Tables include results up to and inculding the games played on 21st Septmeber 2003  

Division 4 2003 - Table	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Canc/Abd	Tied	Pen	Points	Ave
Lurgashall - 1st XI	18	14	0	2	2	0	8	129	8.06
Harting - 1st XI	18	12	2	2	2	0	0	128	8.00
Frensham - 3rd XI	18	5	5	5	3	0	0	63	4.20
Kingsley - 2nd XI	18	7	8	1	2	0	0	63	3.94
Dogmersfield - 2nd XI	18	7	5	6	0	0	0	70	3.89
Lindford - 2nd XI	18	5	7	4	2	0	0	61	3.81
Elstead CC - 2nd XI	18	4	6	7	1	0	0	56	3.29
Pirbright - 1st XI	18	3	6	6	3	0	0	46	3.07
Wood Street - 2nd XI	18	3	9	4	2	0	0	37	2.31
The Bourne - 3rd XI	18	2	14	1	1	0	0	21	1.24

LURGASHALL CRICKET CLUB 2004

Not as disastrous as one might think. I was hurling myself off said 6,500 foot cliffs at the time but will endeavour to find out enough to write some form of match report sooner rather than later.

In the mean time what I can tell you is that Lurgashall scored 135 all out, and Elstead made 124 for 7.

A win, batting first, against Frensham in a fortnight will still seal the title, so fingers crossed and all that.....

.........................

Absence on holiday prevented six regular league players from making the hour long journey to Fleet for this important match. Some of the Thiselton family made considerable sacrifices – Daniel, at the age of 11, made his league debut, while Sprog changed his umpire coat for boots, and played in what some would consider a weakened side – while skipper Colin balanced things by going away for the week-end! Lurgashall spirits were high when stand-in skipper, Malcolm Caird, made his only real contribution of the afternoon by winning the toss and inserting the opposition.

Seamus Lynch’s first ball was a peach, removing the off bail, only to discover he had bowled his only no-ball of the season. Dogmersfield used the edge of their bats to full advantage, and snicks found their way to the boundary on the lightning fast outfield. The first wicket did not fall until 35, achieved in 8 overs, but once one fell, Lurgashall felt that others would soon follow. A cameo innings at no.8 by Kabir, scoring 40 including 2 remarkable sixes, saw the home team to a respectable 125 all out in 33 overs. As most of Lurgashall’s regular bowlers were at weddings or hurling themselves off 6,500 ft cliffs, Lynch and Aaron Evans were forced to share the bowling and the wickets, the former taking 6-61.

Lynch’s peaceful afternoon continued when he opened the batting for Lurgashall. He carried his bat albeit for only 25 runs, but saw off some fiery bowling from the Dogmersfield attack – because they fielded 8 youngsters aged under 18, regulations require them to bowl a maximum of 7 overs in any one spell, all of whom bowled well. However, with 57 overs at their disposal, Lurgashall were in no rush. Despite getting bogged down in the 50’s, when two wickets were lost, Martin Thiselton partnered Seamus to see the visitors home by 8 wickets.

Dogmersfield

125 all out

Lynch 16 overs, 4 mdns, 6-61

Aaron Evans 16.4 overs, 6mdns, 4-51

Lurgashall

126 for 2

M Thiselton 35*, Lynch 25*, Bonnett 21, extras 43

Harting scored a maximum 10 points, but Lurgashall, having played one game fewer, are still top of the league. The mathematics mean that Lurgashall need to score 12 points, out of 20 available, from their last two games to secure the championship, irrespective of anything achieved by Harting.

.........................

The top of Division 4 clash between Lurgashall and Harting saw the league leaders Lurgashall win by 7 wickets. Put into bat Harting found the going difficult due to the tight bowling of Evans and Lawson. Evans was the first to break through the Harting line-up getting C Pay caught behind with one that cut back. The very next ball, he dismissed danger man S James with an absolute jaffa that removed middle stump. Harting were already on the back foot and looking shaky. The arrival of C Edwards enlivened proceeding and he hit a quick fire 31 but was caught off the bowling of R Lawson by L Huffer for 31. Harting were now finding runs hard to come by and the run rate rarely got over 2 an over. The introduction of Lynch to the Lurgashall attack paid dividends when he removed 3 Harting batsmen in 13 balls. Harting batted the full 48 overs and declared on 103 for 8.

Lurgashall too found runs hard to come by at the beginning of their innings but Lynch and Bonnett gradually saw off the new ball and put on 54 for the first wicket putting Lurgashall firmly in the driving seat. Bonnett was eventually bowled by Edwards going for one big shot too many for 27. Lynch was batting extremely well and had everything firmly in control. He was ably assisted by A.P.Sharp (10), and the game, although the overs were mounting up, was Lurgashall's to win. M Dillon arrived at the wicket and played two beautiful strokes to ease the score into the 100 mark. It was fitting that Lynch scored the winnings runs with a wonderful cover drive to see Lurgashall ease home with 7 wickets to spare, and gain promotion to division 3 next year.

