Author: Al Rix

Match Report v Graffham

28^th June 2015 at Lodsworth

Lodsworth 112 All out(34.1 overs) P.Phillips 43, F.Campbell 29, P.Barrett 4-25, L.Fourie 3-7

Graffham 108 All out (34 overs) T.Creed 40, F.Campbell 4-30

Lodsworth won by 4 runs

Losing the toss yet again Lodsworth were inserted under cloudy skies in this 35 overs per side home game. A collapse befitting of village cricket saw the hosts slump to 40-7 after 14 overs and an early tea beckoned. A return to form of Paul Phillips and aided by Rob Collins(16), plus a late cameo by Pete Long(9) saw an eventual total of 112, which was definitely short of where the hosts wanted to be but after the slump in the first half of the innings, at least it was something to bowl at.

Another homemade tea with the lemon drizzle taking the honours, the teams took the field for the second half of the encounter. A wicket in the first over set the hosts off on the right foot, Chris Scott taking a superb catch behind the wickets. Finn Campbell took two early wickets and it was only 14 year old Tom Creed who kept the visitors in the hunt. With wickets tumbling around him the match was swinging to Lodsworth. Geoff Coulson coming in at number 9 made 20 but Alex Brazier took his wicket(2-20) and the match was down to the wire. With five needed, numbers 10 and 11 went for a suicidal run and Rob Collins threw to the keeper to effect the run out and the match was won. Jamie Hill( 7-1-20-1) also noteworthy of a mention.

Another pleasant afternoon of village cricket ended in the right result for the hosts but Graffham should really have won from the positions they were in. Beers followed! We need players so please come and play if you are interested. Contact Fergus on 07973 283854

Man of the Match: Paul Phillips

21^st June 2015 at Madehurst

Madehurst 220 for 8(40 overs) Phillips 2-33

Lodsworth 100 all out (25 overs) Lamb 40

Lodsworth lost by 120 runs

Set at the most stunning ground just to the north of Arundel and which nearly did not happen given that two days before both teams had the match listed as home fixtures!, Lodsworth fielded first in a limited overs match. With one of the Lodsworth team AWOL, Mrs Rix kindly offered to play to make up the numbers. Madehurst are a strong side but Lodsworth bowled well, dropped the odd catch but stuck at it and were satisfied at the half time score. Two wickets apiece from Messrs Phillips, Hall and Brazier were reward for some good bowling. Bob Powell kept wicket for the full forty overs but was noticeably struggling to walk to the car at the end of the game! Alex Brazier also took a stunning catch in the outfield.

In reply and with an under strength batting line up only debutante Justin Lamb found any fluency. With no real support apart from the ever improving Pete Long(11 not out and a new highest score), this fathers day was one for him to remember – son Andy only got 3 ( to go with no wickets).

Whilst a heavy defeat, the match was played in very high spirits under a warm sun and with a spectacular tea to boot. All in all a wonderful fathers day was had by all(well nearly all of us eh A.Long?)

Man of the Match: Justin Lamb

7th June 2015 at Lodsworth

“Size matters”

Lodsworth 87 All out(28 overs) R.Gough 31, Fraser 6-22

Parham 90 for 3 (28 overs) Trott 39 not out, P.Phillips 2-29

Lodsworth lost by 7 wickets

Losing the toss yet again(desperately in need of a double headed coin) and opting for Sussex rules,  Lodsworth were inserted and only Richard Gough played with any fluency against a decent attack, which in truth only contained three bowlers but that proved enough for a flurry of mistakes by the home team. An early finish to the innings brought about an extended tea break with all the delights of homemade cake and sandwiches and a rather quiet home table! Chris Scott was welcomed back after an eleven year absence and a gritty innings of 8 was the third highest score.

With the sun shining and a lack of bowling options, Andy Long and Matt Hall toiled away for 21 overs for just 35 runs, at the end of which Long decided to test out the comfort of the extremely overgrown grass bank by diving in head first- quite a strange ritual for a Sunday afternoon!.  With a sniff of a chance for Loddy, Trott came in and proved that size does matter with the biggest bat ever seen in village cricket, smacking five sixes in a quick innings which finished the match. Johnathan Gough had him dropped with his first ball in village cricket but it wasn’t easy. With the match over and the promise of roasties in The Hollist, the first defeat of the season was taken in good spirits and a friendly couple of pints concluded an enjoyable but frustrating afternoon in the sun.

Man of the Match: Richard Gough

Lodsworth CC v Grafham and Smithbrook CC

24th May 2015 at Grafham and Smithbrook

Grafham and Smithbrook 113 for 9(36 overs) N.Rowland 50, Shabhir 35 not out, (A.Long 4-18, F.Campbell 2-29)

Lodsworth 119-1 (14 overs) (T.Atkins 67 not out, F.Campbell 49 not out)

Lodsworth win by 9 wickets

A beautiful ground just south of Bramley and a pitch with uneven bounce and an outfield in urgent need of a cut, the new skipper lost his third toss on the bounce and in a 36 overs per side game, the hosts opted to bat first.  Yet another perfect pitch for the bowling of Andy Long saw the hosts slide to 3 runs for 4 wickets before Rowland came in and decided that hitting the ball over the boundary was the only option.  Paul Phillips bowled well against the onslaught and finally got his man for a quickfire half century. Shabhir played well putting one ball through the roof of a passing car(the owner took it incredibly well).

