OUTCASTS LOSE TO ALFORD, DIV ONE

By Glen Sands

Despite producing a much better performance than the one a week earlier at Scothern, Outcasts still failed to pick up their first win of the season when slipping to a narrow 4-run defeat against Alford who were relegated from the Lincs Premier Division last season.
Will Garlick was first to go when Alford were offered first use of the Hirst Priory pitch when he was very well caught by Mark Coulman, off Liam McAnaney, at mid-off, his diving effort removing the opener for just a single.
Then Mark Irving and Matt Keeling steadied things for the visitors with a purposeful partnership. Things might have been so different, though, were it not for a dropped catch that saw Keeling offered a life before he had got off the mark, the right-hander going on to make 66 in Alford's total of 193 for 6.
Irving reached a cautious 19 before he chipped an easy chance to Simon Lewis, off Jason Whiteley, with the total on 44 but veteran Neil Calvert joined Keeling to add 86 valuable runs as Outcasts toiled to pick up a third wicket.
Keeling eventually went when caught by Lewis, again off Whiteley, then Calvert was joined by Rob Dixon (13) Andrew White (24 in 14 deliveries) and Tom Stocks who was superbly stumped by Graham Oxley, off Tom Sharpe, without scoring.
Calvert held things together with an unbeaten 56 as Alford ended on 193 for 6, Whiteley finishing with 3 for 53 and Tom Sharpe 2 for 37 for the Priorymen.
Outcasts quickly lost opener Oliver Coulman when they set about chasing their total, caught at slip by Tom White off Glyn James for two. Then Craig McAnaney and David Hobson settled things down and drew the sting from the young Alford bowlers.
Hobson had reached 20 when he was superbly caught by Neil Calvert with a diving effort at mid-on, off the bowling of Tom Stocks, and when McAnaney followed him back to the pavilion for 30 the total stood at 64 for 3.
Mark Coulman was disappointed to have been adjudged to have edged a catch behind to Alan White off Stocks, and for a while all seemed lost - but Andy Torr and Simon Lewis then produced a gritty fightback with Torr, in particular, batting aggressively in a partnership of 74 valuable runs.
He appeared in no trouble as he made 53, including 10 boundaries, but from nowhere he hit the ball straight to James, off slow bowler Crow, and the game changed once again.
Mark Irving was introduced into the attack and instantly tied up one end which meant risks were having to taken at the other - and suddenly wickets began to fall one again.
Tom Sharpe was easily caught by Keeling, off Crow, for seven and Whiteley followed suit for the same score when he was caught by Dixon, off Stocks. This put the onus on Lewis as Alford looked to sweep through the lower order and it produced a nervous finish which saw Outcasts needing 17 from the last three overs with three wickets in hand - but Lewis just couldnt find the necessary boundaries required and was eventually bowled by Stocks for 33.
Joe Tonge did manage to smack one over the ropes in the final over which saw the Isle side needing a six to tie from the last delivery but it wasn't to be and they ended their 45 overs on 189 for 9, just four runs short of their target, Tom Stocks finishing the innings with 6 for 28 from nine overs.
So Outcasts have lost both their opening games of the 2010 season but this was an improvement on their first performance and they can travel to Broughton feeling that they are hopefully not far away from that first valuable win.
Outcasts 2nds played their first game in Division Two of the Lincolnshire League following their terrific title victory last summer but they failed to pick up the win they had hoped for when being beaten at Market Rasen by seven wickets.
Skipper Russell Fletcher scored 50 not out as Outcasts made 155 for 7 but Rasen cruised to 156 for 3 in reply to inflict a first defeat on the newly-promoted Isle side who will look to bounce back straight away with a home fixture against Cleethorpes 4ths on Saturday.
Passing of John Green: Finally, Outcasts CC would like to offer their most sincere condolences to the family of John Green, who graced the cricket fields around the Isle for Belton and Haxey CC. John was, in his time, one of the best batsmen of his era and although he was often the scourge of other Isle teams he was nevertheless an outstanding player and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.