A LARGE crowd turned up at Rockhampton to watch former international players in action for the Lashings World XI, but a potential star of the future stole the show.
Guy Brothwood, 17, was handed the man of the match award after scoring a magnificent century for Rockhampton, but it was not enough to give them an unlikely victory as they finished 93 runs short of the invitational side on 218-8. Mohammad Yousuf, who was playing international cricket for Pakistan just 18 months ago, scored a classy ton for the Lashings to help them rack up a massive 311-6 in the 35-over match.
Approximately 700 people watched the spectacle, compared to 400 when the Lashings visited Rockhampton the previous year, and organiser Jack Spence declared the day a massive success.
He said: “We’re really pleased. It was a smooth process, like at most cricket clubs everyone chipped in and the day ran itself.
“For 700 people to turn up, to give them a good game and for one of our youngsters to score a century it couldn’t have gone much better, unless we got the runs.”
It is hoped that the Lashings will visit again next year, and Spence said Rockhampton have relished the chance of coming up against players such as Yousuf, who have enjoyed such glittering careers.
“You bowl a good ball that would normally be a dot ball on a Saturday and he sweeps you for four, so it’s different class,” said Spence.
“It’s a privilege to play against people like that and it was frightening how good he was.”
Rockhampton made a great start, with Wasim Jaffer unable to repeat last year’s century after being bowled by Will Cartlidge (1-41) for nine, while Lou Vincent (21) went the same way to Rob Belbin (1-36).
However, Yousuf found support from former Gloucestershire stars Ian Harvey (58) and Ian Butler (65) and he put the Lashings in a commanding position by the time he was caught by James Hancox off James Cooke for 121.
The wickets were shared around with Chris Pearce, Hancox and Spence also taking one apiece.
Rockhampton never really looked like chasing down the target but made steady progress.
Harvey kept wicket and caught Matt Tyler (16) off Devon Malcolm before stumping both Cartlidge (29) and Will Tyler (11) off John Emburey, but 17-year-old Brothwood showed promise early on and shared 55 with Simon Hore (23).
Rockhampton lost their way slightly late on with Jaffer taking four wickets, but Wiltshire under-17 star Brothwood played some fantastic shots all around the ground and reached three figures before he was bowled for exactly 100 by the Indian in the following over.
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