Match Report by Jeff Morley

Congs won the toss and asked LCC to bat as The Villagers handed debuts to bowler Ivan Stark and batter Keifer Hanman alongside the usual blend of youth and experience captained by evergreen Rob Burton.

On a damp start the first over totalled 10 balls as the new leg side wide rule saw the extras mount up. Opening batters Brooke and Morley worked hard to keep the score board moving as the bowlers had the upper hand in the first 10 overs reaching 26 without loss.

Morley fell LBW for 9 in the 13th with the score on 33 allowing left-handed Jowett to join the game. Playing a mixture of cuts and sweeps he established a good partnership with Brooke who was anchoring the innings with his assured presence.

Light Pennine drizzle began falling in twentieth over as Jowett lifted a six towards the clubhouse taking the score to 54-1 before being bowled around his legs for 14. Brooke hit his own wicket soon afterwards for 23 allowing Arnot and Leach to begin a new partnership.

Arnot stroked a lovely four to the leg side to open his boundary account with the score reaching 60-3 at 25 overs drinks. First over after the break though Leach and Walker were both bowled by the young spinner and the over after he had debutant Keifer stumped to grab a 5-wicket haul as LCC slumped to 62-6.

Captain Burton took the initiative with a four over mid-off before Arnot was bowled for 17 after playing nicely during his time in the middle. Barrowcliffe was next out as he was unfortunately run out facing the spinner as a good throw caught him short of the crease.

Stark joined Burton in the 34rd over as 80-8 looked shy of a defendable total as the sun came out at Till Carr Lane. The pair took the score to 89 before Stark was bowled.

Veteran Horne came in at No11 looking the part with a shiny new pair of spikes which allowed him to scamper and muscle his way to 21 before being the last man bowled.

Between the last pair the scoreboard reached 122 from 41 overs remarkably without a single wicket being taken to a catch!

During tea break Bob Horne canvassed hard for second team match ball sponsors (who also get two free teas for the £50 fee). President John Brooke, kindly sponsoring the game, rolled the pitch at half time to get his appetite ready.....

Congs began their run chase at 1530 in glorious sunshine with Barrowcliffe and Burton opening the bowling. With the sun and wind continuing to dry the wicket the Congs chase proceeded without any alarms.

Stark replaced Burton at the Church End and quickly found a good rhythm. This allowed the skipper to try his arm from the other end and it soon paid dividends as he bowled the opener for 9 with a beauty.

The LCC fielding continued to be tight but despite this Congs kept chipping away to reach 36-1 from 15 overs.

An excellent caught and bowled effort from Stark provided hope for LCC as the second Congs opener departed and the very next over Burton got the third with an open and shut case LBW with 40-3 putting a different complexion on the game.

Walker took the ball with numbers 4 and 5 both on zero and along with Stark continued to work the batters; proud new dad and King of the caught and bowled Kelly freshed himself on the patio area with a fruit cider.

Arnot replaced Stark and the young spin twins bowled until drinks and 70-3 after 25 overs.

Congs No4 seemed pivotal to the match result and his big shots and stern defence continued to steer their victory quest until Arnot trapped him LBW for 29 with the score on 77.

The next wicket saw an excellent low catch on the mid-wicket boundary by Jowett off the bowling of Walker, 83-5 them became 86-6 as Barrowcliffe caught a Walker turner at mid-wicket.

Incredibly Congs seemed intent on finishing the game in sixes and the Jowett/Walker combination struck again, 88-7. A cry of “brainless” was heard from the former Headmaster.

At 102 Arnot bowled the next wicket with the game on a knife edge in the 40th over and 8 down.

Stark returned from the bottom end but Congs No7 remained the danger man.

After regularly fiddling outside off-stump eventually Arnot bowled the No10 with the score on 114.

As the No7 stoked a four to get to Congs to 119 Arnot capped an amazing comeback and personal performance by bowling the No7 in the 48th over to seal a 3-run victory finishing with figures of 4-26.

An amazing game to start the season, well done boys, congratulations.