Lodsworth CC v Parham Park CC
Sunday 1st September at Lodsworth
35-overs
Lodsworth CC 209 for 6 off 35 overs (Matt Hall 87, Paul Phillips 35. Christian Budd 31; P Frazer 7 overs 2 for 33)
Parham Park CC 210 for 4 off 34.2 overs (A Vander 106, S Huffer 48; Paul Phillips 5.2 overs 2 for 38)
Lodsworth lost
Games against Parham Park are always ‘a close run thing’ and invariably go down to the last over. And so it was on this occasion when Parham passed a substantial Lodsworth total with just four balls remaining.
Lodsworth were reasonably pleased with their score of 209 for 6. Matt Hall contributed his best batting performance of the season with 87 runs, Paul Phillips gave a gritty display for 35 and Christian Budd in a flowing cameo perfomance scored 31, with 22 of his runs coming off one over. Fergus Cruikshank also had a sparkling innings of 21. The best of the visiting bowlers was P Frazer with 2 for 33 off 7 overs.
Another prodigious tea was served with mouth-watering cakes before Parham embarked on the run chase. It was evident they were not cowed by the total as opener A Vander quickly smote two mighty sixes. The fast outfield and hard batting track gave as much assistance to Parham as it had to the home team and Vander hit 3 sixes and 16 fours in his total of 106. S Huffer weighed in with 48 as the visitors edged past Lodsworth’s total with just four balls to spare. Paul Phillips bowled 5.2 overs and took 2 wickets for 38 runs and Rob Collins took one very difficult catch. A good game of cricket, generally enjoyed by all with only a few muttered oaths.
Man of the match Matt Hall
Scribe Bob Powell
Author: Al Rix
Cricket Teas soar to New Heights
Lodsworth CC v Lavant CC
Sunday 25th August 2014 at Lodsworth
35-overs
Lavant CC 81 all out (C Sands 30, M Stevans 22: Harry Dimond 7 overs 3 for 8 runs, Paul Phillips 5 overs 3 for 27, Andy Long 2 overs 2 for 9 Rob Collins 2 balls 1wicket for no runs)
Lodsworth CC 86 for 4 (Paul Phillips 19 not out, Dave Clarke 17 not out, Al Rix 18, Matt Hall 17: P Walmsley 7 overs 3 for 33)
Lodsworth won
Lavant CC was expected to be a very strong opponent but on the day Lodsworth proved superior. Skipper Paul Phillips started with a sustained barrage of very fast bowling from Finn Campbell and not-so-fast from Dave Clark. Neither claimed a wicket but they restricted Lavant to just 20 runs from the first 10 overs. Harry Dimond enjoyed more success and took 3 wickets for just 8 runs from 7 overs. Paul Phillips accounted for another three batsmen for 27 runs off 5 overs and Andy Long, bowling in the unaccustomed slot of fifth bowler, weighed in with 2 wickets for 9 runs off 2 overs.
A swift run out by Alistair Rix, fresh from his South American odyssey, a stumping by Bob Powell and smart catches by Harry Dimond, Finn Campbell, Paul Phillips and Dave Clark completed the rout of the visitors who went in for tea with just 81 runs on the board. C Sands (30) was the best of the visiting batsmen.
Councillor Phillips shuffled the batting order sending in Al Rix with Matt Hall to open while holding the ‘big guns’ – Graham Braithwaite, Harry Dimond and Finn Campbell in reserve. The opening pair acquitted themselves well with scores of Hall (17) and Rix (18) before Paul Phillips (19 not out) and Dave Clarke (17 not out) finished the job. Paul hit one huge six over the pavilion roof. Andy Long moved up the batting order but achieved the dubious distinction of six ‘ducks’ in a season – possibly a record for any Lodsworth player. That said, Andy is worth his weight in gold, as a bowler.
The standard of Lodsworth cricket teas continues to excel – the prawn sandwiches and carrot cake reaching new heights. And the après-match roast pommes de terre and entertainment by the pianist at the Hollist Arms was a splendid Bank Holiday treat. Merci beaucoup Serge.
