Author: Al Rix

Braithwaite Blossoms

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports

Loxwood CC v Lodsworth CC at Loxwood 7th June 2009

Loxwood CC 205 for 8 (Matt Hall 7 overs 3 for 35, Graham Braithwaite 7 overs 2 for 44)

Lodsworth 181 for 5 (Graham Braithwaite 80, James Hickey 24 not out, Matt Hall 22)

Match Drawn

Another game against strong opposition brought out the fighting spirit in the Lodsworth team. Put in to bat by Andy Long (eliciting groans and cat calls from his own players) Loxwood, who probably have the strongest batting line up we face all season, set a formidable target of 205.

Captain Long staked all on the strong Lodsworth bowling line up but after one hour it seemed he had made a mistake. With Paul Phillips and Dave Clark bowling a little too short the home team piled on the runs. Some sloppy fielding led to Loxwood being 92 for 1 with Lodsworth down to 10 men as Christian Budd left the field with Achilles tendon problems. The introduction of Matt Hall and Graham Braithwaite brought about a swift change of fortunes as the home team slumped to 105 for 5, but they showed strength in depth and recovered to post 205 for 8 by teatime. Braithwaite took two catches and Long and Ryan Carney grabbed one each.

Lodsworth were not overawed by the target and throwing aside caution made a decent chase of the runs only to run out of time. In the spring sunlight Graham Braithwaite eventually made the sort of impact he has been threatening for the last three seasons and clouted 80 runs with straight drives, deft glances and a number of monumental sixes. He was ably supported by James Hickey with 24 not out and Matt Hall (22).

The game could have gone either way with 50 needed from the last five overs but Lodsworth eventually finished on 181 for 5, just 25 runs short. A draw verses Loxwood was, in retrospect, not a bad result.

Man of the match Graham Braithwaite with 80 runs 2 catches and 2 wickets.

A win at Westbourne

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
WESTBOURNE CC V LODSWORTH CC at Westbourne 31st May 2009

Westbourne CC 117 all out (Paul Phillips 12 overs 3 wickets for 39 runs, Dave Clarke 13 overs 3 for 21, Andy Long 6 overs 2 for 4)

Lodsworth CC 119 for 3 (Christian Budd 51 not out, Paul Phillips 31. Andrew Wilson-Smith 10, James Hickey 8 not out)).

Lodsworth won

The lovely village of Westbourne in Hampshire is home to one of the strongest teams that Lodsworth play. For the past three seasons they have trounced us, always batting first and scoring over 200 runs on each occasion. Their No.3 batsman has been a particular ‘thorn in our side’.

The Lodsworth team had a youthful look about it with both Ed Bristow and Jonno Thompson turning out for their first game of the season. On a beautiful day Lodsworth were keen to bowl first. Paul Phillips had rushed back from his holiday in Cornwall (plenty of pasties and ale) and opened the bowling with new player Dave Clarke. Paul started well with swing and seam and made the breakthrough with a lovely ball that cut back to uproot the opener’s off stump.

In came the Westbourne No.3 and his intentions were clear as he clipped the second delivery, elegantly off his pads for 4. Two overs later there was a classic 4 and a huge 6 and Lodsworth were thinking, “here we go again”, but with the very next ball Paul got his man with a nick to the keeper, James Hickey. That was the man we wanted. Lodsworth continued to bowl in the right areas and aided by some good fielding and catches restricted the home team to 117 all out – but then Lodsworth had still to bat on the lively wicket. Paul Phillips finished with 12 overs 3 wickets for 39 runs, Dave Clarke with 13 overs 3 for 21 and Andy Long 6 overs 2 for 4. Worthy of note was James Hickey’s four catches behind the stumps, two of which were, to quote the skipper, ‘absolute blinders’!

