EVERTON 3rds v LUDDINGTON - NORTH LINDSEY DIV 3 KNOCKOUT CUP

Luddington knocked out the Division Three Cup holders in what was a fantastic match played in a good spirit by both sides, WRITES GLEN SANDS.
Everton won the toss and chose to bat first but quickly lost Ed Campbell , trapped LBW by Matthew Mellers for just a single with the total on nine after which fellow opener Dn Brighton and Steve Johnson took the score past the half century mark with some excellent shots. That partnership was ended when Johnson was run out for eleven which brought Bobby Johnson to the crease who made a quickfire 19 before he was well caught by Darren Clark off Arron Curry with the overall total on 88. Brighton continued to bat well as the sun beat down and his skipper Sean Leach was with him as the total passed the three figure mark. It stood at 110 when Leach was bowled by Matt Mellers for six but there was no respite for the Luddington bowlers as Robert Hunter-Shaw strode to the middle and continued the quickening run rate. Brighton brought up his half century then with the score on 151 Hunter-Shaw was trapped LBW by the delighted Darren Clark who was given a rare opportunity to bowl his spin. By now Brighton was finding it tough as the hot weather took it's toll and he was brilliantly run out by a direct hit on the stumps by Curry having scored an exceptional 85. Ryan Garner became Clark's second victim when he had made just three and Glen Cruickshank was eighth man out for seven when bowled by Jamie Arrowsmith with the total on 189. Last man out was Alan Cruickshank , run out for just a single from the penultimate delivery of the innings , leaving Everton on 190 , a total that Luddington were relatively pleased with given their indifferent fielding display and the short boundary which they felt they could put to good use. Matthew Mellers took 2 for 46 from his 10 overs and Darren Clark an impressive 2 for 21 to enhance his future hopes of becoming an all rounder.
Clark's batting prowess has never been in doubt and he showed his class along with young talent Joe Woolhouse as they put on 79 for the first wicket to set Ludd up for a successful run chase. They were helped when Everton's usually reliable opener Glen Cruickshank had to come off after just one over and with spin bowler Matt Gorman and Robert Hunter-Shaw bowling quite well the Isle sides openers had to be at their best to keep the scoeboard ticking. As the heat began to take it's toll on the fielding side Clark and Woolhouse upped their game , bringing up a half century opening stand before Woolhouse , having struck a fabulous six into the nearby bowling green , was caught by Steve Johnson for a well constructed 29. Danny Taylor joined Clark at the crease and stated his intentions with a clubbing boundary from his first delivery.. Clark was just one shy of a deserved half century when he edged a catch to Ryan Garner off Matt Gorman with the total on 97 which brought vice captain Andy Lawson to the middle. His first delivery was duelly deposited out of the ground into a nearby field as Ludd began to push the scoring rate on , then came a near defining moment when Taylor was very ulucky to be given out caught by wicket keeper Garner off home skipper Sean Leach off what appeared to be an above waist high no ball. Four balls later and Andy Lawson was back in the pavilion having been well caught by Bobby Johnson for a rapid 24 which brought Everton right back into contention and saw them visibly lifted. Ludd skipper Gareth Parkin was hampered by a troublesome hamstring and made just four before being caught by that man Bobby Johnson , this time off Dan Brighton's bowling and at 142 for 5 their target of 191 to win appeared a long way off. However veteran wicket keeper Steve Proctor and Jamie Arrowsmith began to put together an exceptional stand with some outstanding shots. Proctor blasted five boundaries whilst Arrowsmith hit three along with two searing maximums to take Ludd to within seven of victory but to their credit Everton refused to lie down and struck back when Hunter-Shaw bowled Proctor who had made 23. Andy Clark then joined the impressive Arrowsmith who blasted the winning runs high over mid off to take his personal total to 33 not out and guide the Isle side into the Semi Finals where they will meet Broughton 4ths in July.
So it was Luddington who squeeed home in what was a terrific match that was a credit to all who played in it. Everton must wait for a couple of weeks before returning to action but a cock a hoop Luddington will travel to Normanby Park in great form on Sunday where they will look to continue their 1005 start to the season