Like a dog locked up in a cage on a hot sunny day, King’s Road raced out of the traps and tore into the Battersea Badgers in the first match of this year’s South London Ashes.

And, as Martin Cloke’s stunning sheepdog Nelly looked on, it got ruff on the field of play.

The match was stopped briefly when a pitch invasion by a hairy, sweary nutter threatened to kick off.

The man, who looked a lot like telly’s James May, refused to move and squared up to several King’s Road fielders towards the end of the match.

But even that couldn’t shift The Road out of Top Gear.

Of course, the day started at Dundonald Rec in Wimbledon with captain Mark Isham losing the toss. He’s now lost six in a row this season.

And, after a morning of torrential rain, the Badgers were only going to do one thing: put their opponents in to bat.

But as the sun came out and started to dry out the pitch, The Road’s fortunes just got brighter and brighter.

After the loss of Dan Sherman, that was.

Having shown fine form with the bat so far this season, he recorded his third duck in four innings going in first on a sticky wicket against the Badgers.

The other knock was a Super Test-saving 87, so he hasn’t done all that bad against them. But this time he was caught sixth ball by Jinks off Allan Blake.

Joining Mark in the middle was Leon Watson, who in contrast has had a rotten time in 2014 so far.

His job, with Mark, was to see off the openers – which the pair did, putting on 31.

And when Mark went for 22 The Road were going along slowly in the 12th over, but still with plenty of wickets in hand.

In came The Road’s big hope Lomas Persad, who hit 119 in the Super Test last year.

Scoring much faster than Leon, he raced to 16 before being bowled by a loopy one from the spinner Cade, or ‘Cadey’ as the Badgers called him.

With the score on 59 and on improving pitch, there was no reason to panic. The Road were still confident of posting a score.

And they were right, following on from the last August’s Super Test King’s Road weren’t going to give their wickets away.

After Lomas it was time for the return of the C-Mac as Chris MacNicol made his first appearance of the season after returning from Singapore where he spent the winter.

[pullquote]The Warman man only came in peace, hitting 5 off 28 balls before he was caught[/pullquote]

Soon after, having stuck around for 54 balls, Leon was caught going for a cut in the gully by Shone for 13.

Meanwhile, looking filled with renewed vigour, C-Mac hit a confident 9 before being bowled by Jinks.

With The Road now assured of at least something to bowl at, it was time to open up.

The Matts Glover and Cocken set about the task straight away. Glove hit a four – one of the few that made it on a slow outfield – second ball and Cocken raced to 13.

When Cocken departed, becoming the firey Jinks’s third victim, for 13, the total had reached 125.

Jamie Keating, batting at eight, entered the fray to hit 17 to boost the total even further as The Road got to 148.

Then 10 were taken from the final over, with Kevin Pittaway running 2 on the final ball, as The Road set their rivals 159 to win.

Glover finished having hit the best score of the innings with a vital 39 not out.

The Badgers reply started with a bang as Adam Rushworth and Cloke got stuck in to Glover and Kev.

Five off the first, 10 off the second and 29 before the first wicket fell in the 6th over.

Glover crashed the ball into Cloke’s stumps to dismiss the dog owner for 14.

Next in was wicket-keeper and Badger stalwart Pete Warman.

But the Warman man only came in peace, hitting 5 off 28 balls before he was caught by Sherm off Michael Rossi, bowling first change.

Chris Shone arrived, and was almost immediately shown the way back to the pavilion. He lasted two balls before becoming Rossi’s next victim, caught by Sherm.

The Road’s former sponsor, It’s Just Cricket founder Paul Cole was next in. He too was quickly Shone up, being trapped lbw by Matt Cocken.

And then, with the score on 64, both Pete Jinks and Rushworth fell.

The badger's score at drinks pic.twitter.com/bRkoDLxfdo

— King's Road Cricket & Social Club (@KRCSC) June 7, 2014

Keats got in on the action, trapping Jinks lbw, and Rossi showed Rushworth who was the granddaddy with Keats taking the chance.

Rushworth, playing in his first match against The Road, had hit 33 and been the backbone of his side.

Having looked good in the opening overs, the Badgers were 64 for 6 having lost their last 5 wickets for 21 runs.

They looked anything but solid. And, as The Road started to cut down the runs, pressure began to tell.

Wish we could go back to it being boring. Wickets have fallen. Warman, Shone and Cole all falling cheaply. Boo.

— Battersea Badgers (@BadgersCricket) June 7, 2014

Boring boring boring. 12 off the last 8 overs.

— Battersea Badgers (@BadgersCricket) June 7, 2014

And so it did with the spectators as it was around this time the sweary man sauntered across the pitch and brought the game to a temporary halt.

Richard Dollimore and Peter Cade managed to put on a much-needed 38 as Badgers slowed.

Then, having dropped an easy one off Cloke earlier, Leon took a blinder at point to dismiss Dolly off Cocken.

‘That was no Dolly,’ he remarked.

get off the pitch! @KRCSC http://t.co/L941vKHCrv

— Rossi (@RealRossi) June 8, 2014

It had been looking like the match would shape up for a tight finish with the Badgers needing 42 off last 36 balls.

But with just two wickets left the pressure finally told.

On 119 Cade was stumped by Sherm off Lomas, and then one run later the match came to a close with the wicket of Blake bowled by Glover.

It was a comprehensive delivery and a comprehensive win as King’s Road claimed victory by a healthy 38 runs in the 35th over.

Glover finished the match having top scored with the bat and got 2 for 17 with the ball.

Rossi bagged 3 for 23 off 7 and Matt C got 2 for 5 off 5.

Next time we play them in a Twenty20 on July 3. Win that and we’ve won the South London Ashes.

Man of the match – Matt Glover, for his splendid all-round cricket

Champagne moment – Leon Watson for his catch to dismiss Jinks

Embarrassing moment – Jamie Keating

Teasmaker of the match – Matt Cocken, for his meaty sausage

I properly frickin love you @KRCSC. Even you gloverman (@sincere_d). Come on The Road! #COTR

— Matthew Cocken (@CockenHead) June 7, 2014

Allez The Road RT:"@BadgersCricket: Blake bowled! No nail biter today. @KRCSC win by 40 or so runs. Well played."

— Smally (@Matt_Smally) June 7, 2014

A @KRCSC – @BadgersCricket clash is missing something when @RobinMackrell and I aren't around. A large chunk of its tea guzzling capacity.

— Raju Mazumder (@rajumazumder) June 7, 2014

@MIsham1985 handy tip in winning the toss for @KRCSC. As you've not won 1 so far if you're thinking heads go tails and vice versa.

— Raju Mazumder (@rajumazumder) June 7, 2014

https://twitter.com/Kevinpittaway/status/475208620653965312