After tea Andrew Wilson-Smith was sent in with Paul Phillips to open for Lodsworth. Andrew did his usual rapid fire 10 off six balls but it was Paul Phillips who showed a greater array of shots with 4’s flying everywhere. Matt Hall at number three made 4 before he was caught out at mid-wicket and then Phillips got carried away and ran himself out for a bright and breezy 31. At 53 for 3 Lodsworth could have collapsed but then came the fireworks. James Hickey ably supported while Christian Budd tore into the spinners. Fours and sixes were coming rapidly and not many singles until with score on 113 and Budd on 48 he hit a mighty six over the ropes for his own 50 and a win for Lodsworth, A truly great win and a superb team performance. Special thanks to Ed and Jonno who played well in the field and to Martin Howard who journeyed down from Manchester to play.

Men of the Match Paul Phillips and Christian Budd

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

Match Report – Kirdford CC

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
Lodsworth CC v Kirdford CC at Lodsworth Sunday 10th May

Lodsworth CC 177 for 5 (J Hickey 53, A Rix 53, H Dimond 32; Pett 12 overs 2 for 53)

Kirdford CC 125 for 4 (Ravenstore 69 not out, Jeffery 30; A Long 12 overs 3 for 21)

Match Drawn

Put in to bat on a hard wicket with a fast outfield the performance of the Lodsworth team was unrecognisable from the timid batting display on the first day of the season at Ebernoe.

Against an accurate Kirdford attack James Hickey and Alistair Rix showed determination and flair as they built a solid opening partnership of 87. James found the form that deserted him last year with a solid 53 including seven 4’s and two 6’s and Al hit his maiden half century for the club including eight 4’s But more was to come – Harry Dimond, taking an afternoon off from his AS Level revision, conjured an immaculate 32 including five 4’s and a towering 6 over square leg. Harry’s batting has real grace and power and he is developing into an elegant player.

Lodsworth amassed 177 runs for 5 wickets off 42 overs and went in to tea with the visitors facing an uphill battle.

The game looked to be heading for an early ending when, in the second over after tea, Andy Long had Kirdford’s opening batsman Sheppard LBW for a duck – and then the visitors third batsman Short was caught in the slips by Hickey, also for a duck, off Long. But the teams elation was short lived for although Bryder, the number four was also sent back for 2, caught Long bowled Paul Phillips, the remaining batsman decided to dig in.

And so it was that after 36 overs Jefferey (30) and Ravenstore (69 not out) defied the best that Lodsworth could throw at them to force a draw. Kirdford ended on 125 for 4 and honours were evenly divided. Yet Lodsworth can look on the result with some satisfaction for there was much more commitment and hard graft from the batsmen which if it can be repeated augurs well for the coming months.

The man of the match: Awarded jointly to Hickey and Rix.

Match Report – Ebernoe CC

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
Ebernoe CC v Lodsworth CC

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)

Fielding a weakened team after two Saturday morning cry-offs Andy Long, the new skipper elected to bowl against our old adversaries at Ebernoe. Aided by a slow wicket and an even slower outfield Lodsworth restricted the home team to 134 for 7 in 39 overs. Matt Hall, Graham Braithwaite and Martin Howard bowled accurately as testified by the fact there was only one wide.

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

LIKE A CLOSE SHAVE BUT NOT THAT CLOSE!!!!!

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
LODSWORTH LAST SUNDA PLAYED AGAINST A VILLAGE LEAGUE SIDE IN WEST CHILTINGTON AND KNEW THAT THEY WERE IN FOR A STERN TEST. HOWEVER WITH THE SIDE BEING ONLY BEATEN ONCE ALL SEASON THEY WERE BRIMIN WITH CONFIDENCE AND KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE A CLOSE AFFAIR.

CAPT HALL AS EVER WON THE TOSS AND AS EVER ELECTED TO BOWL FIRST ON WOT LOOKED A GD PITCH TO BAT ON AND FAST OUTFIELD. AS PER USUAL LONG OPENED UP WITH THE NEW BALL WITH NEWBY MATT AND AS PER USUAL( LIKE OLLY BEIN LATE) MADE IN ROADS INTO THE TOP ORDER.

