BUZZ LIGHT YEARS FROM RETIREMENT?

MATCH REPORT
By Glen Sands

Luddington were denied the opportunity to close the gap on Misterton 2nds at the top of the North Lindsey League Division Three by the weather after their bowlers had given them a great chance bwhen bowling Upton cum Kexby out for 84.
On winning the toss Gareth Parkin invited Upton cum Kexby to bat first on a damp wicket and runs were at a premium as the first seven overs were maidens ! During that time opener Nick Ward-Lowery was run out when trying to take a single to the electric fielding of Martin Fletcher whose excellent throw was right over the stumps for Steve Proctor to whip off the bails then Shaun Metcalfe and Jack Senerscall batted well to take the total to 25 before the latter had a rush of blood and swiped across a straight delivery from Graham Clark having made 13. Will Birkett joined Metcalfe and they added a dozen only for the opener to hoist a simple catch to Fletcher off Barry (Buzz) O'Brien for 12 leaving Kexby on 37 for 3. Birkett was looking good and had just begun to take the game to Luddington when he absolutely hammered the ball back at O'Brien who stuck out his right hand to take the most incredible caught and bowled , stunning the young Kexby batsman who had made 14 then Clark picked up a second wicket when bowling M Green with a beauty that moved off the seam. Will Cawte had played some majestic straight drives and was on 12 when he feathered a catch to wicket keeper Steve Proctor off Danny Taylor , exposing the home sides tail although home skipper Ben Alsop was playing well. Arron Curry had Marriott caught by Taylor without troubling the scorers ,then Taylor bowled debutant Brightman with the total on 79 as the clouds became darker and ever more threatening. Alsop was bowled by a beauty from Taylor with the score on 84 then Curry finished things off when having Tom Lovely caught by fielder of the match Martin Fletcher as the rain began to fall.
After the teams had partaken of tea they returned to discover the rain falling ever increasingly heavier and it took a further half an hour for the umpires to determine that conditions had deteriorated enough to abandon the match meaning that the teams share one point each. Five of the Upton cum Kexby batsmen got off to a start only to fall in the teens whilst Luddington's bowlers shared the wickets around with Graham Clark , Barry O'Brien and Arron Curry picking up two each and Danny Taylor 3 for 11 from his four overs but in the end the weather was the winner, leaving Kexby to look forward to a home match against Normanby Park and Luddington a top of the table clash at Misterton 2nds on Sunday.