Man of the match Paul Phillips
Scribe Bob Powell
Lodsworth Fall Short
West Chiltington CC v Lodsworth CC
Sunday 18th August at West Chiltington
35-overs
West Chiltington 257 for 6 (T Chambers 103 rtd, J Elliott 59, B Hasler 37; Matt Hall 7 overs 2 for 48, Finn Campbell 7 overs 1 for 39)
Lodsworth CC 224 for 6 (T Munday 56, James Hickey 51, Joe Waller 36, Paul Phillips 17 not out: G Beeves 3 overs 2 for 9, C Davies 7 overs 2 for 25)
Lodsworth lost
A Lodsworth team denuded by last-minute withdrawals turned up at West Chiltington with just 9 men. A tough team to beat with a full compliment it was a huge task to plug all the gaps in the field as the home batsmen bludgeoned their way to a total of 257 for 6 off 35 overs. T Chambers celebrated his A-Level results that earned him a place at UCL to read Medicine, with a commanding 103 runs before retiring. The Lodsworth fast bowlers Joe Waller and Finn Campbell tried their utmost but it was Matt Hall who took 2 wickets for 48 and also steered a return ball onto the wicket for a clever run out of a non-striker. Lodsworth were sportingly loaned a player – the veteran T Munday towards the end of the innings while Rob Collins made some remarkable stops in the field.
After yet another historic tea Lodsworth CC set off at a gallop with 16 scored off the first over. Indeed, until the 20th over Lodsworth were ahead of the strike rate but at a heavy attritional cost for Joe Waller was back in the pavilion with 36 runs while Finn Campbell and Ed Marland were sent back cheaply. It fell to James Hickey (51- his sixth half-century of the season) and T Munday (56) to raise hopes of an unlikely victory but with their departure the run rate slowed. The innings drifted to a conclusion with Lodsworth on a credible 224 for 6, but rueing the lack of two key bowlers at the outset.
Man of the Match Rob Collins
Scribe Bob Powell
Finn’s First Century
Fernhurst CC v Lodsworth CC
Sunday 11th August at Fernhurst
35-overs
Lodsworth CC 222 for 5 (Finn Campbell 100 rtd, Lydon Gibbons 71rtd, Dave Clarke 18 not out: Melrose 7 overs 3 for 36)
Fernhurst CC 121 for 8 (Bristow 37, Vass 22, Tyler 17: Andy Long 7 overs 3 for 35, Matt Hall 5 overs 2 for 17, Dave Clark 7 overs 2 for 30)
Lodsworth won
Fernhurst CC have made remarkable improvements to their ground since I last visited with a much enhanced football field and a fully enclosed cricket net with a bowling machine. Winning the toss, the skipper decided Lodsworth should bat first.
With Graham Braithwaite now playing most of his cricket with Kew CC in the Thames Valley League and both Tom Atkins and Harry Dimond displaying their skills with Midhurst CC in the Hampshire League, Lodworth CC have been fortunate to find a richly talented successor in Finn Campbell who notched scored his maiden century.
The Marlborough College schoolboy hit a chanceless 100 before retiring. Lodworth’s batting lineup was also bolstered by Paul Phillip’s cousin, Lydon Gibbons, who was visiting from Queensland, Australia, and was keen to have a run out with the village team. He too hit a lusty 71 before retiring and although loosing the wickets of Hickey, Hall, Long, Phillips and Marland, Lodsworth went in for tea with a comfortable 222 for 5
Another magnificent spread ensued, with the third day of the 4th England v Australia test on the TV, before Fernhurst set off in pursuit of the runs. A spirited opening by Bristow (37) was nipped in the bud by Andy Long (7 overs 3 for 35), Dave Clarke (7 overs 2 for 30) and Matt Hall (5 overs 2 for 17). Andy Long made one brilliant run out and two catches on the boundary by Lydon Gibbons were noteworthy.