WITH GD FIELDIN AND TIGHT BOWLING RESTRICTED WEST CHILT TO 35-3. ON CAME HALL GB AND JH WITH THE BALL TO DEMOLISH THE MIDDLE ORDER. BUT A FIGHT BACK FROM THE RABBITS AT 9 10 AND 11 AND SOME SLOPPY OVERTHROWS (HALL THATS U M8!!!) GOT THE VISITORS UP TO 141 ALL OUT.

LODDY BOWLED THE MOST THEY HAVE ALL SEASON IN 42 OVERS HENCE PARTLY TO PP 65 YARD RUN UP DOWN HILL DOWN WIND!!! LOL….

LONG 12 -5 25-2 MATT 6-1-24-0 GB 7-3-13-3 HALL 9-2-27-4 JH 8-2-20-0

CATCHES FROM YOUNG SAM, LONG, GB2, JH PUT A SUPERB RUN OUT FROM GB IN THE COVERS…

WITH A LOVELY TEA AS EVER MADE FROM THE GIRLS SHEILA JILL MARIA AND CO… LODDY THEN WENT OUT TO CHASE THE TARGET DOWN. HALL THOU SPRUNG A BIT OF A SURPRISE TO MOST AND REARRANGED THE BATTING ORDER A BIT TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE.

HOMER SIMPSOM ONCE SAID ‘DOH!!!!’ AND THIS WAS THE CASE AS HALL LOOKED LIKE MAKIN A RARE TACTICAL MISTAKE AS LODDY LOST WICKETS QUICKLY. CARNEY WAS OUT SLASHING TO POINT, JC MISSED A STRAIGHT 1, HICKEY JUST LIKE BOB NUDD HUNG OUT A ROD AND KNICKED 1 TO THE KEEPER.

LODDY IN TRUBLE AT 30-3. LONG THEN HIT A CAMEO QUIK FIRE 18 IN 9 BALLS B4 GOIN TO A CATCH AT COVER AND GB PUT 1 DOWN GULLYS THROAT. NOW IT WAS 45-5 AND LODDY LOOKING AT THEIR 2ND LOSS OF THE SEASON…… HOWEVER A TWIST IN THE TALE WAS TO HAPPEN TO SAVE HALLS BACON.

YOUNG SAM HUNG AROUND FOR A WHILE WITH THE DEPENDABLE JH UNTIL BEING BOWLED, HUNTERS M8 WENT WITHOUT TRUBLING THE SCORERS FOR 0. 58-7. COMETH THE HOUR COMETH THE 2 OLD BOYS WHO HAVE MADE 100 PARTNERSHIPS B4 HAND BUT WHEN IT MATTERED MOST CUD THEY DO IT NOW.

HOUGHTON AND KING TURNED THE GAME AROUND WITH FANCI FOOTWORK, DEFT TOUCHES AND DAMN RIGHT SLOGGING TO BE UNTRUBLED AND SEE THE BOYS HOME. WITH 7 OVERS TO SPARE AND SPARE CAPT HALLS BLUSHES. A GREAT EFFORT FROM THE GRUESOME 2SOME!! WELL DONE LADS.

CARNEY 1 CLIFFORD 1 LONG 18 HICKEY 1 GB 18 SAM 7 HUNTERS M8 0 KING 27NO HOUGHTON 59NO.

WITH ANOTHER WIN UNDER OUR BELTS THATS 9 NOW…. SURLEY WE WILL GET TO DOUBLE FIGURES BY THE END OF THE SEASON.

MEN OF THE MATCH KING AND HOUGHTON FOR A PARTNERSHIP OF 86 UNBEATEN TO WIN THE GAME .

LONGY………….

