Category: Match Reports

5th June 2005 at Lodsworth

Lodsworth CC 77 all out. (Matt Hall 19, James Hickey 18, Jon Houghton17: Q Murray 12 overs 6 for 15, M Quinnell 9 overs 2 for 32, M Dally 3.5 overs 2 for 20).

Graffham CC 78 for 5 ( A Smith 61; Matt Hall 5 overs 2 for 19, Martin Howard 2.2 overs 2 for 6)

Lodsworth went into this game with a batting line up that on paper was its strongest of the season. But any complacency was soon shattered by a Graffham attack that, aided by a lively wicket and some incredible catches, quickly had the Lodsworth team in disarray.

The major damage was inflicted by Q Murray with 12 overs 6 for 15.

All out for 77 runs Lodsworth drew on all their bowling skills but to no avail and Graffham knocked off the total for the loss of 5 wickets by the tea interval. Graffham’s Zimbawean batsman A Smith contributed 61. What is to be learned from the debacle? Firstly Lodsworth have to learn to be patient. We fell into an old habit of trying to hit out at very good bowling when the required approach was to dig in and wear down the opposition with tenacity.

That said the game was played in a good spirit with none of the acrimony that accompanied the previous years encounter. Village cricket has changed dramatically of late. Witness the fact that the Lodsworth team contained two of their three South African born players while Graffham had two Zimbabwe born players. It was noted, with a little humour that we will soon have to put a limit on our quota of overseas players!

Bob Powell

Lodsworth CC

Lodsworth on sunday continued their success this season with a good quality win against the friendly side of graffham and smithbrook. After winning the toss Lodsworth soon found themselves in trouble at 17-2 after some very good tight bowling. However when Hickey and King saw off the opening pair they produced a wide aray of shots with both making solid 50’s. They took the bowling on with Hickey just short of a ton(86) and King making another 51. In total they scored 208-5 which is their best total scored for many a year. The reply was a good one due to sloppy bowling and brisk strokeplay but once Hall 3-20 and Howard 2-26 bowled tight the pressure then told with wickets taken on regular intervals. In all graffham made a creditable 122 with lodsworth winning by 86 runs.

Man of the match James Hickey.

Sunday 22nd May 2005.

Milland CC v Lodsworth CC at Milland Sports Club.

Lodsworth CC 186 for 6 (Jon Houghton 72, Oliver King 51, Matt Hall 21; G Stopher 6 overs 2 for 45).

Milland CC 103 for 7 (D Barford 30, R Glaysher 20, D Allen 22; Andy Long 12 overs 2 for 16, Matt Hall 11 overs 2 for 7)

Match Drawn.

As one wag remarked, if this had been a boxing match, Lodsworth were so far ahead on points that the referee would have stopped the contest. Cricket, of course is played by different laws and the Milland middle order stubbornly resisted efforts to dislodge them thus the game ended in a draw.

Put in to bat, Lodsworth went off a cracking pace. Jon Houghton was again to the fore and included three 6’s in his score of 72. Oliver King found the form that deserted him last year and resolutely hit 51. Matt Hall came good with a sparkling 21 and Lodsworth finished on 186 for 6 in 39 overs. G Stopher was the pick of the Milland bowler with 6 overs 2 for 45.

Milland were soon in trouble from a concerted Lodsworth attack spearheaded by Andy Long (12 over 2 for 16) and Matt Hall (11 overs 2 for 17). Lodsworth’s fielding was exemplary with three run-outs and a sharp catch at silly- mid-on by Jon Houghton. But the Milland middle order dug in and resisted efforts to dislodge them. By the close of play the home team had scored 103 for 7 off 40 overs

Man-of-the-Match Jon Houghton (Lodsworth CC)

Sunday 15th May 2005.

Kirdford CC v Lodsworth CC at Kirdford.

Lodsworth CC 86 all out (Jon Houghton 11; J Upton 6 overs 4 for 23, A Clarke 10 overs 2 for 7, I Lusted 4 overs 2 for 11).

Kirdford CC 88 for 8 (G Short 23, A Clarke 14;Martin Howard 9.5 overs 3 for 19, Paul Phillips 2 for 20, Andy Long 10 overs 2 for 20)

Kirdford won by 2 wickets.

