our guests chase some leather in the heat. Suresh and Tom L kept the pressure up and, around 15 overs in, the missing JBI player arrived slowly, looking dazed, and proceeded to berate his teammates that his kit was not quite where he wanted it. Flummoxed, he wandered off to the bushes to be sick — apparently a talkative pre-match routine...

Second drinks break taken, and Ploughman’s were 104-3. Sharp work behind the stumps saw Suresh depart for a very well-made 54 at better than a run a ball.

However, losing the two Toms — Tom R for 18 — Tom L, and Joan Rivers grafted to move Plough within a shot of 150+ before Joan exited stage left — a set of wobbles saw us to 149-7, the tail not quite wagging in the Sunday sunshine.

But a brisk run-a-ball 17 from Justin Cash, plus good calling and hard leg-pumping on extras, saw Plough reach 169-9 from 35.

It should be noted that the first innings was played in a great spirit by both teams and there was an extremely relaxed attitude to the wide-ball law — for meteorological reasons...

Now tea. The Pav was humming with cricketers from across the grassy campus and the race to the bottom of the Premier League being screened on either side of the bar added some extra icing to the Sunday sports day atmosphere.

Fed, thoroughly hydrated and more than fancying our chances, after a few upbeat words from the skipper, Plough set about defending and aiming to knock over JBIXI in quick fashion.

An exemplary opening spell from Tom Ryder and Gray, scorching seam bowling to complement the weather, kept the opening batsmen pegged back and playing and missing A. HECK. OFF. A LOT, with PCC holding them to 37 off the first ten.

Were WE holding the hot hand? Time for the first drinks break...

This visit to the hydration station seemed to have an invigorating impact on the visitors’ batsmen and, over the next ten overs, they took the score to 100-1 off 20. Game on.

A sharp catch from the skipper off Cash was not nearly enough reward for a brilliant display of spin bowling, rattling through his overs and creating plenty of half chances.

Sharp glove work from Suresh saw their other opener depart for 49, stumped off Swaby for his first Plough wicket.

However, the guests seemed to have a taste for the second course offerings after shying away from their starteds and PCC’s change bowlers, great effort charging up the hill from Jimmy Anderson [not that one] and tempting flight and guile from Yates - who had both already put in fantastic shifts in the field - advantage now sat with the visitors.

By now, the late-arriving JBIXI player was batting and, to add insult to injury, he was left-handed and rather good. Almost snared early by Swaby, he then took to his batting with gusto.

The return of Gray and Ryder brought a couple of quick wickets - and reward for their brilliant early efforts but JBIXI made it home four down with six overs to go.

A brilliant effort from all 21 players [who arrived on time] on a scorcher of a day. There was top-class batting, bowling and fielding on show from both sides and the DSG looked glorious and, of course, there was fantastic esprit de corps on the terrace post-match.

***

Plough On ??

Match report from Greg Swaby