A Fitting Finale

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports

WITH LODSWORTH BACK AT HOME, 1 OF OUR CORE PLAYERS IN ROD TAYLOR HAD ANNONCED IT WAS HIS FINAL APPEARENCE IN A LCC SHIRT 2DAY AS HE WAS GOING TO SPEND 3 YEARS SUNNING HIMSELF IN DUBAI. ROD HAD BEEN A LOYAL SERVANT TO THE CLUB FOR THE PAST 3-4 SEASONS SO WILL BE SORELY MISSED!!!!

ON WHAT LOOKED A DECENT TRACK AND SUPERB OUTFIELD, LODDY WERE PUT INTO BAT 1ST SO HICKEY AND GB WENT OUT TO NULLIFY THE NEW BALL. ER HOW WRONG CAN I BE AS BOTH BATSMEN PUT THE SWORD TO THE BOWLERS UNTIL HICKEY FISHED OUTSIDE OFF STUMP AND NIKED 1 TO THE KEEPER. IN CAME JH WHO PLAYED A SUPPORTIN ROLE AS GB HIT 6 AFTER 6 . AT 1 POINT GB SCORED 35 RUNS TO JH 2… JON THEN TRIED TO HIT OUT BUT WAS CAUGHT AT POINT WHILST GB MADE AN EXCELLENT KNOCK OF 75 WHICH INC.. 6 6’S….
THEN CAME THE MOMENT PEOPLE FOR MILES HAD COME TO WITNESS, TAYLORS FINAL KNOCK. COULD HE SIGN OFF IN STYLE OR WAS IT A WIMPER!!!! WELL HE DIDNT DISAPOINT AS 6 AFTER 4 AFTER 6 CAME OFF HIS BAT AT A RATE OF KNOTS….. WHEN HALL WENT FOR 1 IN CAME YOUNG JAKEY TAYLOR( RODS SON) WHOGOT A GREAT OVATION BUT SADLY GOT A BEAUTY OF A BALL AND WAS OUT FOR NOT ALOT. THIS PUT FIRE INTO TAYLOR SNRS BELLY SO WITH SUPPORT AT THE OTHER END FROM JC,PP AND JOSH WENT ON INOT THE 90’S. WITH 1 OVER TO GO ROD WAS ON 91. COULD HE GET IT…. BY ECK HE BLOODY WELL CUD. 4 0 0 2 2 AND WITH THE LAST BALL OF THE INNINGS HIT A HUGE 6 OVER THE PAVILLION TO MAKE A MARVELLOUS 105 NO… ARGUABLEY BEST KNOCK SEEN AT THE REC FOR YEARS…..
LODSWORTH TOTAL 241-8 OFF 36 OVERS….
TAYLOR 105NO GB 75 JOSH 15 JH 12 HICKEY 10 OTHERS NOT ALOT………. APPROX SCORES..

WAS THIS SCORE 2 MUCH 4 THE AWAY SIDE……..

IN 1 WORD ABSOLUTELY!!!!!

WITH LONG AND PHILLIPS IN GD FORM WITH THE BALL AGCC WERE REDUCED TO 25-5. ON THEN CAME HALL, JH AND JOSH TO WRAP UP THE INNINGS TO MAKE IT A MISS MATCH 1 SIDED AFFAIR.
LONG 5-3-6-2 PHILLIPS 7-2-10-2 HALL 6-1-11-1 JH 8-3 -13-1 GB 4-1-6-2 JOSH 2-1-0-2

CATCHES FROM JH LONG GB RODS MATE AND HALL……..

AGREAT WIN FROM THE BOYS AND THEN TO CAP A GD DAY ALL ROUND ROD CAME DOWN THE PUB 4 THE 1ST TIME EVR TO BUY A FEW ROUNDS OF BEERS AND CHIPS!!!!!!
TOP MAN , GREAT BLOKE AND WILL BE MISSED AS OUR PINCH HITTING NO 5!!!! GD LUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LONGY.

