Lyndhurst & Ashurst 24/08/25

On another scorching day, Dorset Wanderers made the long pilgrimage down to Lyndhurst in the New Forest. Unfortunately a mixture of alcohol-related and logistical problems meant that our two youngest players didn’t turn up and we had to take on a very powerful opponent with only nine men.

Simon won the toss and elected to bat, despite some resistance from the opposition captain! Wickets were obviously valuable with us being shorthanded, and everybody put their shoulder to the wheel. David (24), Ben Rayner (19) and Jez Goodridge (23) took the sting out of the opening bowlers, but then Garry Clulee (57) and Skip (64) batted beautifully to raise the scoring rate. Bretty and Nick were not out at the end, and Wanderers scored a very creditable 244 for five in their 40 overs with the wickets spread out between the Lyndhurst bowlers.

Lyndhurst made a fine start to the chase with Pete Fosbury and David being knocked out of the attack early on. Brett Custard (two for 34), Nick Jones (one for 57) and Ben Rayner (two for 48) were the pick of the bowlers. But despite some excitement when the Afghani number three was dismissed without scoring, it proved impossible to contain the powerful Lyndhurst batting lineup on the small dry pitch and boundaries were flying to all parts. Lyndhurst eventually overhauled our total for the loss of six wickets with just over four overs to spare. 

Man of the match: Skip, 64 quality runs 

Result: Lyndhurst win by 4 wickets