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McMillan rises to university's challenge

NEW Zealand batsman Craig McMillan was the star of the show as the Maidstone-based all-star side Lashings defeated Cambridge University by 134 runs at The Mote.

McMillan, batting at five, blasted an unbeaten 185 in an explosive knock that helped Lashings to a huge total of 323 for five off 40 overs.

His innings included a fifth wicket stand of 208 with fellow New Zealand Test player Chris Harris (58).

Lashings, batting first, did not make the best of starts and lost the wicket of former West Indian opener Sherwin Campbell with only 10 runs on the board.

But Pakistan’s Yousuf Youhana (27) joined ex-West Indies batsman Stuart Williams (29) at the crease and they steadied the innings and took the Maidstone team past the 50 mark.

After they were dismissed, along with Zimbabwean Mark Vermuelen, the Harris and McMillan partnership left Cambridge University with a huge target to chase in reply.

The students made a bright start before Tom Harvey caught Duncan Heath off the bowling of Mohamed Akram with 32 runs on the board.

The Pakistan Test player then dismissed Richard Mann without any further runs being added.

Simon Marshall fell cheaply before Phil Tufnell, the former England spinner turned television celebrity, marked his debut for the club with the wicket of Rudi Singh.

Tufnell went on to return figures of two for 36 from his eight overs.

Although wickets continued to fall at the other end, Cambridge opener Adrian Shanker went on to top score for the visitors with 57.

With the students finding it impossible to keep up with the run-rate, it was left to former West Indies captain Jimmy Adams to mop up the tail.

Adams took four for 24 in 3.4 four overs as Cambridge were dismissed for 189 .

Lashings boss David Folb said: “It was an absolutely brilliant day and during the course of the game we had a few thousand people turn up.

“Everybody was delighted and we couldn’t really have wished for anything more.”

Lashings are in action again on Tuesday when Australian legend Mark Waugh makes his debut for the club against Sutton Valence School.

He will be joined by Tufnell and Richie Richardson in a Lashings side that has won four games out of four this season.

The match starts at 2pm and admission prices are £6 for adults and £3 for children.

Meanwhile, following Kent’s exit from the Twenty20 Cup this week, the game between the county team and Lashings will definitely go ahead on Sunday, July 20.

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