GREENMOUNT Cricket Club welcomed a host of cricketing legends, and one very famous voice, as part of the club's 150th anniversary celebrations.

A select XI from the Brandlesholme Road club took on the Lashings All Stars — cricket's answer to the Harlem Globe Trotters — in a special 20 overs match last Thursday.

And legendary BBC Test Match Special commentator Henry Blofeld was also present to describe the action to the crowd in his own colourful style.

Greenmount CC first-team bowler Mark Stewart, who played in the match, said: “It was just a fantastic day from start to finish.

“They were a great set of blokes, from the time they came in in the morning they were helping to coach the kids.

“They were fantastic, I would recommend it to any club.

“It was tough playing against those guys, I don’t think we got a wicket until they were well past 100.

“Their openers were just calmly stroking it out of the ground.

“They were just brilliant, it was just great to watch even though we were playing against them.

“Twenty20 matches are tough on the bowlers against normal teams, let alone them.”

The Lashings scored 212-2 from their allotted 20 overs with Mr Stewart and Danny Hornby picking up the wickets for Greenmount.

In response, Greenmount put up a good fight, making more than 200 but being bowled out short of the target in the last over.

Greenmount's former professional Asif Zakir made 76.

Greenmount captain Phil Heaton added: "It was a really good day and a pretty special one for the club.

"The ground was packed full with about 900 people watching the match and the ground looked great, it was a very good advert for the club.

"A great day was had by all — it went perfectly, couldn't have gone any better."

Mr Heaton said the Lashings players were "real gents".

He added: "They were great with the kids when they were doing the coaching in the morning, then we had lunch with them and then played the game in the afternoon.

"There was no edge on them, they were really nice guys and it was just like they were one of us."

The following day, a Marylebone Cricket Club XI played against some of Greenmount's best young players ahead of a summer ball later that evening.