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Scorecard ; Photo Gallery
Match Report
The sound of willow on ball at Sharpham Road, the home of Cheddar Cricket Club, had a very special resonance on Sunday 19th August, as the Club entertained Lashings World XI with its galaxy of international cricketing stars. The event was part of the programme marking 125 years of cricket in the village which attracted a large crowd of enthusiasts despite the blustery cold weather.
The morning saw several of the Lashings players spending an hour coaching a group of youngsters from the very successful junior section of the Club, something none of them will ever forget.
Meanwhile, those who were fortunate enough to have secured tickets for the corporate lunch were gathering for pre-lunch drinks in the JG marquee. What followed during the next two and a quarter hours was high quality entertainment that was worth the entrance money alone during the lunch service. Comedians Scott Charlton and David Lee, MBE, took the assembled company by storm with their brilliant stand up act which had everyone in stitches – wonderful timing, splendid gags, great one liners and memorable ad libbing. Midst the merriment, they also managed to extract money from the punters through novel games and an array of auctions, all in aid of the Club’s development of additional facilities at Sharpham Road. Lashings Australian star Greg Blewett then entertained everyone with the career statistics of the international eleven about to face Cheddar, before the highly talented Henry Olonga (Zimbabwe) ended the lunch performing Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, for which he received a standing ovation.
Greg Blewett’s contribution had thrown down the gauntlet and Cheddar’s players responded from the moment they took the field, with two former England umpires Alan Whitehead and Merv Kitchen in charge, as Marvan Atapattu (Sri Lanka) and Rashid Latif (Pakistan) walked out to the middle to open the innings for Lashings.
Opening bowlers Steve Andrews (2 for 49) and skipper Terry Clark (2 for 16) set the tone from the off and this was sustained by the other five bowlers used – Dan Parfitt (2 for 22), Che Moore (1 for 32), Gavin Waite (1 for 21), Stuart Barnes and Matt Loughlin - as Clark made sure that everyone played a part in the game. The bowlers were aided by a fine fielding display by all of the team, with great catching and some excellent ground fielding. Latif was the first to go to a fine catch by Matt Loughlin, before Atapattu (35) and Blewett (51) gave substance the first half of the Lashings innings. Atapattu’s dismissal was followed in quick succession by those of Phil Defreitas (England), skipper Richie Richardson (West Indies) and Chris Cairns (New Zealand). Vasbert Drakes (West Indies) then joined Blewett whose innings ended when he holed out to Steve Andrews in the deep. Drakes (31) became ’keeper Ollie Norris’ third victim, adding his stumping to that of Cairns and a brilliant caught behind, standing up to Clark, to dismiss Richardson. With Olonga not troubling the scorers, guest ‘Star For The Day’ Simon Dee Shapland (Banwell & Churchill) and Tino Best (West Indies) completed the scoring for Lashings who made 168 for 8 from 35 overs, Nantie Hayward (South Africa) not batting.
Lashings settled principally for a spin attack, having learned from their experience in the middle that a square that had suffered from a lot of heavy rain (the playing strip was covered) was providing movement with a lack of bounce. Chasing 169 to win, Cheddar were soon in trouble with Greg Blewett (spin) and Tino Best (medium pace) sending Churches, James Callow and Andy Veal back to the pavilion with only a bye credited to the scoreboard. From the moment he got to the crease, Ollie Norris showed his class and supported by Mike Sims, Andy Frost and Gavin Waite played some wonderful shots all around the ground for a splendid 33, before being well caught at deep cover point. As Gavin Waite (35) then took up the cudgel, Loughlin and Andrews went swiftly and, at 92 for 8, Waite was then joined by skipper Clark (36 not out). Between them they took Cheddar to within twenty five runs of the target, when Waite became Lashings’ ninth victim. With Olonga taking the wicket of Che Moore with the last ball of the innings, Cheddar were all out 20 runs short of the target.
Man of the Match Ollie Norris said, “It was a truly great day and one that I’ll never forget, enjoyed by players and spectators alike. My thanks go to everyone involved in bringing this fantastic opposition to Cheddar – simply fabulous.”
Cheddar skipper Terry Clark said, “For me, in my long career in sport, this has been one of the greatest of honours, captaining Cheddar against these international stars of cricket. I was proud of the way the players fielded and bowled to keep Lashings under pressure. It was a momentous day for the Club and one that all of us will recall as the best day in our playing careers. It was good to see so many people supporting us despite the cold weather. On behalf of the squad, my thanks go to all who contributed to making the dream a reality. Speaking to Alvin Kallicharan he described it as “One of the best for Lashings this season”, and umpires Merv Kitchen and Alan Whitehead agreed that they had had a wonderful day. It was a real team effort across a wonderful and very special club.”
Chairman Brian Kirkup said, “It has been a wonderful way in which to mark 125 years of cricketing history in Cheddar. As I said in my programme notes, the day enabled us to recall all who have laid down lasting and memorable traditions, to look to those who today sustain the strength and security of those foundations and to those, who in future years, will honour the playing fields in our name, developing and enhancing the reputation of this fine village through the game of cricket. My warmest congratulations go to all the players who performed so well on the field of play. Lashings did us proud and to our principal sponsors, Formpro Mail Marketing of Bristol and the Bath Arms Hotel of Cheddar, and everyone who made this possible, a very big thank you. It has been a day we will all remember.”
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