PART-TIME BOWLERS PLAY THEIR PART

By Glen Sands

Luddington went into their North Lindsey Division Three KO Cup Semi-Final against Everton 3rds without three of their regular bowlers but still produced a terrific performance to earn a Final berth against Upton cum Kexby at Barton on Sunday, August 22nd.
Everton chose to bat first on their synthetic wicket and began well, aided by the fact that opening bowler Barry O'Brien was having difficulty coming to terms with the slope on which he had to run before reaching the popping crease but he eventually got to grips with it and picked up the first wicket when trapping Guy Paxman LBW for four with the total on 35. That brought Tim Paxman to the middle to join Dan Brighton who had pounced on anything loose but he had reached 33 when he was caught at cover by Danny Taylor off the bowling of Geoff Smith, leaving Everton on a still healthy-looking 52 for 2. Tom Gibson made 14 before he became Smith's second victim when the home side had reached 71 and just after they had brought up double figures Tim Paxman was very unluckily run out when Anthony Fitzgerald deflected a drive onto the stumps, leaving him stranded when backing up. Home skipper Peter Dobson was next to go, bowled by Fitzgerald for 30 with the total on 118 and the impressive slow bowler picked up a second wicket when Shaun Leach was caught by Darren Clark having made just five runs. Richard Chambers was next to go without a run being added when he chipped a catch to Gareth Parkin off Steve Proctor who had been pressed into bowling for the first time in over six years such was the lack of regular bowling that Ludd were suffering. That man Fitzgerald struck again when trapping Ed Campbell LBW for five with the total on 137 but to their credit Everton battled hard and finished their 40 overs on a creditable 164 for 8, Steve Johnson hitting 18 not out and Glen Cruickshank on seven , although if Luddington had been offered that total at the start they would certainly have accepted it given their derth of bowling.
Luddington's response got off to a poor start when Danny Taylor was run out following a terrific bit of fielding, although there was a degree of misunderstanding involved between Taylor and Darren Clark who didn't fair much better when he was "yorked" by Glen Cruickshank for nine with the Luddington total on 24. Geoff Smith and Andy Lawson were brought together in the middle and as ever Lawson was at his beligerant best as he crashed the ball to all parts, racing to 29 in no time before mis-hitting a shot off the splice of his bat straight to Sammy Rehman, off Richard Chambers, leaving the Isle side on 58 for 3. The ship needed to be steadied and that's just what happened as Smith and Richard Wroot batted very sensibly against the young Everton bowling attack. Both batsmen punished any loose deliveries soundly and they soon began to guide Luddington into a winning position. Wroot in particular was imperious form and as they eased toward the finishing line hwe brought up his half century with anotehr sumtuos boundary. Smith appeared set to join him only to be superbly caught at cover by Gibson, off Chambers, on 47 with Ludd just ten runs from victory - but Wroot ensured that the target was reached as he finished on 56 not out, earning Luddington a comfortable 6 wicket victory.
Credit goes to Everton's youngsters who never gave up trying throughout the match and special mention has to go to the Luddington bowlers all of whom did really well, especially Smith, Fitzgerald and Proctor who seldom turn their arms over, which makes their efforts even more impressive.