Club cricket ends in a draw

The cricket match between the London Hardwood Club (LHC) and the Plywood Luncheon Club on September 7 resulted in a draw.

The LHC lost the toss and were inserted. They progressed steadily to 152-4 at lunch and then moved on to 265-7 declared, with Andy Bartlett from CP Timber the outstanding performer making 83. Plywood provided the champagne moment with Ben Francis taking a superb diving catch to dismiss Sting Sumner from Goldbergs just before lunch

The Plywood club responded positively and looked to be cruising, with LHC dropping their opening pair four times.

Eventually chances were snaffled and they went. The run rate was contained with some tidy bowling from all the Hardwood bowlers – including Richard Carter, Oliver Banks, Martin Harrison and debutants Colin Macgregor, Sting Sumner and Tony Cardew.

It all came down to Plywood needing 13 runs off the last over with two wickets remaining, five off the first four balls, wicket off the 5th and just failed to get the last wicket with the final ball with Plywood, ably skippered by Miles Kember from Lathams, eight runs short.

The Plywood team were the last outright winners in 2008 so retained the trophy.

The match was umpired by Ian Milne from James Latham in Leicester, who also adjudicated on the Man of the Match award, which went to Tony Cardew of Timberlink International.

Anyone interested in playing next year should contact Andrew Banks on 01279 626389 or Guy Goodwin 020 8651 4030.