BY GLEN SANDS
Luddington travelled to Messingham for their first game of the 2013 season following their title winning campaign but the game was in doubt on arrival as the air was full of drizzle. Both captains , Danny Rands of Messingham and Luddington's Gareth Parkin met with umpires Steve Dixon and Lee Stothard saying that they were keen to at least make a start and with all parties in agreement Luddington took first knock in far from ideal conditions. Graham Clark was out early , caught in the covers by Nick White off Chris Dawson then Danny Taylor perished with the total on 18 , bowled by Cameron Sanderson for three. Skipper Parkin joined Darren Clark in the middle as the drizzle increased but they carried on regardless before Clark was trapped LBW by Dawson for 11 which heralded the arrival of Andy Lawson to the crease. Almost immediately the game began to change as he opened his account with a towering six , then repeated the shot just two balls later. Parkin nudged seven singles before he was caught behind by the impressive New Zealand wicket keeper/batsman Cole Briggs off Messingham debutant Sam Yates which left Ludd on 49 for 4 but Jamie Arrowsmith then joined the already confident Lawson and they quickly took the score to 90. Slow bowler Ian Sowerby then bowled Arrowsmith for five , bringing Ludd's own debutant Alan Watkins out to join the ever dominant Lawson who brought up his half century off just 29 deliveries as the inclement weather eased. By now he was in top form , smashing the ball to all parts. Watkins was bowled by Mark Greenwood for six , bringing Oliver Saxon out to the middle who had the good sense to farm the strike to his partner as often as he could. Lawson's hundred arrived in typical fashion with a crashing boundary and in no time at all the score had reached 196 with all bowling being dispatched to all parts. He eventually hoisted a catch to Nick White who took a good catch in the deep off the bowling of Sanderson with his total on 128 from just 74 deliveries , the big man receiving a standing ovation from both sets of players for such a magnificent display. Arron Curry joined Saxon to take the final score to 214 for 7 , Saxon finishing on 18 and Curry on 12 , leaving Messingham with a huge task if they were to pick up an opening day victory.
Home skipper Danny Rands , opening with youngster Cole Briggs , set about the Luddignton bowling with real purpose and in no time at all they had reached 64 and he was in sight of a half century but he mistimed a shot off Matthew Mellers on 45 and was caught by Graham Clark. Mark Greenwood and the diminutive New Zealander took the total to 97 but were then involved in a mix up that saw the former run out following good work by Alan Watkins and it was'nt long before Messingham lost two further wickets when Steve Walker was bowled by Mellers and Elliott Markham was out to a quite stunning catch by Arron Curry off Darren Clark.. Nick White and Briggs took the score to 128 but just when it appeared the youngster was set to make his first half century on English soil he attempted a third on the arm of Darren Clark and was run out for 49. White was left to bat with the tail as wickets began to tumble, Neil Birkitt being bowled by Curry , as was Cameron Sanderson whilst Ian Sowerby was caught behind by skipper Parkin off Darren Clark and there was a third run out when Sam Yates was sacrificed in an attempt to get White on strike. There was still time for him to show his class though as he blasted a quickfire 72 not out with eight sixes but it proved to be just too big a task with the innings closing on 202 for 9 , some 12 runs short of the Luddington target.
This was a terrific game played in a splendid spirit in far from ideal conditions with Andy Lawson quite rightly taking the plaudits along with Nick White for Messingham but congratulations should go to everyone involved including the two umpires who stayed out despite the unfavourable weather at the off. Luddington travel to Hirst Priory on May 19th to take on neighbours Outcasts in the Cup whilst Messingham take on Barton Acadamy Vikings whom they meet in their next three natches , the first in the Cup before home and away league games. Everyone will be hoping that the weather improves for those matches !
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