An exceptionally slow outfield ensured that the annual encounter between Kirdford CC and rivals Lodsworth CC was low scoring game, although it lacked nothing in skills and excitement. Lodsworth won the toss and with their confidence high they elected to bat. But the

Kirdford opening bowlers, R Brookes and C Roberts, conceded just 22 runs in the first 16 overs. Only Jon Houghton, Martin Howard and John Braithwaite managed to get into double figures and Lodsworth finished on 86 all out, with the principle damage being done by J Upton with 6 overs 4 for 23.

It was obvious that 86 would be difficult to defend, yet the outfield proved to be a great leveller. Kirdford opener G Short scored 23 but at the other end wickets fell regularly. Martin Howard (9.5 overs 3 for 19) did most of the damage with forceful contributions by Paul Phillips (8 overs 2 for 20) and Andy Long (10 overs 2 for 20). The finish went down to the wire with Kirdford emerging victorious with 88 for 8 with two overs to go, in a reversal of the 2004 result.

Man-of-the-Match Martin Howard

Sunday 8th May 2005.

Easebourne CC v Lodsworth CC at Easebourne.

Lodsworth CC 153 all out (Jon Houghton 65, Alistair Rix 19, Rod Taylor 15; T Dixon 9 overs 4 for 38, C Dixon 8 overs 3 for 32).

Easebourne CC 82 for 9 (T Dixon 28, Paul White 26; Matt Hall 17 overs 5 for 40, Andy Long 14 overs 2 for 34)

Match Drawn

Easebourne won the toss and Lodsworth were put in to bat. The visitors lost two early wickets to aggressive bowling by T Dixon but Jon Houghton (65) gradually steered Lodsworth into a commanding position assisted by Alistair Rix (19), Rod Taylor (15) and Oliver King (12). Aided by some wayward Easebourne bowling that contributed 28 extras, Lodsworth eventually finished on 153 off 33 overs.

In reply, Easebourne, faced by tight bowling from Matt Hall (17 overs 5 for 40), and Andy Long (14 overs 2 for 34) failed to achieve any momentum. Only T Dixon with 28 runs and Paul White with 26 runs put up any resistance. With the departure of White, Easebourne

were on the ropes and went into the last over with just 77 runs on the board and 9 wickets down. The Lodsworth players crowded around the bat, but the final Easebourne pair of R Hyde and P Prudente managed to cling on and were relieved to secure a draw.

Bob Powell

Captain Lodsworth CC.

Saturday 30th April 2005

Lodsworth CC v Ebernoe CC at Lodsworth.

Lodsworth CC 143 for 8 (Jon Houghton 87, Graham Braithwaite 30 not out, D Whittington 7 overs 3 for 14).

Ebernoe CC 124 for 9 (D Whittington 37, C Stemp 21, A Read 18, Andy Long 7 overs 3 for 14, Martin Howard 4 overs 2 for 15, Paul Phillips 7 overs 2 for 18, Matt Hall 7 overs 2 for 29)

Lodsworth won by 19 runs.

Lodsworth’s extensive pre-season preparation paid dividends in the first game of the 2005 season – a limited overs friendly fixture against the nearby village of Ebernoe. On winning the toss Lodsworth elected to bat on a soft but true surface and opening batsman Jon Houghton amassed 87 runs in almost 2 hours at the crease. Oxfordshire County Schoolboy Graham Braithwaite ably supported him with 30 not out. The Lodsworth team ended on 143 for 8 off 35 overs.

In reply, Ebernoe lost opener C Rose in the first over but R Stemp and D Whittington established a partnership of 54 to put Ebernoe briefly in the driving seat. Then as the pitch began to cut up they lost three wickets in 15 minutes to put them on the back foot. Lodsworth bowlers Andy Long with 7 overs 3 for 14, Martin Howard with 4 overs 2 for 15 and Paul Phillips 7 with overs 2 for 18 kept up sustained pressure and Ebernoe finished on 124 for 9 off 35 overs, 19 runs short of their target.

Man of the Match Jon Houghton

Bob Powell

Captain Lodsworth CC.