Longparish Cricket Club

Sunday, 20th July 2008 - 1:00 pm

Match Report

The annual six a side competition, kindly sponsored by Barker, Son and Isherwood and this year contended by Longparish, Wherwell, St Mary Bourne, Amport and Hurstbourne.  An energetic young mans game, each side picking several free-running colts perfectly suited to the high octane pace. Unfortunately Hurstbourne were forced to withdraw from the competition at a late stage, Adam Seidman gallantly stepping into the breach to captain a Hurstbourne side made up of Longparish 6 aside cast-offs with a point to prove. 

The early stages of the competition revealed the two favourites for the cup to be Longparish and Amport, the two crucial encounters of the early stages, won by Longparish, firstly against Amport, and then against Seidman’s band of mercenaries, Seidman displaying a particularly flamboyant style of captaincy that endeared his side to the watching crowds.

With Amport having lost only one of their games, they needed Wherwell to defeat Longparish in the penultimate tie of the day.  Longparish batted first and having lost early wickets were indebted to Martin Bearpark, who huffed and puffed his way to 29 as his side posted a total of 56. Some superb bowling by Matt Jackman, Jack Tosdevine and William de Cani and astute field placing by Justin Jackman limited Wherwell to 21 from 3 overs. Urged on by Amport Wherwell struck back and were in with a sniff in the final over after several big sixes, before a superb catch off  his own bowling by Chris Clarke sealed victory for Longparish and the BSI Cup for the third year in succession.

A great day enjoyed by all who watched and played, The Cup was presented to Longparish by the Sponsors and the trophy for Young Player of the Day awarded to Amport’s Ben Gardner.

 Thank you to all who helped out on the day, particularly to Neil Bonathan for organising the whole event and doing so much to make the day a success.