2010 Season Match Reports

Lavant vs DACD, 25th September

The shadows were lengthening and the temperature failing as Lavant played their last game of the season against DACD. Lavant lost the toss and were asked to bat on a “sticky dog” wicket. Wyatt bowled a good line and Lavant lost their first two wickets with only five runs scored. Elphick and Dale staged a recovery with Elphick just failing to reach his fifty before being bowled. The rest of the Lavant batsmen all contributed with Banks scoring a rapid 43 not out so that Lavant could declare on 145 for 9 at tea. Lavant’s skipper Wignall had set the Lavant batsmen a target of 150 on this pitch as defendable total before they batted, so Lavant felt confident that the game was there to be won. DACD started their reply brightly but soon lost both their openers, one of the DACD openers taking on the Lavant fielders and failing to make the suicidal second run. DACD staged a recovery before a bowling change brought two quick wickets and DACD decided to bat out the remaining overs for a draw. The Lavant bowlers worked hard taking another five wickets with Rawnsley taking a wicket on the final ball of his 2010 season but Lavant could not make the final break thorough and DACD ended on 98 for 9. Lavant have had a successful friendly season, winning nine, drawing seven and only losing four matches under skipper Wignall’s leadership.

Lavant vs IBM South Hants, 12th September

An early start to the game as the season draws to a close meant the pitch was still damp and Wignall had no hesitation in asking IBM to bat when he won the toss. His decision was justified with IBM losing their first wicket to Rawnsley at the end of the second over with four runs on the board. Stross produced a fine spell of pace bowling and destroyed the IBM top order batting, first bowling the dangerous Foster round his legs and clean bowling his other victims returning figures of 6 for 51. Banks and Rawnsley were their usual miserly self sharing the other four wickets between them and IBM were skittled out for 74. Lavant’s reply started steadily with 22 runs scored before the fall of the first wicket to Gladstone who quickly captured Lavant’s other opener in a controlled display of slow off cutter bowling. This brought Burford and Brooker to the crease and despite the break for tea they eased past the IBM total with out further alarms to give Lavant a well deserved win by eight wickets against an usually poor performance from IBM South Hants.

Lavant vs Old Hambledonians, 4th September

Skipper Wignall decided the only way to win the match after inspecting the placid strip was to put the opposition in and with his strong top six batting line up chase down the Old Hambledonians total. Wignall won the toss and invited the Old Hambledonians to bat, they made a solid start with Barstow and Bartlett having a partnership of 87 until Barstow was caught in the covers. Banks bowled unchanged for 22 overs and took 3 for 51. Old Hambledonians declared on 182 for 6 at tea from 45 overs with Bartlett, who had been dropped five times not out on 82. Lavant’s reply started slowly and the two openers were soon back in the pavilion, however a magnificent innings of 99 not out from Brooker with able support from Burford, Banks and Stevens saw Lavant pass the Old Hambledonians total with three balls to spare from their 35 overs, Brooker hit the winning four through mid wicket justifying skipper Wignall’s faith in the ability of his top six batsmen to chase down a total.

Lavant vs Lynchmere, 28th August

At 16 for 8 Lynchmere were in desperate trouble. Lavant won the toss and invited Lynchmere to bat on a wet but drying pitch. An inspired spell of swing bowling from Stross, (6-1-6-9) ripped through the Lynchmere batsmen, at one stage taking four wickets in one over for no runs. Banks as usual provided support from the other end taking 3-9. Bowling changes and three dropped catches let Lynchmere recover slightly to 68 all out with Bridgman top scoring with 43. Batting conditions had improved by the time Lavant started their reply. The two Lavant openers fell cheaply but Burford and Elphick steadied the run chase and cruised past the Lynchmere total with Elphick hitting the winning runs with a straight six over deep mid off on the stroke of tea. A fifteen over beer match followed after tea with Lavant batting first and posting 122, Lynchmere were never up with the run rate and were all out for 62.

Lavant vs Tweflth Man, 12th August

Some good individual performances enlivened a regulation draw for Twelfth Men’s first visit to Lavant. Twelfth probably regretted their decision to put Lavant in on a track with residual dampness once Charlie Alsop had removed Elphick with the score on 15. Thereafter the old firm of Peter Burford and Steve Brooker added 122 in good time before Brooker holed out for 88 to Alsop, who then bowled Burford immediately after he completed his 50. Lavant pushed on to 194-5 at tea. Alsop ended with 3-47 from 15 overs and Foster with 2-42.

