Author: Al Rix

2012 Preview

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
A new season is (almost) upon us and preparations are in hand for the first game of the season, which as usual will be a test against our old foe Ebernoe on Saturday 28th April. Actually, this first game could be decided on the toss of a coin for it is totally unpredictable.
 
Apart from a sprinkling of (younger) batsmen who have attended nets the majority haven’t had a bat in their hands for six months, likewise some bowlers will not have turned their arm over for the same period and muscles are likely to be tested by the sudden need to sprint to the boundary or between the wickets.
 
I speak from experience here as being the sometime wicket keeper and relatively inactive throughout the winter I have to face approximately 240 balls (40 overs x 6 balls). This requires squatting down and jumping up 240 times. For two week in early May my quadriceps scream and I am hardly able to walk!
 
Meanwhile the wicket is being brought to perfection by Paul Phillips – raked, aerated, mown and rolled, with weed killer applied and fertilizer spread. It is also watered if Southern Water Board restrictions permit. An awful lot of work goes into preparing the square so little wonder Paul guards it so zealously. The outfield too has to be repeatedly mown. Grass for football is too long for cricket, so gradually it must be shorn to an acceptable length once the goalposts are taken down. The sightscreens have to be maintained, repaired and painted, the kit sorted and renewed. And the implement shed has been improved by the Recreation Hall Committee with the construction of, what John King describes proudly as ‘an architect-designed extension’ (Architect Jamie Brooke-Fisher).
 
John King has been at work throughout the winter months, raising subscriptions from our brilliantly supportive Vice Presidents, arranging fixtures and printing fixture cards. The fixture list changes marginally from year to year. This year we dropped the fixture with Graffham and Smithbrooke (they usually cancel at a late hour), Fernhurst have dropped us after 50 years (anecdotal evidence suggests they believe we are now too serious – what us?) and the Cricket Society are not coming this year as we are unable to fit in their calendar. In their place John has arranged games against local villages Lynchmere and Elsted, and a touring team -The Ancient Mariners.
 
Insurance for the club has been renewed – this is mandatory for all teams who are affiliated to Sussex County Cricket Board. So if any Outlook reader is hit by a cricket ball while walking their dog they can be sure we have 3rd Party Cover!
 
The AGM took place on the 2ndFebruary and the usual suspects were voted into office. The captain will be last year’s successful skipper Matt Hall and Vice Captain Paul Phillips. Chairman Allan Thompson’s firm Contract Candles, agreed to sponsor our shirts. Allan also made a generous donation towards a replacement mower while Andrew Wilson-Smith agreed to sponsor 12 balls for home games.
 
Discussion on the renewal of the playing strength of the team took some time at the AGM. Finding new players is the key to the survival of village cricket. I suppose all readers of Outlook will be well aware of the Cricket Club so an advert is probably unnecessary but if anyone is reading this who is new to Lodsworth, River or Lickfold do consider joining us – previous experience at Test level is not required. Nets have been arranged and a practice match at the recreation ground on Sunday 22nd April.
 
Looking further ahead, Paul Phillips undertook to arrange nets and coaching sessions for village youngsters on Saturday mornings during the season. A notice will appear in Outlook giving details. In this way the tradition of village cricket in Lodsworth is assured.
 
 
Bob Powell

Scribe

A Mixed Bag

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
Sunday 25th September at Lodsworth

The Cricket Society 109 for 7 off 41 overs (A Gale 52, D Chapman 24: Andy Long 11 overs 3 wickets for 9 runs, Dave Clarke 9 overs 2 for 23, Nick Bellion 5 overs 1 for 31).

