LACKLUSTRE LUDD

By Glen Sands
Hensall gained their second victory of their Snaith Evening League Division One season with a deserved win over a lacklustre Luddington team who failed to chase down 100 with a mediocre batting display.
Hensall batted first and quickly lost opener Richard Whaley , trapped LBW by Jonathan Wroot for just a single and wicket keeper batsman Chris Dillerstone also made just one before he was bowled by Wrootleaving Hensall on 17 for 2. Andy Barker and skipper Craig Mainds then put together an excellent partnership before Barker was out for 25 to an outstanding Matthew Teal catch in the deep off the bowling of Anthony Fitzgerald and Fitz picked up a second wicket when Bestington offered up a return catch as the home side slipped to 44 for 4. Jamie Calvert then joined his skipper in the middle and they went on to bat sensibly , picking up runs where they could then pouncing on any loose deliveries , taking the total to 98 before Mainds was out , caught by Fitzgerald off Teal for a well constructed 39. Calvert finished the innings on 26 not out and the Hensall total on 100 for 5 , a target that Luddington would have thought was achievable , Jonathan Wroot and Anthony Fitzgerald taking two wickets each for the Isle side.
Their reply got off to a comfortable start with brothers Graham and darren Clark taking the total to 27 before the latter had a delivery stop on him which resulted in him dollying the ball back to Richard Whaley having made 12. Andy Lawson struck 10 in no time but then was out in bizarre fashion when ducking to avoid the ball when attempting a run only to find himself out of his ground when it struck the stumps and when Graham Clark was then caught by Martin Wright off Jamie Calvert for 20 suddenly the visitors were floundering on 44 for 3. To their credit Hensall's bowlers were keeping it nice and tight and that saw the pressure to score ever increase on the Luddington batsmen. Russell Fletcher was bowled by a beauty from young home talent Matthew Wright then Scott Buttrick was deceived by the same bowler having scored 10. Matthew Teal and Jonathan Wroot took the total to 70 before Wroot was out for eight and the writing was truely on the wall when Teal was spectacularly caught by Whaley on the boundary off the bowling of Andy Barker for 12 leaving Ludd on 77 for 7. Barker and Tim Heneghan then held their nerve when bowling the final overs whilst the Hensall fielding was of a high calibre and Luddington's innings faded to 89 all out with just two deliveries remaining , earning Hensall a splendid victory.
All their bowlers deserve credit for their performance but for Luddington it was a disappointing game leaving them in no doubt that they will need to improve when taking on title chasing Goole Town in their next encounter.