10 May 2008 St Lukes A vs Woodside Green (League) – Home 45 overs

Report by Jon Breaden

The new season was welcomed in with a sun-drenched run-fest as St Lukes 2nd 11 took on Woodside Green on the new-look pitch at Deckers. After a delayed
start, due to a late show by Woodside and an incorrectly marked pitch, St Lukes, having opted to field, set about the task of getting through the Woodside batting lineup. It quickly became clear that the improved level of opposition and the small boundaries will provide a new challenge to the St Lukes bowling lineup this year.

Woodside started the innings solidly, putting on 75 for the opening partnership, before both openers departed following some kamikaze running.
This brought B Lineker to the crease who proceeded to take advantage of the smaller boundaries with some big hitting. The St Lukes bowlers toiled hard, with Gopi Desai looking particularly threatening throughout, and Raj bowling a tidy spell at a time when Woodside were threatening to run riot.
Despite the growing total, St Lukes did not give up, and Evan Huyerman and Bob Gaddes returned for strong second spells, between them ensuring that St Lukes took maximum bowling points by taking the last 5 wickets.

Woodside Green 270 a/o

Creamer run out (Bent) 39
Cave run out (J Somers) 26
B Lineker c Patel b Gaddes 128
A Worrell c&b Patel 10
D Shergold c Patel b Desai 0
J Ramseyb Desai 5
D Lineker c Raj b Gaddes 33
S Wakeman no 0
T Hutchings b Huyerman 0
D Goss c Breaden b Huyerman 0
M Simmons c R Somers b Gaddes 8
Extras 21

FOW: 75, 75, 126, 136, 184, 258, 258, 258, 262, 270

Gaddes 10-2-45-3
Huyerman 9-1-56-2
J Somers 6-0-52-0
Desai 10-2-34-2
Patel 3-0-27-1
Raj 6-0-31-0

Requiring a mammoth 271 to win, the maximum batting points total of 180 was always going to be a more realistic target, on a pitch that was becoming more unpredictable as the match went on. St Lukes got off to a bad start with two early wickets falling. Jon Breaden and James Somers brought some stability to the innings with some attacking shots, before impatience got the better of Jon as he was bowled for 25. A true captain's innings was thus required, and James Somers responded with aplomb, scoring a disciplined 80 before being bowled with 180 well within reach. Support to James was provided by Wasif Zamir and Gopi, with the latter scoring a good 22.

So one game down, one defeat, but positives should be taken from the determination and success in achieving maximum batting and bowling points.
On the new smaller pitch, tight bowling and strong fielding will be the key.

St Lukes A 196-9

Bent c Worrell b Simmons 0
R Somers c Worrell b D Lineker 2
Breaden b Goss 25
J Somers b B Lineker 80
Patel c ?? b Goss 6
Grutzner c D Lineker b Goss 0
W Zamir c ?? b Ramsey 11
Raj c&b D Lineker 8
Desai c ?? b B Lineker 22
Huyerman no 12
Gaddes no 3
Extras 27

FOW: 0(RB), 10(RS), 45(JB), 55(MP), 56(DG), 108(WZ), 130(PR), 170(JS),
184(GD)

Goss 3-31; D Lineker 2-36; B Lineker 2-23