Jamie Howson blasts an early season century at Lympsham to help them to victory.

LYMPSHAM entertained West United from Bristol in a pre-season friendly.

Their opponents, although in a division below the hosts in the Bristol and District League, were expected to provide good opposition.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch looking in great condition, testament to groundsman Dave Luff’s close season hard work.

The openers got off to a quick start, attacking opening bowlers Tom Gooding (2-46) and Liam Morris (3-39) from the start, and with the outfield lightning fast, the runs came quickly at first, but wickets fell at regular intervals and the scoring pace was slowed.

First change bowlers Andy Russ (1-17) and Jack Luff (1-13) bowled with control and kept the batsmen in check, and with Dave Luff (1-27) and Jamie Howson (0-14) chipping in with a few steady overs, the visitors were bowled out for 179 in the last of the 40 overs.

In reply, the hosts lost an early wicket with Anand departing without troubling the scorers, but this brought Lympsham Concrete man of the match Jamie Howson in to join Dave Luff.

The pair dominated the bowling, with Luff finishing on 46 not out, and Howson retiring on 104, including 17 fours and four sixes.

Jason Parsons (13 not out) Joined Luff to close the game off in the 27th over, and the home side were satisfied with another useful warm-up game.