One to Forget

In 2010, Lodsworth, with a batting lineup that included Graham Braithwaite, Harry Dimond and Alfie Bunker inflicted a resounding defeat upon Fittleworth. It was a foregone conclusion that the opposition would be seeking revenge this season and so it proved for they arrived with a team heavily reinforced with Pullborough CC players. Lodsworth, as fate decreed, went into the game with six batsmen unavailable – either on vacation or injured.

Their replacements battled manfully but wickets fell steadily as the scoreboard ticked along slowly. Charlie Dimond and Finn Campbell looked unassailable with fine batting techniques but both fell to well taken catches while experienced campaigners such as Matt Hall (17) Andy Long (17) and Lee Ayres (17) struggled to assert themselves. Eventually only Pete ‘Stonewall’ Long survived as the village team went in to tea on 119 all out.

As the sun sank below the bowlers arm Fittleworth CC took advantage of some short-of-a-length deliveries to knock off 120 runs for the loss of just two wickets. The result was a resounding win for Fittleworth and one Lodsworth will want to quickly forget apart from the tea, which was, to use a Michael Winner expression, ‘historic’.

Man of the Match Pete ‘Stonewall’ Long

The statistics now read Played 13   – Won 8, Drawn 2, Lost 2, with one abandoned due to heavy rain.