Team Lockhart Garratt triumphant at last!
Lockhart Garratt versus Orchard House Foods - Match Report
Mark Thomas of Orchard House Foods (OHF) won the toss and decided to bat first. Their opening partnership was ticking over well until guest LGL cricketer Guy Banham's aggressive fast medium found middle stump, removing Armitage in the 3rd over. OHF's number 3 batsman persevered and ultimately retired on 28 but it was Robin Trusloves varied full length and occassional accuracy which brought the 2nd and 3rd wickets (both bowled) in the 8th over for 45 runs.
John Lockhart and Graham Garratt then took the range but their good looking medium pace was tested by two strong mid order batsmen scoring 4 to 8 per over. Banham stretched bravely for a shoulder height catch at long on but the ball was as slippery as a greased ferret. It sprang free leaving a furious but ever more determined Banham on the greenhouse boundary who stopped all remaining drives along his section of the front.
It was another guest LGL cricketer, Andrew Mason friend of Ian Dudley, who struck again for LGL in the 19th over to open the floodgates on an otherwise breezy and pleasant evening. Jim 'Torpedo' Whiteman then rallied to the call mopping up the tail with 2 straight bowled wickets and also a teasing short ball. This drew OHF's number 8 batsman forward to his detriment as no willow hit the leather. In an ex-Norfolk U-21 blur of gloves and flashing teeth Gray removed the bails to restrict Orchard House to 127 all out.
Gray and Lockhart started the reply confidently. The wily veterans struck 4 x fours and even ran a 5 proving their aerobic days were far from over. They retired to present Truslove and Garratt to the less spectacular Orchard House attack. Despite Garratt's very specific instruction to him, the Captain's calling was off the mark unlike mid-off's throw which robbed LGL of a valuable batting contribution. Truslove and Whiteford continued with a partnership of 35 to secure the deal, including leg glanced, pulled and cut 4's and even a hooked 4 from Jim past a sprawling mid wicket.
Andrew Mason finished off the runs with an excellent 23 not out and impressed the gathered crowd, opening up the shoulders with a straight 6 towards the greenhouse end.
Great win guys - thank you to everyone for a complete performance.
Story by Robin Truslove (Captain for 08/09 Season).
Date: August 09