Lavant’s seamers failed to breakthrough, without giving much away, so skipper Wignall turned to Hall’s enticing slow left arm to open up the game. Hall duly obliged with a flurry of runs and wickets and when Rawnsley bowled Saleem first ball Twelfth were in trouble at 44-4. Enter Alsop who, with his brother Will, added a brisk 59 until Nichols (2-13) snared them both for 31 and 30 respectively, before suffering his signature pulled muscle. Renfrew and Foster then batted out untroubled for 121-6 at the close. Hall claimed 3-47, whilst Rawnsley recorded a miserly 11-6-11-1.

Lavant vs Boxgrove, 31st July

Boxgrove and Lavant fought out a gritty draw on a lively pitch that Boxgrove had been unable to use since May because of pavilion vandalism. Boxgrove having been put in, Wilson made the breakthrough, bowling Barrett with the score on 27, then immediately having the dangerous Symonds caught at slip. Chamberlain (47) and Holl (33) then added a crucial 69, Chamberlain, in particular, controlling the extra bounce well, before Banks dismissed them both in the space of 7 runs. Hall and Donovan then got the score up to 138-6 at tea. Wilson claimed an exceptional 3-13 from 10 overs and Banks 3-39.

Lavant were rocked immediately when Elphick could only glove a vicious lifter from the frequently unplayable Hall to gully. Taylor and David Burford grafted 56 before Chamberlain lured Burford (17) down the wicket and had him stumped. Stevens contributed a useful 19, but Lavant could not capitalize on the opportunity presented when Hall took a rest and the momentum was further slowed when Taylor suffered cramp and required a runner. His dismissal for 55 by Langton (14-3-33-4) and the return of Hall (15-9-21-3) precipitated a clatter of wickets and Lavant were obliged to hang on for 104-8 at the close.

Lavant vs Tillington, 25th July

Lavant won the toss and asked Tillington to bat. The ground was hard and fast with a slope in most directions which meant Lavant would have to field well to keep Tillington’s score to a manageable total, anything under 200 ought to be possible to be chased by Lavant in their innings. Lavant made early inroads into the Tillington line up dismissing their first two batsmen very cheaply, Stevens taking both wickets. Hodd and Westmore steadied the innings with a century partnership before Hodd was clean bowled by Stross. Banks, as usual, pegged back the run rate per over, taking five wickets in the process but Tillington were able to declare at tea on 192 for 9. Lavant were not up to their usual standard in the field dropping four catches. After a splendid tea, perhaps a cunning ploy on the part of Tillington, Lavant set about chasing down the total and started well but Murray’s bowling was hard to score from and once P Burford, D Burford and Elphick were back in the pavilion the chase became too hard and Lavant concentrated on survival. Tillington rotated their bowlers in an attempt to take the final two wickets but the game ended in a draw with Lavant on 106 for 8. All the Lavant batsmen were caught trying to score runs but the Tillington bowling attack proved to be too accurate for them.

Lavant vs Droxford, 18th July

Lavant proved too strong for Droxford in a re-arranged fixture after both sides were let down by their intended opponents in the run up to the weekend. Droxford’s idyllic setting promised a memorable afternoon and, on winning the toss, the hosts elected to bat on a slow wicket exhibiting some variable bounce. Lavant had the bowling to exploit conditions in which timing the ball was always difficult as Droxford attempted to hit themselves out of trouble. Wickets fell steadily as Droxford subsided to 62 all out and only Holman (12) and Toman (13) reached double figures. The ever miserly Rawnsley, toiling up the hill, picked up 2-7, whilst weekend debutant Nichols grabbed 2-10 before pulling a muscle. However, paceman Stross, enjoying his first weekend outing of the season, topped them both with 3-1 from just 12 balls.

Lavant avoided the perils of chasing low totals as the heroes of the previous week’s record 179-run stand, Brooker (38 n.o.) and Peter Burford (19 n.o.), knocked off the runs either side of tea, after Channon claimed the wicket of Wignall early on.

