Sting in the tail for Bumble

10:40am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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FORMER England coach David Lloyd admitted he was pleased with his return to the game with Accrington.

But Bumble' couldn't prevent his home town team from suffering their first defeat of the season to Haslingden as they went down by 12 runs.

Lloyd, who was making his first appearance with the bat for 19 years in front of the Sky Television cameras, made 15 from 31 balls, including two boundaries, before holing out to Mike Ingham off Graham Knowles.

And he managed a productive partnership with his son Graham, who went on to score a tremendous 78.

He said: "I thoroughly enjoyed it. There were a lot of runs scored, but we fell just short.

"It was a really good pitch and a great atmosphere, with plenty going on.

"Anyone who went to the game would have been delighted. It was a cracking day, with plenty of runs scored by both sides.

"Myself and Graham were going well and then I swept one to deep backward square leg. I've taken some stick about that from my television colleagues because I always say players should never sweep the ball, they should knock it back down the ground, but here was me getting out for that."

The 61-year-old also took a good diving catch in the field to dismiss Haslingden professional David Bandy, who made his maiden Lancashire League half century, hitting 60.

But Lloyd was critical of his fielding performance and insisted it would have to improve for his next outing, which is still to be arranged.

He said: "I gave myself five-out-of-10 in the field. I took a good catch, but if I played again, I'd have to improve on my fielding.

"I was pleased with my batting though. I always felt that I'd be okay with the bat. Fifteen is not a lot, but it was a commanding 15!"

ggibbon@the-lt.co.uk