Same Old Story

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports

SAME OLD STORY

LODSWORTH THIS WEEK WERE PLAYING DOWN IN THE LOVELY VILLAGE OF TANGMERE WITH THE DOUGLAS BADER ARMS ON SHOW NR THE GROUND….? FOR ALL U RAF FANS OUT THERE, THIS GAME WAS LIKE THE NEW AIRBUS A380. GRAND, GREAT, AWESOME AND DEFINATELY 1 FOR ALL TO SEE.

WELL SOME THINGS DONT CHANGE AND MR HALL YET AGAIN LOST THE TOSS (MORE LOSSES THAN DERBY LAST YEAR) AND SO WE WERE BOWLING FIRST AGAIN.?? ON A FLAT BATTING TRACK IT WAS UP TO LONG AND PHILLIPS TO OPEN UP THE ATTACK. TANGMERES OPENERS PLAYED WELL WITH LITTLE TO WORRY THEM IN THE 1ST 10 OVERS UNTIL HALL INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND IMMEDIATELY MADE THE BREAK THRU.? HOUGHTON THEN WITH HIS MILITARY MEDUIUM TIED UP 1 END AND THE SCORIN RATE SLOWED. 15 YR OLD BROWN THEN HIT A BRISK 37 AND WITH CAMEOS FROM THE MIDDLE ORDER TANGMERE FINISHED ON 135- 5 OFF 39 OVERS…

LONG? 13-4-30-1?????? PHILLIPS? 12-1-53-1?? HALL 6-1-20-1??
HOUGHTON? 8-1-27-2???????? APPROX FIGURES…..

WITH A DODGY BACK AND A MAN IN FORM IT WAS UP TO ANDY WS AND HOUGHTON TO OPEN THE BATTING.? REMEMBER LODDY HAD 8 MEN WITH FILLINS FROM BEN, TOM AND HUNTER TO MAKE UP NUMBERS SO? SOME BATSMEN HAD TO PRODUCE AGAINST A SOLID TANGMERE QUARTET SEAM ATTACK.

AWS AND JH OPENED VERY WELL WITH AN ARRAY OF SHOTS FROM BOTH PLAYERS? AND SAW LODDY GET TO 40-0 OFF 9 OVERS UNTILL THE FAMOUS LCC COLLAPSE!!!!

AWS FELL TO A BEAUTY OF A BALL, JH LIKE ALAISTAIR COOK NICKED 1 DOWN LEG TO THE KEEPER, CLIFFORD HAD A SLOG BUT GOT BOWLED AND HICKEY FELL HITTING THE BALL FOR 6 BOWLED…. FROM 40-0 TO 55-4 LODSWORTH WERE IN TROUBLE.?? THE ENIGMAS OF KING AND LONG HAD TO THRWART THE DECLINE OF WICKETS ?OTHERWISE LODSWORTH WERE STARING AT ONLY THERE 2ND DEFEAT OF THE SEASON.

THEY PUT ON 15 OR SO UNTIL KING HOOKED A BOUNCER INTO SHORT LEGS MITTS. IN STRODE PHILLIPS, ?ALL CHAT, ?BUT COULD HE BACK THIS UP WITH RUNS…..THIS WAS THE PIVITAL POINT IN THE GAME AND THE 2 OPENIN BOWLERS DIDNT DISAPOINT.?? THEY PUT ON NEARLY 40 RUNS WITH AN ARRAY OF EDGY 4’S LEG SIDE GLANCES AND EXTRAS UNTIL LONG GOT A DUBIOUS LBW DECISION!!!???

IN CAME TOM WHO HAD NEVER PLAYED B4 TO HIT 5 AND THEN WITH ONLY 7 NEEDED HALL WITH PHILLIPS WRAPPED??UP THE GAME WITH 3 OVERS LEFT….

A SUPER?GAME THAT WENT DOWN TO THE WIRE AGAINST A TANGMERE SIDE WHO LIK OURSELVES HAD ONLY LOST ONCE.

