Ploughmans – Won by 3 wickets

Season ends on a high

Ploughmans 161 for 9 in 35 overs; Grace’s 165 for 7 in 34.2 overs.

Congrats to Nick for passing 2,000 runs for the club and Noddy for getting 300 wickets! – Pat kindly wrote the report:

On a rather autumnal afternoon Graces travelled to Gunnersbury Park in west London to renew their acquaintance with old adversary Ploughmans CC for the last game of the season. After rain the previous day, a heavy shower delayed the start and it was agreed by stand in skipper Nadeem to limit the game to a 35 over match. Having won the toss and elected to field Graces opening attack of Richard and Newton were steady on a slow pitch with some alarming variation in bounce. With the score on 27 Newton achieved the breakthrough having Britto caught behind by Jonathan. There followed a stand of 104 between Parks and Hamer despite the efforts of five bowlers until Manish tempted Hamer into a drive that produced a good catch by Richard at deep mid-off. Hamer having made 58. Skipper Nadeem then brought himself on, albeit a little belatedly and the game changed dramatically. In his first over he had new batsman Ashijm well caught by Newton for a duck and next ball bowled Bell for a similar amount. In his next over he had Parks well caught by Kalyan for a well played 58 and in the next over again had two wickets in two balls both clean bowled. In all he had figures of 5 wickets for 4 runs with 2 maidens. It was left for the returning Nick Swinburne to bowl the final over taking one wicket and Ploughmans to finish on 161 for 9. In taking his five wicket haul, Nadeem passed 300 wickets for Graces having earlier in the season passed 5,000 runs for the club since its first game in 1996

 During the tea interval a further heavy shower caused more delay but at the restart Graces welcomed back Nick Swinburne to form a new opening partnership with Simon Meadocroft. Unfortunately their radar appeared to be on different wavelengths only for Simon to be run out without facing a ball. Joined by Abhi, showing his usual aggression the score moved along at about 5 an over and with Nick’s 4th run he passed 2000 runs for the club. With the score on 41 however Nick was bowled for 11 and in the next over Abhi was adjudged lbw for 26. Newton batting at number four started cautiously but Niroshan was bowled for 3 with the score on 46. A stand of 75 in just over 15 overs between Newton and Jonathan kept Graces up with the required scoring rate before the latter was bowled for 16. Newton and Nadeem took the score to 140 when a further mix up saw the skipper run out for 11 (Noddy had a strop!) Manish was bowled for three with 10 runs still required but any nerves were quieted as Newton and Richard calmly passed  Ploughmans total Newton finshing the game with his 9th four to add to his one 6 and his highest score for Graces of 71 not out.
As the team celebrated in the bar after the game, all agreed it had been a good season and looked forward to the end of season dinner, to nets at Lords a further tour and most of all to next season.