Saturday 25th April at Ebernoe
Ebernoe won
Ebernoe CC 134 for 6 off 39 overs (D Turner 29: Matt Hall 9 overs 2 wickets for 39 runs, Graham Braithwaite 5 overs 2 for 17, Martin Howard 9 overs 1 for 30)
Lodsworth CC 69 all out off 28 overs ( D Whittington 22, M Howard 10: C Hawks 6 overs 3 for 21, D Turner 5 overs 3 for 1, M Gibbs 3 overs 3 for 22)
At full strength 134 would not be a target beyond the Lodsworth batsmen, but shorn of three of its top scorers of recent years the village team struggled from the outset. Matt Hall, Paul Phillips, Ollie King and Graham Braithwaite were quickly dispatched to be followed by James Hickey and Ryan Carney. Martin Howard and D Whittington briefly shored up the innings but not for long and soon after the skipper was dismissed, to be followed by Peter Monk and Bob Powell as the team staggered to 69 all out in 28 overs. Far from the worst performance of recent years it was nevertheless not a result to be too excited about.
There were some positives to take from the game in the form of the enthusiastic and sustained bowling and some good chasing in the outfield, particularly by Ryan Carney and Ollie King, but if Andy Long was under any illusions about the task he faces in the 2009 season of compiling a large score, the first game of the season quickly gave a realistic picture. As a batting side Lodsworth lacked patience and net practice.
The team need a couple of batsman to inject some steel into the middle order or it will be a decidedly tough summer ahead.
Man of the match: Martin Howard
