ON a day of heavy showers Wembdon entertained a star-studded Lashings team of internationals and first-class cricketers.

After a morning when the Lashings players coached a host of young cricketers and a lunch with some very generous sponsors the teams took the field in warm sunshine.

Brendan Pope (2-30) struck early to remove Kirk Edwards and Mohammed Ashraful thanks to catches by wicketkeeper Liam Pigden but then Lashings captain Chris Schofield and Somerset favourite James Hildreth took command in an imperious stand of 98 runs. 

Schofield was eventually dismissed by Aaron Rees (1-26), courtesy of a catch by Jon Brockwell having scored 62 runs off 44 balls with a strike rate of 141 and Fran Wilson followed for 18, caught by Jack Lowe off Dan Bingham (1-28). 

Anyone who has watched Hildreth at the County Ground will be familiar with the array of elegant strokes to all parts of the ground with which he treated the crowd.

When the innings closed at 188 for 4 Hildreth was unbeaten on 88 from 51 balls, having hit 11 fours and 3 sixes with a strike rate of 173.

Despite facing the classy opening attack of Martin Bicknell and Charl Willoughby Wembdon’s openers Lohan DeZoysa and Harry Love were undaunted and embarked on a rollicking partnership which eventually realised 115 runs at 10 an over. 

When Love was stumped by Hugo Hammond off Ashraful (1-28) he had scored 68 off 42 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes. 

DeZoysa with 50 runs off 36 balls (5 fours and 2 sixes) was then bowled by Yasir Arafat.  From a position of great strength a mini collapse saw the loss of five wickets for 27 runs. 

Arafat (2-18) took another wicket and Schofield’s leg breaks accounted for Stu Duerden (10) and Brockwell. 

At this point, with Wembdon on 142 for five and the match still in the balance the heavens opened and the match was abandoned, leaving everyone with a feeling of slight anticlimax after a splendid day.