The Fernhurst tail wagged until the 35th over with two talented youngsters – Vass (22) and Tyler (17) resisting everything the Lodsworth bowlers could throw at them as Fernhurst nudged to 121 for 8. The new cricket net at Fernhurst is obviously proving its worth.
Man of the match Finn Campbell
Scribe Bob Powell
Footnote: Interestingly, three of the top ten batsmen in the Midhurst CC 2013 1st XI squad – Tom Atkins, Richard Gough and Graham Braithwaite are Lodsworth residents. Tom Atkins captains the Midhurst 1st XI. Mention must also be made of Henry Cruikshank who is turning in some good performance’s for the Midhurst U14 Xl
An Athletic Performance
Lodsworth CC v Fittleworth CC
Sunday 4th August at Lodsworth
35-overs
Lodsworth CC 181 for 6 (Finn Campbell 56, Dave Clarke 34 not out, Oliver King 24, Joe Waller 18: L Kitchener 7 overs 3 for 21)
Fittleworth CC 143 for 8 ( P Kitchener 56 not out, A Shepherd 10 not out: Dave Clarke 7 overs 3 for 29, Joe Waller 5 overs 2 for 23, Matt Hall 6 overs 2 for 10)
Lodsworth CC won
‘Energetic’ and ‘athletic’ are not adjectives normally connected with the proper noun Lodsworth CC, but both were much in evidence against Fittleworth.
Lodsworth batted first and a scintillating display by Finn Campbell (56) and a lively cameo by Joe Waller (18) got the home team off to a good start. A measured 34 not out from Dave Clarke and a solid 24 from Ollie King allowed Lodsworth to go in for tea on a comfortable score of 181 for 6. The youthful (and vociferous) Fittleworth skipper L Kitchener bowled 7 overs 3 for 21.
The older players would have welcomed an afternoon nap after a historic calorie-laden tea but Joe Waller’s very fast bowling quickly woke up the ‘keeper and adjacent slips as Fittleworth began the chase. Joe removed one of the Fittleworth openers with his third ball and finished on 5 overs 2 for 23, Dave Clarke continued his good form with 7 overs 3 for 29 and Matt Hall cleaned out the middle order with 6 overs 2 for 10.
P Kitchener, one of the remarkable family of cricket aficionados who form the backbone of the Fittleworth club refused to be uprooted and ended on 56 not out as the visitors held on to end on 143 for 8. Lodsworth’s fielding (dropped catches excepted) was excellent, with catches by Hall and Hickey, and for an outstandingly agile run out by Joe Waller.
Man of the Match Joe Waller
Scribe Bob Powell
Sunset at Amberley
Amberley CC v Lodsworth CC
Sunday 28th July 2013
35-overs
Amberley CC 161 for 8 off 35 overs (R Spires 35, M Lock 27 not out: Dave Clark 13 overs 5 for 33)
Lodsworth CC 80 all out (Paul Phillips 34, Bob Powell 18: M Lock 6 overs 4 for 11, C canter 6 overs 2 for 9, A Weldon-King 4 overs 2 for 14)
Lodsworth lost
A much changed Lodsworth team made its way to the picturesque village of Amberley, though I would not go as far as skipper Paul Phillips who described his 10-man contingent as a ‘a collection of boys and geriatrics’. Facing Amberley was somewhat daunting as they had not lost a game all season and their skipper had been 12th man for Sussex County CC against Australia at Hove just two day before.
Amberley batted first and were pinned down by Dave Clark and Matt Hall. DC produced his best bowling performance of the year with figures of 13 overs 5 for 33. There were five good catches from Powell (2) Phillips, Clark and Hickey. Indeed, Lodsworth were in the driving seat until the 20th over when Amberley’s middle order asserted itself. DC removed the ‘Sussex 12th man’ with a magnificent ball that clipped the bails and at tea the home team had made 161 for eight, a score that was not beyond the Lodsworth batting lineup.
