Lashings cricket legends at Southill Park

High Sheriff XI v Lashings at Southill. PNL-160629-103631002

The famous Lashings XI arrived in the village for a fundraising match against a High Sheriff’s XI – Charles Whitbread of Southill House is the county’s High Sheriff.

The fun fixture was held at the village’s quintessentially English cricket venue.

Sadly the summer weather was also typically English, and rain intervened with just 19 overs being made possible.

High Sheriff XI v Lashings at Southill. PNL-160629-103645002

However this wasn’t going to dampen spirits. Henry Blofeld, the larger than life Test Match Special commentator, was there to entertain the crowds.

Among the many familiar cricketing faces to appear were former England bowlers Devon Malcolm, Alex Tudor and Phil de Freitas.

In the brief action to take place out on the square the Lashings batted first and West Indian Kirk Edwards and India’s Wasim Jaffer scored heavily.

There was also time for Sherwin Campbell and Herschelle Gibbs to make an appearance at the crease before the heavens were opened and the match was abandoned.

However the Lashings matches are as much about what happens off the field as on it, with players and guests enjoying a sumptuous lunch beforehand and players happy to chat with spectators.