First team debutant takes four wickets as Sri Lankans suffer first loss of the season.

LYMPSHAM finally got their league campaign back under way at the weekend, making the short journey to Barrow Gurney to play the unbeaten Bristol Sri Lankans.

Lympsham lost the toss and were asked to bat and got off to the worst possible start, losing Andrew Hall in the first over.

This brought Tom Gooding to the crease who, together with Jason Parsons, started to rebuild positively. The pair put on 93 before Parsons (34) was adjudged LBW and five overs later Gooding also went the same way for a stylish 48.

With wickets starting to tumble, it was down to Dave Luff (60) to dig his heels in and take control of the innings. He and Mike Tucker (43) got Lympsham to a competitive score before both were dismissed with a few overs to go as the away side posted 222-6.

After tea, Lympsham openers Simon Cowgill and Simon Pilgrim bowled tightly with the odd bad ball being punished, allowing a solid opening partnership to form before Pilgrim struck. Andy Russ was then introduced into the attack and he took three quick wickets in his seven over spell, leaving the home side on 114-4.

Jack Luff then entered the attack from one end and picked up a quick wicket and, after Pilgrim had completed his 12 overs, man of the match Adam Micklewright was brought into the attack on his 1st XI debut. He bowled with control and class, proving far too effective for the Bristol Sri Lankans’ middle order, clean bowling batsmen five, six and eight and finishing with 4-19 off five overs.

Luff then took the final wicket to leave the Bristol Sri Lankans 165 all out and wrap up a well-deserved away victory for Lympsham.

* Lympsham Sunday XI took on Old Brent Knollians and recorded a two-wicket victory.

Batting first, Old Brent Knollians were soon in trouble as Adam Mickelwright (1-15) and Liam Morris (2-28) reduced them to 16-3. This brought together Pat Hancock and Dave Luff who rolled back the years to show why they were such a prolific pair in years past.

Hancock holed out for 23 and Luff hit 50 before retiring, taking the score rolling past 100. Tom Fearns (1-20) and C Kerkin (1-14) took late wickets before P Bagg (39) and Jamie Howson (39 not out) put some late acceleration into the innings with some hard hitting, taking the score to 196-6.

In reply, Lympsham lost Jed Kerkin early on for four. This saw C Kerkin (36) join C Scriven (33) and they attacked the opposition bowling before both falling to the evergreen bowling of Paul Mitchell (2-49).

Tom Gooding (61 no) and Jack Luff (32) then took over and looked to be cruising to their target before Luff was adjudged leg before to his dad for 32. This sparked a mini collapse with Luff taking 4-42.

The match went down to the last ball with man of the match Gooding hitting the winning run against the leg spin of Hancock.