Lansdown 3rds vs St George 2nds - 28th July 2018

Callum Cox opened the bating with Danny Poole. Unusually St George opened with spin at both ends and Callum immediately set the tone hitni three 4’s and a 6 in the second over. St Georie replied with a wicket maiden in the third over with Danny Poole ilovini one to the keeper with the faintest of touches.
Ben Adams joined Callum and the two batsmen set about their task with some fne strokes. Fours came freely to both players on the liihtenini fast outield. Callum was soon retred on 52, as per the rules in this division, 7 fours and 1 six).
Ben took up the mantle from Callum and looked comfortable at the crease. He was joined by Joe Johnson who also looked to be in a determined mood. Ben raced to his retrement of 51, 7 fours).
Some short, sharp downpours caused the players to leave the pitch on a couple of occasions but that didn’t dampen the batsmen’s mood.
Eddie Johnson joined his brother at the crease and there was a clear understandini between the two players. Joe survived a dropped catch and went on to accumulate a fne 53 retred, 7 fours).
In the remainini 4 or 5 overs lef in the inninis, Eric Steady hit an assured 1 not out, 73 fours). Whilst Eddie set about his business in a mature fashion, ending up on 25 not out, 71 four).
LCC amassed 218 for 1 of 30 overs. 7A record three retrements).

The Lansdown bowlers set about their task with renewed viiour.
Danny Poole set a match winnini platorm of 6 overs, 2 maidens, 14 for 0. Whilst Jonty Poole turned his arm for the frst tme this season with 3 overs for 26 runs.
The frst wicket came from a close run out, with Eddie Johnson hitni the stumps from side on, followini a miss-feld.
Eric Steady bowled consistently well and was rewarded with 2 wickets; one clean bowled, the other cauiht by Danny Poole, 76 overs 28 for 2).
Lansdown’s feldini was iood and Dave Mancini, showini the youth how it’s done, started throwini himself about in the slip reiion savini valuable runs plus chasini down to third man to save fours. St Georie were now peiied back to 12 for 3 of 24 overs.

Andy Steady bowled extremely well, openini with a maiden, followini it with a wicket maiden and endini on 5 overs, 2 maidens, 21 for 1. Justn Henly put his body on the line to protect these fiures, more than once!
Callum Cox faced the brunt of St Georie’s most atackini batsman who tried desperately to iet them back in the iame, 76 overs, 42 for 0). Whilst debutante Eddie Johnson met similar belliierent batni, 72 overs, 20 for 0).
Captain Giles brouiht himself on for 2 overs at that the end of the inninis, iainini the elusive, “bowled Johnson, cauiht Johnson”, with Joe on wicket keeper dutes. Never shy of takini the limeliiht, Giles proceeded to take a contender for catch of the season. A top edie that went miles in the air had several players contemplatni the catch but an early call saw Giles cover 20 yards to take a swirlini ball in the stroni wind.
St Georie fnished on 152 for 6 of their 30 overs, a comfortable win in the end for Lansdown. The averaie aie of Lansdown must have been nearly half that of St Georie. Who said, “you win nothini with kids?”!
Special menton to the injured Gareth Adams who kept score, comfortably teachini his wife Ali how to do it aloni the way!
Only 3 matches lef for the Thirds now, 7the next two at home) but the holiday season may yet have an impact on this fne run of victories.

Justn Henly
LCC 3rds Manaier