“Daddy, you mustn’t swear”

24th April 2010 at Ebernoe

Ebernoe CC 152 all out in 39.4 overs (C Hawkes 52, D Whittington 32, M West 20; Alfie Bunker 3 overs 3 wickets for 9 runs, Dave Clark 8 overs 2 for 26, Paul Phillips 10 overs 2 for 43).

Lodsworth CC 154 for 6 in 36.1 overs (Matt Hall 68, Richard Gough 26, James Hickey 14 not out, Harry Dimond 13; M West 4 overs 2 for 19, D Turner 11 overs 2 for 43)

Lodsworth CC won by 4 wickets.

Glorious sunshine and the first signs of spring heralded the start of the 2010 season and a strong Lodsworth team rose to the occasion with a resounding victory over near neighbours Ebernoe.

Skipper Andy Long opted to field and with eight bowlers in the team chose to open with Dave Clarke (2 for 26) and himself (1 for16) followed by Paul Phillips (2 for 43), Matt Hall (1 for 15) and Martin Howard (1 for 7) with Alfie Bunker cleaning up the remainder with a devastating spell of 3 overs 3 for 9. In truth Lodsworth could have finished off the opposition much more quickly but for some slack fielding which saw five catches put down and allowed Ebernoe to accrue 152 runs with major contributions from C Hawkes (52) and M West (20).

After tea, Ebernoe had an early strike, capturing the wicket of Alfie Bunker in the opening over, but Matt Hall (68) and Richard Gough (26) put Lodsworth into a strong position and contributions from Harry Dimond (13), James Hickey (14 not out), Paul Phillips (11) and (Dave Clark (8 not out) carried the village team to victory with 154 for the loss of six wickets. The score could have been achieved sooner but for the introduction of ‘a local rule’ that sixes ‘have to clear the five bar gate’.

Paul Phillip’s dismissal with a LBW decision threatened to result in an explosive outburst but it was quickly quelled by Councillor Phillip’s young son Joel who reminded his father, “Daddy you mustn’t swear”.

Ebernoe lay on a magnificent tea and spirits were high in the bar of the Stag at Balls Cross in the aftermath, but Lodsworth’s fielding will have to tighten up when we meet stronger opposition.

Man of the Match – Matt Hall

Bob Powell

Scribe