Devon Cricket Board - Rintoul slams quickfire Lord's ton

Rintoul slams quickfire Lord's ton

IT'S never too late to make dreams come true - just ask Exmouth batsman Stuart Rintoul.
Rintoul, who was 44 last month, would be the first to admit he is in the twilight of his career.
So to score a century at Lord's on his first appearance at the home of cricket has to be the icing on the cake.
And that's exactly what Rintoul did playing for MCC South against MCC South-West in a showcase game at Lord's.
Rintoul, who skippered Dorset between 1999-2002 before moving to Devon and joining Exmouth, hit 115 not out in his side's total of 207 for eight in 30 rain-reduced overs.
He only faced 73 balls and smashed 11 fours and seven sixes during his stay.
MCC South West, who included former Cornwall player Mark George, were 176 for six when their overs ran out.
Said Rintoul: 'I have been an MCC playing member for seven or eight years, playing in what they call 'out games'.
'MCC put out around 450 teams year all over the country, playing against schools and colleges, or going to clubs for centenary or 150th anniversary games.
'There are different regions -South, North, East and so on - and players who turn out regularly get invited to one of these special games at Lord's as a thank-you.
'I know it sounds clichéd, but it really was something special to remember for the rest of my days.
'Although the Minor Counties Cup final is normally played at Lord's, the only final I played in for Dorset was on a year when Lord's wasn't available. We beat Cambridgeshire at Weymouth, hardly the same!
'When I was captain of Dorset I went to Lord's several times for meetings and awards lunches, but never actually played there.
'It is one thing to go to Lord's and quite another to carry you kit in, get changes in the dressing room then go down the steps and through the Long Room out on to the ground.
'If I had scored ten I would have been happy just to have played there. So to score a hundred was unbelievable.
'Among my seven sixes there was one off Mark George which went over extra-cover and finished up in the back row of the grandstand. I swear that was the best shot of my entire career.'

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