Saturday 27 April

Match report

After a long and wet winter finally the first game of the new season was upon us VS Lynchmere at home. Although it would seem, based on the conditions, winter wasn’t quite ready to move aside just yet. Due to the terrible forecast it was agreed (in an effort to play some sort of game in the window available) that we would play a reduced over game (30 over a side with tea at the end) to give us the best chance to get some sort of result. 

The new skipper started things off well by demonstrating his tossing skills and winning a crucial toss and inserting Lynchmere into bat hoping to exploit the soggy conditions (special mention for Tam who tried to cover the wicket the night before with tarps).

Lavant started proceedings by keeping things tight and bowling with an extremely frugal nature. As it felt like runs were going to be at a premium on a soggy and slow wicket it was important to keep the total down and the opening bowlers delivered a solid start bowling tight lines. Tam at one end backing up his bowling partner the pressure eventually brought the first wicket with Chris cleaning up one of the openers with a great delivery (Chris finishing with figures of 1-15 off his 6 overs).

Once the opening bowlers had completed their spells there would be huge pressure on the first change bowlers to continue the good work. Obviously there was only one man for the job…….the current club players player Dave Burford who not only announced before the game he was still using the terrible patch work shoes but also his trousers weren’t working.

Shoes and trousers aside it didn’t seem to matter as he tore into the top order picking up 3 wickets in one over alone and finishing with figures of 4-13. Amazing work! I have no idea what he was doing in Thailand (obviously not buying cricket equipment) but the rumour is he was seen visiting a taiwanese shaman…..

A special note for some early charges for the catching trophies with some solid grabs in the field from Tam and Phil! Normally a weakness for Lavant It was very pleasing to see and long may it continue.

We won’t talk about the ‘catch’ from Steve and the missed stumping from the wicket keeper..….

At the other end was our resident ‘James bond’ who kept things really nice and tidy (ending with 0-15) and, on another day could have had a haul but today kept things ‘on the money’ as always.

The team then turned to debutant Richard to get into the game and he bowled brilliantly and with intelligence using flight and guile to exploit the conditions and keep the batters in check and picking up important wickets when Lynchmere were looking to push on (finishing with 3-18). A very welcome addition to the team. Richard took the team home and stood up to the task with the number 11 (who at one point was almost standing half way down the wicket).

At the other end Justin bowled with zip and cunning and continued to shut down any efforts to push the scoring along and was unlucky not to pick up an edge (even with a full stocked slip cordon)! Ending with figures of 0-8 it was a solid start to the season.

The first innings finished with Lavant bowling out Lynchmere for 97 and with a very quick turnaround (as the rain was imminent) the Lavant openers took to the field looking to chase down a tricky total.

Tragically the team got off to a bad start with a mini collapse from the top order with Justin, Harry and Steve falling cheaply. Soon after Richard fell too and with 4 down the opposition looked encouraged that they could get over the line.

However the Lavant batting order was extremely deep (with Dave and Iain down at 10 and 11) so there was still plenty of fight to come. I was personally so very pleased (after a crap last year) to see Jim back out and playing on the cricket field and when he got out to the middle he was integral in steadying the ship and played a great knock by keeping the scoreboard moving, rotating the strike not taking too many risks. 

BUT for every classic shot maker you always need a biffer and the resident team ‘master blaster’ Chris was at the other end! Chris got swiftly into his work by hammering the ball to all parts (apparently the locals thought there was cannon fire going on)!

The innings from Chris was crucial to not only move the game on quickly but also to dampen the spirits of the opposition whose thoughts of winning started to slip away.

It was a shame Jim wasn’t able to take the team home (getting out on 21) but Tam entered the scene and kept things calm and the game was won (albeit in the pouring rain) with a couple overs to spare.

Man of the match goes to Chris for top bowling figures (and keeping things tight at the start of the game) but also for the crucial knock (43 not out). Well done Chris.

Champagne moment should be Steve foxing the opposition batters into running by cleverly allowing a dolly of a catch to hit him in the chest so he could execute a run out but I think it should go to Phil for two very solid (and crucial) catches.

A special thank you should go to Lynchmere for not only agreeing to start early but being sporting enough to play a large portion of the game (whilst bowling) in the pouring rain.

Also a big thank you for Mark S for umpiring in terrible conditions (thankfully the pub was nice and warm)

So onto the next game! Well done everyone!