GOLDEN GRAHAM TAKES 7 FOR 6

NORTH LINDSEY LEAGUE MATCH REPORT
By Glen Sands

When Luddington had lost five wickets with just 19 on the board you wouldn't have given them a prayer of winning against a buoyant Everton side who bowled superbly, but the Luddington tail wagged to lift them to 86 and following a sharpe shower after the tea interval which spiced up the wicket the Isle side ripped through the visitors to gain an unlikely victory which puts them right in the mix for promotion to Division Two.
Skipper Gareth Parkin won the toss and chose to bat first but things did'nt go to plan as Ludd quickly lost three wickets with the total on 16. Graham Clark was first to go . LBW to Danny Leach for eight then Oliver Saxon went , caught by wicket keeper Dave Codd from the very next delivery. Darren Clark edged a catch to Codd off Glen Cruickshank in the next over having scored six then Andy Lawson became Codd's third victim , again off Cruickshank and Gareth Parkin went the same way to leave Ludd deep in the mire at 19 for 5 ! Danny Taylor and Steve Proctor dug in , taking the total to 56 before Taylor was bowled for 13 by Ryan Kisby and without a further run being added Proctor ( for an invaluable 21 ) and Martin Fletcher were back in the changing room , the score then standing at 56 for 8. Arron Curry and Matthew Mellers then put together a terrific stand of 30 before the latter was caught and bowled by Cruickshank for 14 then Barry O'Brien was bowled to bring the innings to a close , Curry finishing on 11 not out whilst Glen Cruickshank ended with excellent figures of 5 for 17 for Everton.
The visitors response began under cloudy skies and with the conditions suiting his bowling Graham Clark produced his best ever figures. Brother Darren took a sharpe catch at slip to remove Dan Leach for four then Steve Johnson was run out by Darren's direct hit as the rain began to fall. Sean Leach was bowled by Graham Clark after which the umpires took the players off the field for half an hour due to the weather and once they returned to the middle the track was far more difficult to bat on. Mills edged a catch to Steve Proctor off Matthew Mellers without scoring , leaving the luckless visitors on 8 for 4 , then ten more were added before Clark struck again , having Garner caught at gully by Mellers for three. Ryan Kisby flashed a catch to Proctor from the next delivery from Clark who was nigh on unplayable and he then bowled Gibson for eight with the total on 23 to continue his one man mission. In truth the Luddington fielding was exceptional as was the case when Dave Codd was superbly caught at slip by Darren Clark off his brother to make it 24 for 8 then Proctor took an even better diving one handed stunner off Matthew Mellers bowling to the amazement of his team mates. Graham Clark then wrapped things up when bowling Glen Cruickshank to finish with the most incredible figures of 7 for 6 from 7.3 overs thus earning Luddington a quite remarkable victory.
In truth Everton had the misfortune of having to bat on a rain affected wicket after having bowled superbly themselves in reducing Luddington to 86 but there is no getting away from the fact that Graham Clark adapted magnificently to the conditions and thoroughly deserved his impressive figures , aided by some splendid fielding from all of his team mates.
Next up for Ludd is a tough trip to Upton cum Kexby, whilst Everton travel to Bottesford hoping to put their misfortune behind them quickly.