Lavant vs Stansted, 10th July

A record second wicket stand of 179 put Lavant on the road to an emphatic win against under strength Stansted. Batting first on a firm Oaklands Park track, Lavant took 6 overs to reach double figures, losing Dale in the process. Thereafter Peter Burford and Steve Brooker saw off the opening attack and then accelerated as the heat began to take its toll on Stansted. Scoring at 8 an over they added 179 before Burford was lbw to Falconer for 85. Brooker went on to complete his ton before being bowled by Pollard for 113 as Lavant amassed a daunting 258-3 from just 39 overs at tea.

Stansted openers Brown (24) and Blakey (25) began brightly, exploiting attacking fields and the lightning outfield to race to 50 in the seventh over, but Stevens and Rawnsley struck back to stem the flow. Banks then broke the key partnership of Rogers and Henwood and Lavant shuffled their bowlers to work through the order, wrapping things up with 2 overs to spare and only Henwood (24) able to offer sustained resistance. Stevens, Rawnsley and Banks picked up 3 wickets apiece.

Lavant vs Ashling, 12th June

Lavant won the toss and invited Ashling to bat first on a warm summer afternoon. Ashling were soon in trouble with both openers back in the pavilion with only two runs scored. Shaw was bowled off his legs which left Cooley and Balingal to steady the innings. Balingal took on the fielders in the deep and quickly scored 23 before he fell to a sharp catch from Brooker. Cooley was caught low down at mid wicket and the rest of the Ashling side collapsed to a total of 47 all out in 22 overs. Lavant’s reply started slowly with lots of time available. Burford was bowled trying to force the pace of the scoring against Loobser, Elphick thumped a boundary over the covers before being stumped. Lavant eased past the Ashling total with a square cut to the point boundary giving them a win by eight wickets.

Lavant vs Sussex Ukrainians, 19th June

Lavant won the toss and batted on a glorious afternoon in Hove. The opening bowlers from the Sussex Ukrainians both bowled a tight line and length with the reward of the wicket of Burford when he was caught from a leading edge. Dale and Elphick took the total to 92 without further loss when they were both dismissed in quick succession. Elphick scored his first half century for Lavant and there’s the expectation of many more to come from him. The other Lavant batsmen made the most of a good batting strip and exceptionally fast outfield to post their best total this season of 178 for 6. The Ukrainians reply got off to a poor start losing their first two wickets for three runs. Richardson and Heron steadied the innings before both were dismissed by debutant Wilson. This brought Sommerfield and Semple to the crease and they took on the bowling trying to chase down the total. Semple fell to a sharp catch at long on and the Ukrainians shut up shop, despite losing a couple of more wickets, Lavant couldn’t remove the tail enders and the game ended in a draw

Lavant vs Boxgrove, 5th June

Boxgrove won the toss and asked Lavant to bat on the warmest afternoon of the year so far. Lavant made a steady start, then a couple of wickets fell in quick succession putting Boxgrove on top. Stevens had other ideas and played his best innings of the season so far, carrying his bat for 51. With support from the rest of the team Lavant were able to declare for 153 at tea. Stevens continued his fine form with the ball, producing many unplayable balls, swinging away late from the batsmen. This induced an edge from Thorpe who was smartly caught at slip by Hall. Stevens continued dismissing the next two Boxgrove batsmen cheaply. Hall and Banks put a stranglehold on the run rate and it looked as if the match was drifting towards a draw. Rawnsley returned for a second spell and together with Banks took five quick wickets, although Boxgrove couldn’t win the game, a win for Lavant all of a sudden seemed possible. A dropped catch, for the tenth wicket, in the penultimate over meant that Boxgrove survived for a draw. Both teams will be looking forward to another good game for the return fixture at the end of July.

Lavant vs Rogate, 30th May

Lavant won the toss and chose to field against a weak Rogate side who were bowled out for 57. Despitge two dropped catches Banks took for 4 for 11. Stevens as usual bowled with pace and accuracy down the hill taking 4 for 28 with Elphick taking three good catches in the gully. Howick, playing his first Sunday game for Lavant cleaned up the tail with some fine swing bowling. Lavant changed their batting order to involve everyone in the game, and after a few stutters, Elphick and Burford eased past the total to give Lavant a win before tea.

