DAZZLING DAZZER'S BOUNDARY BARRAGE

By Glen Sands

Luddington went into today's game against table-topping Barton Academy Vikings expecting a tough encounter - but in the end they ran out comfortable winners against a young Barton side who simply didn't perform to the best of their ability.
The Vikings batted first and suffered an early blow when opener Barnes had to retire with a back injury and his replacement Shreeve failed to get off the mark before he was caught at slip by Andy Lawson off the bowling of Matthew Mellers with the overall score on just six. David Bishop was next to go, bowled by the impressive Mellers who bowled an incredible 14 straight overs in the searing heat. Then, with the score on 23, he picked up a third wicket when bowling Matt Waller for 6. In form opener Bradley Graves, who hit a century just two weeks ago, had made only seven when he was superbly run out by quicksilver Arron Curry, but the Humbersiders then hit back with a stand of 44 between Nathan Jones and skipper Jeremy Evans as the game looked set to swing in their favour. Jones had reached 27 when he was bowled by the wily Barry O'Brien, and with the partnership broken Ludd began to pick up wickets on a regular basis. O'Brien had Steeper caught by Jimmy (Jonty) Roe and followed that by having the returning opener Barnes caught behind by Darren Clark for seven as the Vikings slipped to 93 for 8. Evans managed to keep the strike for a while and took the total past three figures, then number 10 Luke Waller was suckered into a second run by old head Kev Emerson, standing in for the injured Steve Proctor, and the innings finished on 114 all-out when Graham Clark took his first wicket to leave Evans on a defiant 43 not out, Mellers and O'Brien taking the bowling honours with 3 for 39 and 3 for 42 respectively.
The brothers Clark opened the innings for Luddington and from the start they batted really well against some rather lacklustre bowling.
Darren, in particular, was in fantastic form as he crashed the ball to all parts.
Brother Graham was somewhat more circumspect, reaching 20 before edging a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Waller off the bowling of his brother Jake, with the score on 75. Kristian Reed lasted just two deliveries before Waller took his second wicket, but Kev Emerson strode to the crease in yet another comeback and instantly saw Darren reach his half-century.
The boundary barrage continued from the dazzling Clark who ended the game on 79 not out.
But shot of the day had to be the perfectly excecuted on drive by Emerson who looked as if he had never retired as he eased to six not out.
So Luddington gained a terrific win against one of their likely rivals for the top-of-the-table slot with Darren Clark adding to his 71 against Upton a week earlier with another outstanding contribution. But it was a disappointing match for the visitors who just didn't produce a performance, much to the displeasure of skipper Jeremy Evans who was the only contributor for the Vikings on this occasion.
Next Sunday will see Luddington take on Misterton 2nds in the Cup, whilst Barton host Bottesford in the same competition - hoping for a stronger performance.