Lodsworth CC 84 for 9 off 38 over (Richard Gough 35, Dave Clarke 23)
Match Drawn

With the skipper on vacation, Jack and Harry Dimond at Leeds and Southampton Universities respectively and other players working, a mixed assortment of players gathered, under the captaincy of Councilor Paul Phillips to host our last game of the season against The Cricket Society (aka The Society of Cricket Statisticians). We were fortunate to be able to call on the Midhurst 2nd XI skipper Richard Gough, Finn Campbell was down from Marlborough College for the weekend and Nick Bellion had just returned from a skiing course in New Zealand.
The Lodsworth team bowled very well and with some sharp fielding restricted the visitors to just 109 for 7 in two and a half hours of play. Andy Long shortened the odds on him winning the bowling trophy with 11 overs 3 for 9 and Dave Clark delivered 9 aggressive overs, taking 2 for 32. Bob Powell took two catches and a stumping and Paul Phillips and Richard Gough caught one each.
The game started at 12.30 and tea was taken so early that the ladies were caught on the hop and the kettle hadn’t boiled, but this was compensated for by some excellent iced carrot cake!
The late cry off of one of the Lodsworth batsmen, stranded, he said, in Lyme Regis, necessitated the last-minute call up of 11-year old Henry Cruikshank who opened the innings for Lodsworth along with his dad, Fergus. Henry played well against a quick bowler and is one to watch for the future.
Otherwise the team did not perform well with the bat and only Richard Gough (35) and Dave Clarke (23) were able to master the Cricket Society variety of pace and spin. Teetering on defeat at 86 for 9 and with 5 overs to go Bob Powell joined Pete Long. Leaving their Zimmer frames on the boundary the two pensioners batted on to score 0 not out and 0 not out respectively, thus effectively securing a draw.
Great fun and a good end to Lodsworth’s best season in a decade. For the record the village team have played 17, won 10, drawn 3 and lost 4.
Man of the match Bob Powell (by vote of the opposition)
Scribe Bob Powell

The Right Spirit

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
Goodwood CC v Lodworth CC

Sunday 11th September 2011 at Goodwood Park

Goodwood CC 163 for 7 off 40 overs (J Clifton 62, A Clifton 23: Paul Phillips 8 overs 2 for 16, Jack Dimond 4 overs 2 for 12, Andy Long 8 overs 1 for 27)

Lodsworth CC 128 for 9 (D Clarke 59, Jack Dimond 18; R Carver 5 overs 4 for 15, M Beard 8 overs 2 for 17, C Patel 5 overs 2 for 26)

Lodsworth Lost

Lodsworth were hard pushed to put out a team for this game and played for the first two hours with just nine players. With so many gaps in the field it was a creditable performance to restrict the home team to 163 off 40 overs. Paul Phillips had a good day with the ball taking 2 wickets for 16 runs and also taking two brilliant catches on the long on boundary. Jack Dimond also bowled well and took 2 for 12 in 4 overs.

The Goodwood cricket ground is in a magnificent parkland setting – directly in front of Goodwood House with the flag of the Duke of Richmond flying at the mast. The ground has a quintessential village pavilion with a thatched roof and a proper scoring box accessed from the verandah.

The quality of the teas matched the grandeur of the setting but showing no sign of being overawed Dave Clark and Jack Dimond began to establish a firm base for Lodsworth before Jack departed leaving the score was 61 for 2. The middle-order then simply imploded with Alfie Bunker, Al Rix, Paul Phillips and Andy Long all sent back to the pavilion for very few runs. The tail end of Fergus Cruikshank, Pete Long and Bob Powell wagged briefly wagged but at 128 for 9 Lodsworth were all out.

Despite the loss this was a pleasantly competitive game played against a team of gentlemen who play cricket in the ‘right spirit’.

Man-of-the-Match Dave Clarke

Scribe Bob Powell

Parsimonious Parham

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
Lodsworth CC v Parham Park CC
Sunday 5th September at Lodsworth

Parham Park CC 180 for 1 off 30 overs (A Wales 71, A Vander 87 not out: Dave Clarke 9 overs 1 for 43)

Lodsworth CC 134 for 6 off 30 overs (Jack Dimond 49, Alfie Bunker 40: J Hammond 14 overs 4 for 50, J Mitchell 2 overs 2 for 3).
Lodsworth Lost

Over the years Parham Park have proved to be a difficult team to beat, somehow, with a core of veterans, always managing to resist our best attempts to bowl them out. And so it proved in this game, started in grey overcast skies (causing the game to be reduced to 30 overs each) but finishing in glorious sunshine.

Captain Phillips threw all his bowlers into the fray – Dave Clarke, Andy Long, Fergus Cruikshank, Alfie Bunker and himself but to no avail as A Wales (71) and A Vander (87) hung around until the 25th over before James Hickey gave the home team something to cheer with a superb catch to claim one wicket as
the visitors coasted to 180.

Tea came and went – very nice, as always – and then Lodsworth set off in pursuit. Here Parham proved to be parsimonious for they used just two accurate bowlers for 27 overs. Fast bowler J Hammond quickly captured the wickets of Charlie Dimond and James Hickey and went on to record 14 overs 4 for 50.

Jack Dimond batted confidently to reach 49 and Alfie Bunker displayed some expansive hitting to record 40 but Lodsworth simply ran out of time and were well behind at the close of play beaten by a team that played to its strength and gave nothing away.