Lavant vs Ferring, 23rd May

Two overs remaining, 9 runs required, 2 wickets to fall, any of four possible results could have happened. Wignall bowled the penultimate over for a maiden, one over, nine runs required. Miller was run out backing up and the total required was six runs from four balls for a Ferring win or one wicket for Lavant to win. In the end the exciting match ended in a draw. Lavant chose to bat and had a disastrous start, at the end of four overs they had lost two wickets and managed to score just one run. The totally quickly became 11 for 3, 27 for 4 then 31 for 5. A partnership between Elphick and Banks developed and a recovery started. Banks played a fine innings reaching 70 before being bowled in the final over of Lavant’s innings. Ferring were set 157 to win. Ferring’s reply got off to a good start until Isham fell to a catch in the deep, the middle order collapsed and Lavant pressed for further wickets receiving encouragement when Greenway was caught by Wignall at deep mid off for 47. Ferring’s tail pushed for the runs for victory but came up three runs short to draw the match which in the end was a fair result for both sides.

Lavant vs Ferring, 15th May

Lavant travelled to Ferring for the first of their two fixtures. On another dull afternoon, Lavant won the toss and chose to bat. Lavant’s opening pair progressed steadily until Rawnsley, promoted up the order, holed out to an exactly placed fielder at deep backward point. Brooker continued his good form until he miss hit a drive which spiralled high up to mid off where it was held by Lawrence. Stevens hit some fine shots until he fell to a tumbling catch on the deep backward square boundary. Lavant’s innings closed on 147, which was probably 50 runs short of a defendable total on this fast pitch. Amjad was the pick of the Ferring bowlers taking 4 for 18. Ferring’s reply got off to a stuttering start with the opening pair falling cheaply. This brought Amjad to the crease and he started to score freely reaching his half century when Ferring’s total was just over 60. Amjad eventually fell to another sharp catch by Stevens at mid on but there were sufficient overs and wickets remaining for Ferring to ease past the total with just over an over to spare. Lavant host the return fixture against Ferring this Sunday.

Lavant vs Stansted, 8th May

Lavant won the game with the last ball of the match when Stansted were bowled out for 99 chasing a Lavant total of 137. Lavant batted first and a fine half century from Brooker with support from the rest of the Lavant team posted a score of 137 on yet another wet and cold afternoon playing on the picturesque ground in front of Stansted House. Stansted’s reply was held together by Graham, who when he reached his half century had scored most of the runs in Stansted’s total of just over 60. A superb catch by Steven’s at deep mid on from Hall’s bowling brought Graham’s innings to an end. Stansted were still chasing the runs but Banks and Newman were accurate and economical as always and Stansted’s wickets began to fall. Another stinging one handed catch from Burford a deep point put the end to the run chase and Stansted started to bat out for the draw. Rawnsley had other ideas and the took two wickets in the last over, the last wicket falling on the last ball of the match to give Lavant their second win of the season, Rawnsley taking 5 wickets for 17 runs in another good spell.

Lavant vs Lynchmere, 1st May

Lavant hosted Lynchmere on a dismal rainy afternoon. Lavant batted first in the difficult conditions, but gradually scoring became easier as the rain eased and Lavant’s first four batsmen made useful scores. There was the usual flurry of wickets tumbling towards the end of the Lavant innings as runs were sought. Lynchmere started their reply steadily but Stevens made the breakthrough with their score on 20. Banks and Rawnsley had fine spells as Lynchmere wickets fell at regular intervals. A superb catch from Burford saw the end of Lynchmere’s skippers innings. Lynchmere were all out with five overs to spare giving Lavant their first win of the season.

Lavant vs Froxfield, 25th April

Lavant hosted Froxfield for their first game of the season. Froxfield batted first and Lavant contained them well regularly taking wickets despite some dropped catches. Rawnsley had a fine spell taking 4 wickets for 18 runs, Banks as usual, had an economical spell, holding down one end. Froxfield started to accelerate towards the end of their innings and almost doubled their score in their last half hour of batting. Lavant’s reply started poorly loosing their first wicket with only 3 runs on the board. None of the Lavant batsmen managed to establish themselves, often playing too early and lofting simple catches for Froxfield to gratefully accept. With eleven overs to go Lavant were out of the game with their last pair of Davis an Newman at the wicket. The last pair slowly whittled down the overs heading for a draw, but Froxfield finally secured a deserved victory with three balls to spare.

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