We were greeted by glorious blue skies

Skipper George Wood agreed that it was a win the toss and bat first sort of day. Lucky for Blagdon they called right and set out to take full advantage of what should have been the best of the batting conditions.

They didn’t pencil in a fantastic opening spell of left arm swing bowling from both ends from Sam Costello and Eric Steady. It was the 5th ball of Costello’s 3rd over up the hill that got the first breakthrough with a particularly friendly delivery for the batsmen. However, all the batsmen could do was slap the long hop into the grateful buckets of Alex Donovan who took a sharp chance at backward point. A slightly burgled wicket after a decent start from the oppo who with a flurry of boundaries got to 30 in no time. 30-1 and the final ball of the over was upon us, Sam stood at the end of his mark staring up the wicket resembled a sort of young, slightly shorter, slightly skinnier, left handed version of Jason Gillespie in his pomp. Anyway charging in he managed to produce another little bit of magic and the number 3 was on his way back with out troubling the scorer who at this point was scrabbling for a set of pads himself. The excitement of a possible Garrick was put to bed for a moment as the umpire gratefully called over. 6 beauties from steady quickly followed and we found ourselves setting up for a hat trick ball. 30-2 and Costello charging up the hill in the hunt for another. Costello attacks the stumps with a lovely inswinger and the batsmen cannot resist but to play what can only be described as a 30-3 shot. Costello too good again and the batsmen could only plink the ball into the hoover (hands of skipper Wood). The boys were ecstatic and buzzing for Sam and it was all LCC from there!

The skipper gave the 2 openers a rest and bought on the spin twins Godfrey and Donovan and spin it they did. Both young lads but both showing superb skills and clockwork consistency. They bowled in tandem to share figures of 12-5-39-5 (4 wickets for Donovan & 1 for Godfrey). They certainly showed the bowling maturity of players well beyond their years, great things for LCC and two stars for now and the future!

Steady came back on at the top end and got the final wicket, a wicket that his bowling efforts fully deserved. The bowlers had done their job and it was time for the batsmen to step up. 92 the target to keep up the hundred percent record for this year!

Very late call up James Ebdon was barely out of his fathers car before he was asked to don the pads and open the batting with relative elder statesmen Andy Steady. The pair never got bogged down and were flawless in the first 10 overs. Steady took the lead earlier and executed a couple of the sort straight drives Joe Root, Dan Lawrence and Zak Crawley could only dream of. Ebdon was steady but proactive throughout but took the initiative when Steady unselfishly retired on 27 to let the young lads flourish. Talented youth prospect Dave Hirst came out at number 3 and defied his 40+ years to put the pressure on the fielders running some quick (close your eyes, head down and hope for the best) singles. With the field bought in tight to cut out the singles Dave recreated that photo of Viv Richards on the wall in the clubhouse and sent the Blagdon bowler through the covers with the ball set to be joining the first team in Chippenham imminently.

It was James who stole the show with the bat though it was another reminder of the young talent waiting in the wings at LCC. He played a well constructed well paced innings scoring a chance less 46* and bringing the team home comfortably for the first of a hatrick of wins for the down on Saturday.

Special mention to Skipper Wood who lead the team perfectly with the enthusiasm and passion that we know and love! Will Hurle for a fantastic job behind the stumps and to Angus for some sharp work in the slips and some chronic pad rash!