Man of the Match – Alfie Bunker
Scribe Bob Powell

Perfect Ten

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
Walberton CC v Lodsworth CC
Sunday 21st August 2011 at Walberton

Walberton CC 110 all out (B Kemp 32, R Lockwood 24; Matt Hall 2 overs 3 wickets for 4 runs, Andy Long 8.3 overs 3 for 26, Paul Phillips 7 overs 2 for 16).

Lodsworth CC 117 for 3 (Jack Dimond 57 not out, Harry Dimond 28 not out)
Lodsworth won

Put into bat Walberton CC, who in the past proved to be our nemesis (we haven’t beaten them for eight years), were quickly in trouble with the loss of two wickets for 6 runs. Their batting never really recovered and they were soon 50 for 6. The
damage was principally done by Matt Hall with 3 wickets for 4 runs, Andy Long with 3 for 26, and Paul Phillips with 2 for 16.

Lodsworth put down a lot of catches but two superb efforts by Alfie Bunker and Jack Dimond stood out. The Walberton tail wagged with a spirited 24 from R Lockwood but after 34 overs the opposition succumbed with 110 all out.

After tea Lodsworth began the chase but quickly lost the  wickets of Matt Hall and Alfie Bunker while Jack Dimond steadily advanced with a succession of drives and leg glances to the boundary. Paul Phillips was briefly at the wicket but
perhaps his mind was on the Lodsworth Village Horticultural Show where he was exhibiting his prize vegetables, for he was quickly dismissed. Jack (57 not out) was joined by his brother Harry Dimond (28 not out) and together they took the score to 117 for 3 to record Lodsworth’s 10th victory of the season.

It is worth recording that this is the first time in a decade that Lodsworth have won 10 games in a season and also worth recording that Councilor Phillip’s vegetables took first prize.

Man-of-the-Match Jack Dimond
Scribe Bob Powell

Best Win of the Season

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
West Chiltington CC v Lodsworth CC
Sunday 14th August 2011 at West Chiltington

West Chiltington CC 229 for 4 in 40 overs (Dave Clarke 1 wicket for 11 runs, Matt Hall 1 for 43, Graham Braithwaite 2 for 32)

Lodsworth 233 for 5 in 38 overs (Graham Braithwaite 119 not out, Alfie Bunker 32, Tom Davis 22, Jon Clifford 12 not out)
Lodsworth won

Lodsworth CC faced one of their most difficult fixtures of the season for West Chiltington are a very strong village team and playing at home they fielded virtually an entire League side.

Their batting lineup was formidable and, despite some good Lodsworth bowling, they amassed a total of 229 runs for the loss of just 4 wickets in 40 overs. They went in to tea, no doubt confident of victory.

In response Lodsworth made a shaky start, loosing three early wickets, but two excellent partnerships, first between Graham Braithwaite and Tom Davis (22), and then between Graham and Alfie Bunker (32) saw Lodsworth achieve a commendable victory. Graham Braithwaite’s 118 not out was superb and an exhibition of powerful hitting. He stroked the ball to all corners of the field, hitting eight monumental sixes. If only he could be available regularly for the village team! Well done the Lodsworth team.

Man-of-the-Match Graham Braithwaite
Scribe John King

One to Forget

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

31st July 2011 at Lodsworth

Lodsworth CC 119 all out (Matt Hall 17, Andy Long 17, Lee Ayres 17: J Chris 8 overs 2 for 20, M Shepherd 8 overs 4 for 29, R Brown 7 overs 2 for 13)

Fittleworth CC 120 for 2 (D Kitchener 39 not out, M Ives 30, J Chris 24 not out: Andy Long 6 overs 1 for 22, Matt Hall 5 overs 1 for 25)

Lodsworth Lost

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.

Scribe Bob Powell

Lodsworth Canter Home

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
Lodsworth CC v Horsham Trinity CC

24th July 2011 at Lodsworth
Horsham Trinity CC 97 all out in 40 overs (L Elder27 not out, B Chappell 20; Andy Long 13 overs 3 wickets for 14 runs, Matt Hall 5 overs 3 for 24, Paul Phillips 7 overs 3 for 11)

Lodsworth 99 for 2 in 26 overs (Finn Campbell 32 not out, Dave Clarke 32, Oliver King 28 not out)

Lodsworth won

A reorganization of fixtures in mid-week saw Horsham Trinity arrive for their first ever game with Lodsworth CC. A check on their website revealed they put out three Saturday teams in the Sussex Leagues and this is generally a good guide to the strength of the opposition. Winning the toss the visitors elected to bat but very accurate bowling from Dave Clarke and Andy Long kept them on a short leash and wickets fell at regular intervals. Andy (13 overs 3 for 14), Paul Phillips (7 overs 3 for 11) and Matt Hall (5 overs 3 for 24) took most of the wickets but impressive fast bowling by Finn Campbell also helped to restrict the scoring rate. Lodsworth also held onto the catches that were on offer – Harry Dimond (2), Bob Powell (2) Andy Long (1) and Lee Ayres (1) all had a hand in the dismissals.