.........................

Unfortunately, Bourne III were unable to field a side and so forfeited the game.

.........................

Another close game between Lurgashall and Linford saw the home side take the points again.

Lurgashall batted first, and it was not easy to score freely, due to the tight bowling of G Burt and F Lambert. Strong innings' from J Bonnet (87) and C.C.C Fraser (25 not out), saw the Lurgashall score tick over nicely though, and with a flurry of runs being scored in the final few overs of the Lurgashall innings, Linford were set a target of 170 to win.

The target looked reachable, as Linford set about their batting. S Cunningham (40) and J Gray (27) were the pick of the Linford batsmen, but it was the bowling of A Evans and S Lynch that turned the game for Lurgashall. A devastating spell of 5 for 24 from Lynch ripped through the heart of the Linford batting, and Lurgashall won through by 26 runs.

.........................

It started to pour down at around 4.00 o'clock. Bonnet was unbeaten on 85 at the time.

.........................

Lurgashall won the toss and elected to bat on a nice looking wicket. Some steady batting from Seamus Lynch (61), and Colin Thiselton (42), along with a cameo batting appearance by the Roger Sharp (15*), saw Lurgashall set Kingsley as target of 161 for victory. Only some good tight bowling from Roberts (4 for 50 from 15 overs), and Straw (1 for 61 from 16 overs), kept the total below 200.

Lurgashall started well with a wicket falling first ball, but the total never seemed to be within Kingsley’s reach, and despite a good innings from Hurst (42), they decided that the shop should be shut and attempted to bat out for the honourable draw. Aaron Evans and Seamus Lynch were not to be denied and a devastating spell from Evans (5 for 31), well supported by Lynch (2 for 19) saw Lurgashall take the last Kingsley wicket with a few overs to spare.

.........................

Another good win for Lurgashall against a strong Wood Street 11. Batting first Lurgashall lost the early wicket of Huffer for 0. We were then given a wonderful display of hard and true hitting from Julian Bonnett. His 113 not out included 17 fours and 5 sixes. He was ably assisted by Scott Evans, who finished on 54 not out. Lurgashall declared their innings on 185 for 1 from 37 overs.

A bad start from Wood Street saw them lose their first 2 wickets for only 5 runs but a good partnership of 73 between Darwin and Patterson had Lurgashall a little nervous. A Evans has been bowling very well this season and took on the responsibility of strike bowler, and it was he, Lynch, and Scott Evans who eventually managed to take the wickets. A Evans ending up with 5 for 31 as Wood Street fell short of their required target by 26 runs.

Lurgashall arrived at the pretty ground of Broxhead to play Lindford, with a 100% record. It was to be a closely fought contest.

Batting first, Lurgashall found the going very tough. The perfect line and length from T.Lee, who finished with 6 for 38 from 16 overs, meant that scoring was always going to be difficult. And so it proved, with only 3 Lurgashall batsmen getting into the 20’s. Scott Evans top scoring with 24. A cameo innings from Glynn Evans, hitting the ball to the boundary in classic style, saw Lurgashall finish on 129.

If it not easy for the Lurgashall batsmen, then again it was not going to be any better for Lindford. A steady, if not dynamic, start saw Lindford move slowly towards the 130 target. They were not losing wickets but the overs were ticking away. Lurgashalls’ bowling, although tight and controlled, was not doing enough to get a breakthrough and Lindford moved on to the 70’s with 8 wickets still intact. The introduction of Scott Evans and Seamus Lynch changed the game. Evans, with some classic swing bowling, took 4 quick wickets, and Lynch, with his almost perfect action, took 5 as the Lindford lost their remaining 8 wickets for 40 runs, and it was Lurgashall who came through victorious to earn another 10 points.

Lurgashall kept on track for promotion with a big win over Frensham. A truly gorgeous afternoon in Surrey saw Lurgashall bat first and take command from the off. Julian Bonnett was in belligerent form cracking 81 in a short time, dispatching the ball to the four corners of the ground. Seamus Lynch’s sublime stroke play was altogether a different kettle of fish, but none the less effective and he finished on 47 not out. Lurgashall declared on 185 for 5.

The target always seemed beyond Frensham, who with a young side did as much as could be asked of them. They batted with determination and concentration, but it was not to be. All the Lurgashall bowlers took wickets, but it was Seamus Lynch who was the main man of the day, finishing with 4 for 9, as Frensham were bowled out for 76.

