Full Fixture Information

Result Descriptiom

Draw

Man of the Match

Mark Davis - wickets & runs

Champagne Moment

Matt Stickland's Blackfoot punch through cover up the hill for four

Teddy Bear Moment

Tim Lawrence's drop off his own bowling

Full Match Report

Lynchmere v East Meon (Away)
East Meon win toss and bat.
East Meon 165 all out 15 minutes before tea.
Lynchmere 143-9 ? Match Drawn

It was a double-jumper, keep the blazer on, hands in pockets sort of day as we headed up the A3 towards Lynchmere - it?s a funny little pitch at Lynchmere, surrounded by a fence (which you have to clear for six, hitting it on the full is only four) and with a big slope running down to the pavilion not to mention the huge tree in the middle of the outfield.

We won the toss and I decided we should have a bat ? Chris Hollis & Tim Lawrence (back in the UK for a weekend in between holidays) opened the batting. It really couldn?t have started better. Their opening bowler, who came in off a very long run was punched through the covers three times in a row by Chris, before he bowled a beamer with the fifth ball of the day that splatted Chris?s thumb and ended his innings on 12 retired hurt before the first over was out. Poor old Chris, it was a nasty blow and doubly infuriating to be injured by a no-ball.

Mark Davis joined Tim at the crease and they set about building the platform adding about 30 before Tim was out caught behind ? walking before the umpire had a chance to give him out.

Ollie Cooke then came out to bat at four, in his first game of the summer. It was probably pretty challenging ? with two very good bowlers at each end and their Hollis-splatting opener being as quick as anything we?ve seen this season. Too quick for Ollie as it transpires, and he was soon bowled without troubling the scorers.

This just brought James Redmayne to the crease, who?d managed to wolf down his lasagne and arrive at Lynchmere in time to see Chris Hollis batting but only just?. James was soon into his stride batting very nicely and putting on 30 odd with Mark, before Mark was bowled by a sharp delivery from their opener for a very nice 26. I joined James at the crease and scratched around for a bit before being bowled for 14 with the score on 98.

James & Lakh pushed on with James getting to 50 before immediately finding mid-wicket and being caught for exactly 50 ? the first time in 6 innings he has been out for the village which at last finally gives him an average of 465(!)
Lakh and Matt S batted well together moving the score along to about 160 odd before the last three wickets fell in a bit of a rush and we were all out for 165.

Tea was a fairly moderate affair, after becoming used to a certain standard of tea, it felt a bit like we were back in the 80s and we almost missed Jeff?s cheese and ketchup sandwiches (only almost mind).

But then it was time to brave the cold and see if we could take 10 wickets.
Dave Rees and Matt S opened the bowling ? Dave Rees (6-2-23-0) bowled nicely for no reward, and Matt S (8-1-27-1) also bowled well managing to bowl their opener in the 14th over with the score on 50.

Mark Davis replaced Dave Rees and although not immediately successful did look threatening. But after the first hour the score was 78-1 going into the final twenty overs, which meant we needed nine wickets and they need about 90 runs at under five an over to win.

Lynchmere definitely had their noses in front ? but Mark was bowling well and began to chip away at their batting order with good support from Aaron Rees (5-0-30-1) and despite some gasps and squeals and some oohs and aahs every time he bowled a vaguely straight and threatening ball he could only pick up one wicket.

Meanwhile at the other end Mark carried on chipping away and in his 10th over picked up his fifth wicket when I took a sharp catch at short extra cover. Lynchmere were now about 125-7 needing more than seven an over with EMCC with six overs go get the final 3 wickets.

Tim Lawrence (5-1-15-2) having replaced Aaron was now into his stride ? his accurate dibbly dobblers proving very difficult to get away. But it was at this stage that the pressure got to the fielders. James R shelled a hard but catchable chance at long-on off Mark, Tim missed one off his own bowling that he would expect to catch 99 times out of a 100.

And, so, with one over to go and 30 required and two wickets needed Tim stepped up to bowl it. His first ball beat the batsman and perhaps Mooro was a bit unlucky not to make the stumping; he was then deposited into the field for the only six of the day and then promptly bowled the batsman which left us two balls to take the final wicket, but it wasn?t to be. Mark finishing up with (13-0-39-5)
But despite the cold (and the tea) it was a great afternoon ? the match ebbing and flowing, and everyone chipping in with either runs or wickets ? so thanks team.