LILLEY (207-5, Rogers 45) beat Brading (46 all out, B. Tompkins 4-6) by 161 runs
Lilley’s 2004 tour got off to a flying start against a weak Brading side, hampered by their first team’s tour to London taking place on the same weekend!
Both Captains agreed that Lilley should bat first in sweltering conditions and on a good track. The returning Peter Rogers and Tim Perry opened the batting, seemingly with some ease as they moved to 23, but Perry was first man out as he misjudged a ball from Harvey, left it, and was bowled off stump for 14. Andy Flanagan (11) and Taz Qureshi (15) both got starts, the latter hitting 14 off one over, but both fell to Jayarjah, leaving Lilley 99-3. Rogers was the major share holder in the runs department, moving onto 45, before he was bowled by a good yorker with Lilley 105-4.
Brad Tompkins and Ken Hammond then set about taking Lilley towards the 200 mark with an excellent 63 run partnership in just 37 minutes, before the latter fell in hilarious circumstances for 36. Young White, a 13 year old girl who plays for the Isle of Wight ladies team and is working with England Ladies, came into the attack. The fifth ball of her over – having beaten Ken’s outside edge and almost bowled him earlier in the over – was straight and full and hit Hammond on the pad in front of all three, sparking a massive appeal from the pavilion and the pitch. Umpire Andy Flanagan slowly raised his finger and it was the end of Hammond’s effort, with the bowler White propelled into Lilley legend!
At 168-5, it would be the last wicket to fall for Lilley, as Tompkins (33 not out) and Eyres (21 not out) cruised through to the tea break, leaving Lilley 207-5 with every batsman reaching double figures.
Lilley’s bowling effort started brilliantly, with opener Davis run out by Steve Eyres without a run on the board! Brading had edged to 19 when Gareth Tompkins produced two consecutive scorching yorkers to send back Reed and Tillbrook and when Perry dismissed Hart for 7, Brading were 23-4 with youngsters and girls making up the middle order.
This prompted a change in tactics from Lilley, with Brad Tompkins brought into the attack with his leg breaks and Craig Paddington – who originally was one of the three left out for the game, but was whisked in to the side because of an injury to Dave Carman – bowled his bent arm slowie’s at the other end. Paddington lasted just one over and was replaced by Hammond off a short run, but meanwhile Tompkins was prospering on a dry wicket with a young batting line up. Two stumpings by Taz Qureshi and two clean bowled – one round the batsman’s legs – gave Brad figures of 4 overs, 1 maiden, 4 wickets for 6 runs!
Hammond bowled two overs before suggesting it might be good to ‘let someone else have a go’ and Ashby looked no further than Peter Rogers for the answer. Rogers had never taken a wicket before for Lilley and his first three deliveries, a wide and two no balls (bounced 4 times), didn’t suggest that things would change! However Rogers took the final wicket of the innings, inducing a rash stroke by Jayarajah with his third legal delivery, resulting in the ball being skied to Mik Carman running in from deep mid off to complete the catch, the 161 run victory and wild celebration from Rogers, who had completed his journey to ‘all rounder’…one of the few men who has scored runs, taken wickets, catches and stumpings for Lilley.
But whatever Ken does now…he was leg before wicket to C. White, 13 year old girl, on the Isle Of Wight. Here begins the White fanclub!