113 runs was unlikely to be enough as Lodsworth welcomed back Messrs Atkins and Campbell to the team and with six sixes between them, made extremely light work of the target. The final ball of the innings was hit for six by Tom Atkins, thudding into the scorer’s (John King) car. Fortunately no damage this time but an excellent victory followed by a couple of beers in the clubhouse. A tough call for man of the match.

Man of the Match: Finn Campbell

Lodsworth CC v Kirdford CC

17th May 2015 at Lodsworth

“A Long Hall”

Lodsworth 144 for 9(42 overs) M.Hall 65, P.Long 7 not out, (G.Hardie 4-56)

Kirdford  130 for 8 (39 overs) (A.Long 5-27, M.Hall 2-34)

Match Drawn

Losing the toss and opting to play “Sussex rules” due to the under strength line up, Hall and Cruikshank(18) made a slow but steady start of 48 runs on a pitch which has been subject to much work by the groundsman over the winter. Playing true apart from the occasional lifter, Lodsworth did well to accelerate due to the efforts of Matt Hall until the leg spinner(Hardie) took advantage of the attempted increase in the scoring rate. The total would have been taken before the start!

With a self sourced tea demolished, Lodsworth took to the field and gave very little away, apart from the occasional  overthrow(which caused a few raised words!), Andy Long ripped through the line up with five wickets. Kirdford had a couple of notable partnerships and with three overs to go all results were possible. The removal of Short(72) saw the shutters put up and an honourable draw resulted.

Beers in The Hollist with a few roasties donated by Andrew and Patsy finished the day nicely. There was only one person derserving the man of the match- his highest career score was just about the difference.

Man of the Match: Pete Long

Lodsworth CC v Milland CC

10th May 2015 at Milland

Lodsworth 137 for 9(35 overs) A.Rix 46 not out, F.Cruikshank 12, Extras 39 (G.Stofer 3-30)

Milland  134 for 9 (35 overs) Varaney 62, Long 3-22, Hall 3-24)

Lodsworth won by 3 runs

Put into bat on a dry, slow wicket with variable bounce, Lodsworth struggled for any fluency. Only Al Rix, batting for over half of the innings, could play the knock needed(extras did rather well though). With six boundaries hit in the entire innings, the sheep in the adjacent field were never in danger! Tea came with what was probably a par score but Lodsworth knew that it had to be kept tight and the fielding on top form. With no practice since September this was possibly a tough ask.

The opening partnership of Hall and Long made early inroads and the backup bowling of 15 year old Jamie Hill was excellent(7-1-27-1). Stofer was run out and the other class batsman, Varaney, played beautifully until he was run out in the final over by Collins(dropping the catch on purpose no doubt!) with eight needed. Phillips also produced a miserly spell of 7-1-17-1 and youngsters Twyford and Maine provided good support.

A fantastic team effort on a difficult wicket which went down to the wire. This was village cricket at its best.

Man of the Match: Al Rix

LCC V Goodwood. Away.

40 overs

Goodwood 230 for 5 Lodsworth 118 all out Lodsworth Lost

Our last fixture found us at Goodwood, Always a cochlear challenge with clouds of Spitfires etc. for the revival weekend. Sadly for us James Hickey is moving to the boarders…at least he will still be in the United Kingdom, but for ten years he has been a stalwart of our team. Apart from his considerable style and skill with the bat, solid keeping and occasional spin bowling; we will miss his enthusiasm for the cake and beer and his generous good humour. Goodwood were as good as ever and we dropped a few difficult catches while they amassed some 230 for 5. Phillips was the pick of the attack with 37 for 3.It was a difficult and bruising afternoon in the field.

Our reply saw Jim take to the crease flanked by Lancaster bombers and with glorious flourish he hit 52 runs ably assisted by Hall (29) Cruikshank (25) and Clarke (10). Our openers however led a string of little ducklings behind with the last 7 batsmen achieving but 1 run!

MOTM. James Hickey

LCC V Parham Park. Away

Sussex Rules.

Parham: 169 all out Lodsworth 142 for 9. Match Drawn.

Parham’s innings was largely down to Williams, who scored a fine 101 not out. Hall being the best of the bowlers (28 for 3 from 12) aided with some firey bowling from Finn. We nearly all had a bowl and they went into tea with 169 on the board.

Lodsworth’s batting began well with a useful 26 from Hall. A splendid 54 from Finn Campbell and with Gough’s 22 and we were set fair. There was a little sulking and some unpleasant words about some marginal LBW decisions that some found unnecessary for a Sunday. Our concentration waned the middle order faltered and we were left with the still hopping Andy Long and Rob Collins to block out for a draw….probably the best result.

MOTM Finn Campbell

LCC V Lavant. Away.

Sussex Rules.

Lodsworth 151 all out: Lavant 151-7. Lodsworth lost.

Have soundly thrashed Lavant here last year and with a strong team this year, we turned out to find a ‘rustic’ wicket and not the most athletic bunch you might see in the field. Matt Hall (73) took to the wicket and with flair and a big pinch of luck, he made it all look easy. Fergus and Al added another 26 with big guns Alfie Bunker and Harry Dimond going out next, I swiftly juggled the order and I was suggesting that they should take it gently lest we appear rude….they were back with only 6 more on the board! With Ed Marland making the only other worthwhile contribution of 18, we were 151 all out and took tea ½ hr early.

In reply Lavant were not speedy but insisted they were entitled to bat our remaining time and despite some tight bowling from Phillips (19 for 2 from 11) and Hall (26 for 3 from 10) Lavant showed patience and tenacity and chipped off the runs for the loss of 7 wickets.

MOTM Matt Hall