Jill King and Vikki Braithwaite served up some tasty sandwiches cakes, scones and curried eggs (how refreshing a cup of tea is) before Lodsworth began the chase for runs. After the early loss of one opener, Oliver King and Dave Clarke doggedly built up a useful total. It was not particularly fast but it was effective. When Clarke (32) departed to a dodgy catch, Finn Campbell came to the crease and swiftly smote the ball to the boundary. More big hits followed in his innings of 32 not out including two towering sixes as Lodsworth cantered home with 99 for 2 off 26 overs. It was a convincing win for the village team who showed, not for the first time this season, that they are prepared to work hard for a victory.

The statistics now read Played 12   – Won 8, Drawn 2, Lost 1, with one abandoned due to heavy rain.

Man-of-the-match Finn Campbell

Scribe Bob Powell

Lodsworth get out of Jail

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
Bury and West Burton CC v Lodsworth CC
10th July 2011 at Bury
Bury and West Burton CC 175 for 7 (D Hylands 87, J Walker 44; Paul Phillips 11 overs 4 for 30, Fergus Cruikshank 5 overs 1 for 21)
Lodsworth 128 for 9 (Paul Phillips 32, Fergus Cruikshank 24 James Hickey 17; K Wood 9 overs 5 for 21, J Waller 11 overs 4 for 22)
Match drawn

Lodsworth CC lost the toss and Bury CC elected to bat on a very rough track – the Bury mower having broken down in midweek! The Lodsworth bowlers toiled on a muggy day as Bury put 175 runs on the board for the loss of 7 wickets. D Hylands (87) and J Walker (44) were the pick of the batsmen while Paul Phillips (11 overs 4 for 22) and Fergus Cruikshank (5 overs 1 for 21) contained the run rate. Andy Long got in on the act – taking his first catch of the season.

Lodsworth’s start after tea was disastrous with two batsman being bowled out in the opening over. More wickets crashed as the village team moved from 2 for 2, to 19 for 3, to 30 for 6. But ‘cometh the hour – cometh the man’ – Paul Phillips (32) began to get on top of the bowling and a fighting innings by Fergus Cruikshank (24) hauled Lodsworth back from the brink. The score crept past 100 but with five overs to go Lodsworth were down to their last two batsmen.

Bob Powell (68 years old) strode to the crease to join Peter Long (65 years old). John King was laying odds of 1000 to 1 they would not survive but survive they did and stonewalled to the end to secure a draw and ‘get out of jail’.

Man-of-the-match Paul Phillips

Graffham – The Rematch

Posted on by Al Rix in Match Reports
Graffham CC v Lodsworth CC
3rd July 2011 at Graffham

Lodsworth 120 all out in 32 overs (Dave Clark 43, Paul Phillips 26, James Hickey 17;L Fourie 8 overs 3 for 15, J Pink 6 overs 2 for 22)

Graffham CC 122 for 6 in 34 overs (S Gray 34, Riddell 23 not out; Tom Davis 8 overs 3 for 8, Matt Hall 8 overs 2 for 21)
Graffham won

Tense and intensely competitive, the sledging occasionally broached acceptable limits, as both teams were intent on victory. Lodsworth batted first and a dubious LBW decision saw Matt Hall given out and set the tone for the encounter.

In a game against the same opponents two weeks earlier Lodsworth had shaded victory and that the Graffham team were keen to avenge the defeat was evident from the change in their line up which saw L Fourie (8 overs 3 for 15) and J Pink (6 overs 2 for 22) brought in.

Their effectiveness was evident as Lodsworth’s top order was decimated – Matt Hall, Jack Dimond, Henry Randell and Tom Davis were all quickly back in the pavilion and it fell to Dave Clark (43) and Paul Phillips (26) to bring some respectability to the scoreline. But would 120 off 32 overs be defendable?

After tea, Lodsworth attacked the opposition with vigour. Tom Davis, who earlier in the week had been bowling in the nets at the Oval to the Sri Lankan team, was in devastating form and his figures of 8 overs 3 wickets for 8 runs justified the apprehension that came over the Graffham batsmen. But gradually Graffham fought back and crept past Lodsworth’s total to finish on 122 for 6 off 34 overs.

Verdict – a very close fought game with little quarter given on either side.

Man of the match Tom Davis
Scribe Bob Powell