Dimonds Sparkle

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
LURGASHALL CC V LODSWORTH CC at Lurgashall 24th May 2009

Lodsworth CC 212 for 7 (Harry Dimond 71, Christian Budd 26, Jack Dimond 25, Matt Hall 20, Oliver King 20; D Thisleton 19 overs 4 wickets for 110)

Lurgashall 76 all out ( M Thisleton 18, A Evans 18; Paul Phillips 11 overs 4 wickets for 11, Andy Long 10 overs 4 for 18).

Lodsworth won

This was cricket at its best in the neighbouring, wine growing, village of Lurgashall. The setting is sublime, a pub on the boundary, dozens of bank-holiday spectators, the village shop doing a roaring trade in ice creams, brilliant sunshine, hot-air balloons soaring overhead … and an amiable opposition intent on enjoying the day.

Lodsworth started well with an opening partnership between Rob Hall, taking time off from flying 767’s out of Heathrow and Jack Dimond, taking time off from A Level revision. Jack powered a number of perfectly timed hits over the square leg boundary before falling to a sharp stumping on 25. James Hickey (16) and Oliver King (20) kept the scoreboard ticking until Harry Dimond grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and hit a chanceless and entertaining 71. At the other end Christian Budd (26) put spectators in danger as he lifted consecutive straight drives into the pub garden (prompting a sharp warning from his wife who was in the line of fire) and Andy Long dashed in for 14 not out off the last two overs before tea. And this was against some excellent spin bowling from D Thisleton who took 4 for 110 off 19 overs. Young Will Hall (Rob’s son), playing for the opposition was prominent in the field.

The Lodsworth total of 212 for 7 was always going to be difficult for Lurgashall to better and the swift capitulation of their two openers did not help matters. In fact it looked as if the home team were to be routed as they slipped to 27 for seven. Andy Long was the principle source of the early destruction with four wickets for 18 runs off 10 overs, with Paul Phillips bettering these figures with a fiery second spell leaving him with four wickets for 11 runs off 11 overs.

Lurgashall fought a determined rear guard action with M Thisleton (18) and A Evans (18) holding out for 20 overs. Indeed there were only nine balls remaining and some desperation crept into the Lodsworth team, when Paul Phillips triumphantly caught and bowled the final batsman.

To celebrate his first win as skipper Andy Long bought a round of drinks. A truly amazing event!

Man of the match Harry Dimond

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