Lavant vs Emsworth, 5th September

Emsworth chose to bat but another fine bowling performance from Lavant, for the second week running, kept the scoring rate in check and once Emery had been caught at mid wicket for 48 by a fine running catch from Hall, the Emsworth innings fell apart with three batsmen not troubling the scorers. Banks had another miserly four wicket haul, including two wicket maidens for seven runs in his six over spell. Ali and Berkley both chipped in with two wickets and three wickets respectively and Emsworth were all out for 86 an hour before tea. For once Lavant chased down the total with few alarms. The first wicket pair of Burford and Sands put on 66 runs and despite Brooker’s first ball trickling off his bat around his pads and nearly into the stumps before he kicked it away, the total was reached in just over an hours batting from Lavant who won the game by nine wickets

Lavant vs Lynchmere, 29th August

Banks had a “Stuart Broad” inspired spell of bowling with figures of 15-7-8-23 which tore apart the Lynchmere innings. Banks started his spell with a 2 wicket maiden and thereafter nothing would make him relinquish the ball. Banks was ably supported by miserly spells from Walmsley and young A Burford and despite three catches being dropped Lynchmere were all out for 85 nearly an hour before tea. It was a miserable afternoon to play cricket, either raining or spitting and the Lavant strip was soft and spongy with the fast bowlers finding it difficult to keep their footing. Tea was taken early and Lavant stated their reply cautiously as they’ve failed once already this season chasing a low total. The two openers fell cheaply as the ball spat off the damp strip but this brought Brooker and Burford to the crease and they took the game away from Lynchmere. Despite losing Burford’s wicket Lavant eased past Lyncmere’s total just as the heavens opened with a torrential downpour. This year it was a draw away at Lynchmere and a win on the return fixture for Lavant. It will be all to play for again next year.

Lavant vs Boxgrove, 1st August

The Lavant vs Boxgrove game is always a keenly contested derby match and Boxgrove were seeking to avenge their loss from the game earlier in the season. Lavant won the toss and elected to bat on green but firm Lavant strip. The first wicket fell cheaply but Brooker and Dale steadied the innings with Brooker taking control. There was a bit of a collapse in the middle order but Brooker completed his century and was eventually caught at fly slip from the only mistake he made in a chanceless innings. There was the usually flurry of runs and wickets as the innings drew to a close enabling Lavant to declare on 242 for 9 at tea, which was their best score by far this season. Lavant ate their tea thinking that another win was likely or at least the game would be a draw. Boxgrove had other ideas and their reply started steadily but two quick wickets gave Lavant hope of a win, however the third wicket partnership added 165 runs and they made batting look so easy, though this was helped by some wayward Lavant bowling. Catches were dropped, all of them difficult chances and with them Lavant’s hopes of winning the match faded. Despite Boxgrove losing a third wicket they won the match with 8 balls to spare with their own centurion not out on 123. This was another glorious afternoon’s cricket with nearly 500 runs scored and will be an afternoon to remember as a competitively but friendly game.

Lavant vs Ferring, 25th July

This was the return match from Lavant’s visit to Ferring the previous weekend where Ferring won with three balls to spare, so Lavant were looking to improve on their performance at their home ground. Ferring were invited to bat on a soggy green wicket where they found it difficult to score against some fine bowling particularly from Ali who ended up with figures of 10-3-2-15. Ritchie was the main stay of the Ferring innings, scoring 63 with a flawless batting display, until he was caught at long off from a steepling shot and a fine catch by Berkley. Ferring’s middle order all contributed well allowing them to declare at 171 for 8 at tea. Lavant’s reply started shakily with Rawnsley dropped in the first over and the first wicket falling in the second over. Rawnsley made the most of his reprieve and scored a belligerent 34 ably supported by Banks, 30, and this pair got close to winning the game before they were both caught in successive overs. Ali continued the onslaught with a very quick 21 before he too was caught and the tail couldn’t score the remaining runs with the match ending in a draw with Lavant on 158 for 8. This turned out to be a very fair result for two evenly matched sides and completed two enjoyable games of cricket.

Lavant vs Ebernoe, 11th July

Ebernoe won the toss and elected to bat on a fast green wicket and outfield. The opening pair added nearly 30 runs, with any shot that beat the ring of fielders racing away to the boundary. Thereafter Lavant gained control and wickets fell regularly as Lavant held all their catches until Ebernoe were 69 for 9. The last pair added 29 runs which was to prove crucial in the outcome of the match. Ebernoe were all out for 98 thirty minutes before tea. Lavant started well with the first wicket falling at 35 swiftly followed by a second wicket. There was a brief rally by Brooker and Burford to take the score to 62 at which point the Lavant innings imploded and the last seven wickets fell for 6 runs to leave Lavant 68 all out giving Ebernoe a deserved but unlikely win by 30 runs, almost matching the runs added by Ebernoe’s last wicket stand.

Lavant vs Old Barn, 6th June

Lavant’s opening partnership scored over 50 runs for the first wicket, something which hasn’t happened for many matches, on a glorious June afternoon. Old Barn recovered with three quick wickets until Brooker and Berkley steadied the innings. When these two batsmen were out there was another mini collapse until Burford and Banks added 45 for the 8^th wicket to allow Lavant to declare on 201 for 7 at tea which seemed a reasonable total to defend. Old Barn started the run chase swiftly and despite losing two early wickets, Ragless and Appleton kept up with the run rate, helped by Lavant’s poor fielding as they didn’t take any catches all afternoon from the many offered by the Old Barn batsmen. Eventually both of these batsmen were dismissed but this brought Purvey to the crease who took the game away from Lavant by scoring 57 very rapidly and ending the innings with a towering six over mid off onto the pavilion roof to win the game for Old Barn with 5 overs to spare and by 5 wickets.

Lavant vs Boxgrove, 30th May

Boxgrove only had eight players, including a sub from Lavant, so it was always going to be a strange game of cricket. Boxgrove batted first and started brightly but Ali and Davies struck in the sixth, seventh and ninth overs and Boxgrove were effectively 43 for 6. Wakefield fought a good rear guard action until he became Ali’s fourth wicket and this combined with two ducks in the lower order meant Boxgrove were all out for 88 and hour before tea. Williams opened the bowling for Boxgrove with a very tidy accurate spell against which Lavant found it hard to score. At the other end the bowling was more wayward tempting Lavant’s opening batsmen to go for their shots and perishing in the process until Brooker and Burford steadied the innings and Lavant eased past Boxgrove’s total for the loss of three wickets.

Lavant vs Lynchmere, 2nd May

Four batsmen dominated the game, two from each team, all of whom scored over 50. Lynchmere won the toss and asked Lavant to bat on an early season hard wicket. Lavant’s innings started slowly with both batsmen finding it hard to time the ball off the square. The first three wickets fell bringing Brooker and Burford to the crease and they started to take the game away from Lynchmere with a stand of over 130. Both batsmen fell in the final overs chasing runs but Lavant were able to declare on 201 for 5 at tea. Lynchmere’s reply was quickly underway with Hedges and Saulet finding the boundary with ease and the hundred partnership came up with more than 20 overs remaining for Lynchmere to chase down Lavant’s total. Both openers fell caught behind and Lynchmere’s lower order couldn’t keep up with the run rate. Berkley and Walmsley took three wickets between them but Lavant dropped too many catches as they tried to take the remaining wickets. Lynchmere’s innings ended on 165 for 6 with the game ending in a draw. This was a fair result for a good afternoon’s game between two evenly matched sides.