This was the second year that the Lashing World XI have come to play the Old Chelmsfordians First XI. Unlike last year, the weather behaved itself and a crowd numbering well into the hundreds were treated to a festival of cricket. The Lashings side, who play up to forty matches per year against club cricket sides around the country and the world, comprised players who have graced the highest level of the game over the past twenty years. These included West Indians Richie Richardson, Gordon Grenidge, Vaspert Drakes, Alvin Kallicharan and Phil Simmonds, Zimbabweans Tatenda Taibu and Grant Flower, Chris Lewis of England, Sri Lankan Aravinda da Silva and Rashid Latif from Pakistan. As ever Lashings batted first and posted a challenging 226 for 3 from their 35 overs. Much of the damage was done by da Silva who showed he had lost none of his batting class. Unsurprisingly the home sides failed to reach this target, having to face some aggressive fast bowling from the likes of Drakes and Lewis, plus some effective efforts from Richardson, Taibu and Latif. The latter twos performances were most notable, given that they also shared the wicket keeping duties! Nervertheless, they recovered to a more than respectable 130 all out, having at one stage been 66-6. But the day wasn't about all about the result. It was a chance for the club to raise its profile and draw a crowd to which it is seldom accustomed. Moreover it was an opportunity for the Old Chelmsfordian players to play against some of their all time sporting heroes. We caught up with some of the people involved in the day. | 