Unfortunately, Dogmersfield were unable to field a side and so forfeited the game.

A close game of cricket saw Lurgashall go top of Division 4 and just get the better of Harting to inflict their first league loss by the narrowest of margins.

Having won the toss, Lurgashall elected to bat but were soon in trouble at 12 for 3. A cracking well struck innings of 34 from Adam Sharp eased the nerves of the Lurgashall batsmen but he was unfortunately run out due to a great bit of fielding from Simon Kyte. The Harting bowlers, especially Pay, were steadily breaking through the Lurgashall batting attack. Skipper Colin Thiselton batted well and it was he and Glynn Evans who used up many overs scoring at a slow run rate but giving the Lurgashall bowlers a target. A great cameo effort from Glynn Evans at the end of the innings helped Lurgashall reach a rather poor but defendable 87 all out. Some tight, aggressive bowling from Harting and some great individual pieces of fielding showed that Harting should have no problems moving up through the divisions, and at some pace.

So, 88 from around 50 overs was the target. Not what Lurgy had hoped for at 2.00 p.m., but Lurgashall are a different team in attitude from last year and have learnt a lot from their exploits in Div 5 in the 2002 season. A stirring team talk form the Skipper saw them take the field and just basically try their best and play for a little pride, and who knows.....

Harting opened with the usual pair of Pay and Kyte who preceded to work well together and it was not until your truly took a bizarre catch from Pay (bizarre because I actually caught one) that Lurgashall made a breakthrough. Harting were now 54 for 1 and heading for victory but Eggy was bowling well and was Sharpy. A smart change by the Skipper changed things for Lurgy. 'Old Stager' Lawson took an important wicket thanks to a smart catch from Eggy. Harting still had plenty of time and lots more batting to come but Lurgashall were now getting some pride back and it showed. Bowling with more pace and venom, the wickets started to fall. From being in a very comfortable 54 for 1 they were soon 66 for 6. Another 20 odd to win for the home side but still another 4 wickets required by Lurgy. Both teams scented victory. Cracking spells of bowling from Sharpy and Eggy saw Lurgashall get closer but some solid batting from Harting skipper Trevor Pay saw them edge closer to victory as well. At 83 for 8 Eggy began to find his rhythm again and with the game on a knife edge he found a little extra to grab the final two wickets in 3 balls and it was Lurgashall who came out the victors. A truly cracking game of cricket between these two league contenders.

Lurgashall won the toss and elected to bat on an extremely hot and humid day. Bourne opening bowlers Plant and Knight had the home side in some early difficulty getting the openers Huffer and Bonnett cheaply, but the arrival of the big hitting Sharp changed the match. A brisk and hard hitting innings from A Sharp set the way for Lurgashall, and after he was spectacularly caught by Sharrat deep in the boundary S Lynch took over. He finished on 80 not out with C Thiselton 35 not out. Lurgashall declared on 187 for 4.

The Bourne were given 50 overs to get their target but never looked likely to reach this. Some excellent bowling from A Evans and R Lawson had the Bourne III struggling on 30 for 5. A bowling change of A Sharp and J Bonnett proceeded to wrap up the match with their pace and aggression.

A tremendous day for the Lurgashall bowlers, and the Evans boys in particular, saw Wood Street bowled out for just 42, with Aaron Evans taking 6 for 12, and his brother Scott Evans taking 4 for 20.

The only thing standing in the way of a Lurgashall victory was the weather, with some big black clouds threatening to disrupt the day’s play, but A Sharp made sure that it would not dampen the Lurgashall mood with a quick fire 28 and Lurgashall claimed the win and 8 points.

.........................

Lurgashall batted first on a rather overcast afternoon. Scott Evans was the star of the day scoring his first century of the season and finishing on 107. He was kept company by Charles Charlie Charles (One of the famous Charles brothers) Fraser, who scored a well struck 25. Lurgashall declared on 196 for 8 from their 45 overs.

This game was played in very good spirit, and saw a great start to the new season in a new division for Lurgashall.

Opting to field first, Kingsley put Lurgashall into bat on a good track that had something for both the batsmen and the bowlers. A steady innings from L Huffer saw Lurgashall build a good platform early on in the innings, but it was S Evans who took the innings on for Lurgashall, scoring a creditable 88. Only some tight bowling from S Goodyear and P Jeffs, along with some keen fielding, stopped Lurgashall amassing a larger total.

As it was, Lurgashall declared on 194 from 43 overs. This was a big ask for Kingsley, who found it difficult to respond to the bowling of A Evans and R Lawson, and they were soon in trouble at 20 for 6. Sharp and White came into the attack to polish off the tail to give Lurgashall a comfortable win by 153 runs and the 10 points.