AWS 23? JH 20?? HICKEY 19? CLIFFORD 0?? KING? 7? LONG 15? PHILLIPS 19? TOM? 5? HALL 4??????? APPROX FIGURES………

TANGMERE 135-5??? LODSWORTH?? 136-7?????????? LODSWORTH WIN BY 3 WICKETS!!!!!!!!

DONE BY REPORTER LONG????? MEN OF THE MATCH?? LONG AND PHILLIPS

Lodsworth v Bury and West Burton

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports

Sunday 13th July at Lodsworth

Match Drawn

Bury and West Burton CC 210 for 6 (M Barson 72, N Lewis 60, M Blackwood 48: Andy Long 12 overs 2 for 55)

Lodsworth CC 129 for 6 (G Braithwaite 54, J Houghton 20 not out: T Dockerill 5 overs 3 for 15, M Blackwood 5 overs 2 for 19)


A splendid buffet lunch with wine was perhaps not the best of preparation for a game against one of the strongest opponents on the Lodsworth CC fixture list. And so it proved to be – Lodsworth took to the field in high spirits but were quickly brought down to earth as the first two overs were thrashed for 20 runs. But it got better and the flow of runs was gradually brought under control.

Bury and West Burton went on to score 210 for 6 with some extraordinarily good batting from Sussex Academy player M Barson (72). The Lodsworth bowlers toiled but the pickings were lean. Skipper Matt Hall tried every combination and Andy Long picked up two wickets for 55 while other wickets were spread thinly between Paul Phillips, Matt Hall and John Houghton.

Faced with a huge total to chase after tea Lodsworth went off at a smart pace. Graham Braithwaite hit a superb 54 and for a time the home team matched the visitors run rate but it soon became evident that the best recourse was to play for a draw. Jon Houghton stuck around to end on 20 not out and with Rod Taylor still at the crease Lodsworth ended on 129 for 6. It was not a vintage performance from the village team but a nonetheless it was determined defensive effort to record a well earned draw.

Lodsworth Crash to first defeat of the season

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports

Lodsworth CC v Loxwood CC

Lodsworth
Sunday 8th June 2008

Loxwood CC: 184 for 6 (A Jefferies 71 not out, T Holmes 45, A Dudman 23; Matt Hall 8 overs 3 for 41, Andy Long 8 overs 2 for 24)
Lodsworth CC: 172 all out (Jon Houghton 61 not out, Richard Gough 45; A Dudman 10 overs 4 for 52, A Jefferies 10 overs 2 for 29)
Loxwood won

Lodsworth were by no means disgraced as they fell just short of the visitors total in a close fought encounter at the recreation ground. In fact although played under Sussex rules the game resembled a 20/20 match as both teams teams fought hard for a victory.

Loxwood batted first and although kept on a tight rein in the early overs they eventually cut loose and finished on 184 for 6 with their top scoring batsman A Jefferies carrying his bat with 71 not out. Andy Long worked hard bowling up the hill to take 2 for 24 off 8 overs and Matt Hall garnered 3 for 41. Lodsworth’s fielding was not at its best.

Three or four years ago a score of 184 at tea would have demoralized Lodsworth but no longer. From the outset they chased the runs. Richard Gough imparted a touch of class into the batting and he was rarely troubled as he advanced to 45 before being caught at third man. Jon Houghton eventually found his form and confidently smote the ball around the ground to record 61 not out. There were valuable contributions by Rod Taylor, Andy Long and Matt Hall but unfortunately Jon ran out of partners. In his eagerness to get to the batting end he ran out Bob Powell with just three balls to go – just 12 runs short of the Loxwood total.

Upon reflection we could probably have shut up shop in the last over and achieved a draw – but what the heck- this was fighting stuff from Lodsworth and it was much more exhilarating. The victories will come if we play cricket to win.

Man of the match Jon Houghton