But it was not to be, Lodsworth’s top-order suffered a catastrophic collapse – the opening five batsmen were back in the pavilion with just 23 runs on the board. There were four ducks. Paul Phillips (34) managed to steady the ship and one of the ‘geriatrics’ Bob Powell, batting at No.11, hit three fours in an untypical innings of 18. Lodsworth finished on a half-respectable 80-all out, with Joel Phillips the not-out batsman
And so we retired to the Sportsman Inn with its delightful terrace overlooking the Arun Valley and the setting sun that gave it the atmosphere of a hillside village in Tuscany.
Man-of-the-Match Dave Clark
Scribe Bob Powell
West Burton buried
Bury and West Burton CC v Lodsworth CC
Sunday 14th July 2013 at Bury
Lodsworth CC 188 for 5 (Matt Hall 37 retired, Finn Campbell 27, Dave Clarke 23, James Hickey 22: N Goldsmith 11 overs 3 for 56, 13 overs)
Bury and West Burton CC 97 all out (W Rowsell 29 not out, J Waller 16: A Long 11.2 overs 4 wickets for 18 run, Matt Hall 5 overs 2 wickets for 12 runs).
Lodsworth Won
An even hotter “hottest day this year” found us at Bury and West Burton, another rough old wicket with more thatch than a Devonshire cottage and a HUGE outfield boundary.
Having won the toss Bury decided to put us in to bat. Dave Clarke (23) and Matt Hall (37 retired ‘too hot’) took to the crease and given the uneven bounce looked very solid against the blistering pace of Joe Waller (2 wickets for 46 runs from 13 overs). Following on were Finn Campbell (27) and Jim Hickey, who having reclaimed his ‘lucky’ Lodsworth baggy cap from Madehurst changing room, chanced his way to 22. With extras as the highest contribution of 47 and new boy Charlie Keenan adding 15 not out, Lodsworth were well provided for with 188.
After a truly delicious tea Bury commenced their riposte T Lewis(19) looked settled but some very strait bowling from Andy Long (4 wickets for 18 runs from 12 overs) and Hall (2 for 12 from 5 overs) aided by two catches by Keenan found Bury well short of the runrate.
With just 33 runs on the board a third wicket partnership between skipper W Rowsell (29 not out) and Joe Waller(16) threatened to put the home team back on track. But after conceding 17 runs off his first over Paul Phililips replied with 6 maidens in a row to finish on 1 for 21 off 8 overs. Then Matt Hall dislodged Waller, caught and bowled, to push the runrate beyond hope. There was little wag in Bury’s tail before they slumped to 76 all out.
Man of the Match Matt Hall
Scribe Paul Phillips
Stoolballer crosses codes
Tillington CC v Lodsworth CC
Sunday 7th July at Tillington
Sussex Rules
Lodsworth CC 164 for 6 (Finn Campbell 53, Matt Hall 25, Ed Marland 25)
Tillington CC 123 all out (Whickham 44, Westmore 25: Andy Long 4 for 30, Finn Campbell 2 for 11, Matt Hall 2 for 10)
Lodsworth CC Won
The hottest day of the year saw Lodsworth ‘down the road’ at the historic village of Tillington. The opposition was weakened by some of their players entering a 6 a side competition but compensated by including Dawn Clarke…a county stoolballer who was very impressive in the field.
Lodsworth were put in to bat. Finn Campbell notched up 53 runs but was wilting under his helmet and retired ‘too hot’. Matt Hall and new dad Ed Marland (congratulations) put on 25 runs-a-piece and aided by a few cameos Lodsworth went in to a splendid tea with 164 on the board.
After 30 people gathered round a tiny tinny transistor to hear Andy Murray make history… not really a sport that lends itself to radio commentary … Lodsworth took to the field. Andy Long (4 wickets for 30 runs) returned the first three batsman to the pavilion for just 1 run. A partnership between Wickham (44) and Westmore (25) put up stern resistance but Finn Campbell (2 wickets for 11 runs) spoiled their party.
