TEST stars from the past graced Ben Rhydding Cricket Club’s ground last Friday when Lashings visited for a T20 match.

Among the players for the visitors - “the best club cricket side in the world” - were Martin Bicknell (captain), Phil Mustard, Chris Schofield, Chris Lewis, Usman Afzaal, John Emburey and Yorkshire’s Ryan Sidebottom.

Adding an overseas flavour were former Spen Victoria player Wasim Jaffer (India) and Yasir Arafat (Pakistan), while local 17-year-old birthday boy Sam Tate did more than make up the numbers.

And the keeper wasn’t bad either - 2021 Love Island runner-up Hugo Hammond, who was no mug with the bat either.

The match was to raise funds for new covers for the Nidderdale League club, while the match was also part of their centenary celebrations, albeit a year late due to Covid.

Lashings won the toss and made 168-5, which was largely down to left-hander Schofield’s 85 not out, but Alex Miller’s maiden over at the start of the innings sent match commentator Henry Blofeld (Blowers to all and sundry) into a frenzy.

The voice of cricket was trying to remember whether six dot balls had ever happened before at the start of a Lashings innings.

Afzaal chipped in with 26 in an opening stand of 45 as Miller and Roam Hamilton kept a lid on things to a degree.

Ben Rhydding, after rain caused a lengthier tea interval than scheduled, replied with 120 all out, with Robbie Miller making 34 and skipper Sam Tattersall 25, off-spinner Emburey taking 3-22, one-day ace Arafat 2-16 and Tate and Phil Mustard both 2-20.

Ben Rhydding chairman Robin Snook said: “We have had a wonderful day, the weather has been fairly kind to us and the line-up that Lashings had out was very strong - too strong for Rhydding.

“We put up a good fight and fielded and bowled really well, but they had too much in the bowling department and nobody got going so a fair result.

“But it was amazing to have the likes of Sir Gordon Greenidge (West Indian cricketing legend) and John Holder (former top-class umpire) watching, and players such as Martin Bicknell, John Emburey, Ryan Sidebottom and Wasim Jaffer playing.

“They have all been at the top of the game for a long time and it was amazing.

“However, it is not about the game as much as getting people together after two long years and celebrating our centenary, which we have done twice - last September and this year.

“Off the pitch it has been brilliant too, with 285 in the marquee for lunch, and most of them have stayed down to the bitter end so bar sales will have been very, very good.

“We need to replace our covers, which will probably cost two or three grand, so we hope to cover at least that from today and I am sure that we have done.

“A lot of the organisation has fallen on my shoulders, and I have loved it, but it has been stressful, particularly the last week sorting out dietary requirements etc, but it is all down to the weather really.

“I would do it again, but I would need a few years off!”

LASHINGS: U Afzaal ct Bolton b Hatton 26, C Schofield not out 85, P Mustard c&b A Miller 11, W Jaffer c&b Hatton 9, Y Arafat run out (R Miller) 10, C Lewis st Oldham b F Hamilton 10, H Hammond not out 7, extras 4, total (5wkts) 168.

Bowling: A Miller 4-1-25-1, R Hamilton 4-0-23-0, R Withers 4-0-35-0, C Hatton 4-0-37-2, F Hamilton 4-0-45-1.

BEN RHYDDING: R Miller b Emburey 34, L Bolton c Lewis b Arafat 3, R Oldham c Hammond b Arafat 6, O Musgrave st Hammond b Emburey 17, S Tattersall c Arafat b Mustard 25, R Withers c Schofield b Emburey 0, F Hamilton c&b Tate 1, A Miller c&b Mustard 12, N Smith b Tate 1, T Holmes not out 1, C Hatton c Emburey b Oswal 13, extras 5, total 120.

Bowling: Y Arafat 4-1-16-2, R Sidebottom 2-0-24-0, C Schofield 4-0-12-0, J Emburey 4-0-22-3, S Tate 3-0-20-2, P Mustard 2-0-20-2, M Oswal 0.2-0-1-1.