Lodsworth made heavy work of the tail enders with Matt Hall (2 wickets for 10 run) required to winkle them out. Tillington ran out of batsmen/women at 123 and both teams repaired to the Horseguards Inn to rehydrate.
Man of the Match: Finn Campbell
Scribe: Paul Phillips.
Lodsworth sink Matelots
Lodsworth CC v Ancient Mariners CC
Sunday 21st July at Lodsworth
Sussex Rules
Ancient Mariners CC 194 all out (F Hodson 46, L Methley 45: Matt Hall 10 overs 5 for 38, Andy Long 7 overs 2 for 37, Harry Dimond 2 overs 2 for 8)
Lodsworth CC 198 for 4 (Harry Dimond 96, James Hickey 57: W Westwood 8 overs 2 for 54, F Hodgson 8 overs 2 for 23)
Lodsworth Won
Lodsworth welcomed the return of a number of a number of familiar faces – Oliver King, Alfie Bunker and Will Salaman were all playing their first game of the season in a strong Lodsworth crew press-ganged in to repel the raiding Mariners.
The Mariners batted first and Lodsworth laboured in the heat but gradually chipped away at the visitors who, with the benefit of a very fast outfield, finished on 194 all out after 35 overs. Matt Hall was in scintillating form taking 5 wickets for 38 runs off 10 overs. Harry Dimond put in a cameo performance with 2 wickets for 8 runs in 2 overs and Andy Long got in on the act with 2 for 37. Five good catches were held by Long, Clarke, Bunker, Salaman and Dimond.
After tea, Losworth also benefited from the quick outfield and Harry Dimond batted imperiously to record 96 runs, while James Hickey (56) scored his fifth half century of the season as Lodworth reached 198 for the loss of five wickets.
This was arguably Lodsworth’s most satisfying game of the season, played in a good spirit and closely fought with the home team emerging victorious with just nine balls remaining.
Man of the Match Harry Dimond and Matt Hall
Scribe Bob Powell
Playing on Putty
Graffham CC v Lodsworth CC
July 1st 2013 at Graffham
40-over game
Graffham CC 209 for 6 off 40 overs
Lodsworth CC 85 all out
Lodsworth lost
Sunday cricket players are often varied in ability and by availability. Conditions and opposition strength are similarly varied. So while variety maybe the spice of life it doesn’t make life easy for a cricket captain when finding an appropriate team. A mixed-ability 10 Lodsworth players turned out at Graffham to change in a pavilion, currently enjoying quite a facelift. It appeared everybody in the village was out to benefit from the beautiful weather with tennis, youngster’s football and bowls all being enjoyed on the village green.
Having lost the toss with Graffham electing for a 40-over game, Lodsworth found themselves fielding first. The nicely trimmed grass on the fast outfield belied a wicket apparently made of bumpy putty. Graffham were off with a solid, if slow start, old hands Barrett (36) and Danby (20) followed by Josh Cowell (23)…a defector from the Lodsworth squad. A sharp run out by Finn Campbell sent B Creed to the pavilion without a score…we were thinking we were on top but a fine inning by captain Stevens (76) and Lewis (33) and the home team amassed 209 by tea. Only Matt Hall with 3 wickets for 46 runs and Fergus Cruikshank 2 for 12 made any impression for the visitors.
Dave Clarke (17) and Fergus Cruikshank (12) opened a positive response with Finn Campbell adding a further 21 but from there it went badly downhill; Andy Long and Paul Phillips were returned with ducks by a stunning spell from Lewis (4 wickets for 6 runs.) It was left to young Alfie Couson and Tom Creed to bowl at Joel Phillips and Matt Hall, who guided a pea roller onto his stumps. Not a pretty performance, but a lovely afternoon and a joy for the skipper to see Joel Phillips score his first 2 runs for Lodsworth.
Man of the Match: Fergus Cruickshank
Scribe Paul Phillips
Lodsworth Cricket Club 