SENIOR PLAYERS FLY THE FLAG

From Ann Boulton

After several years of success with the county Over 50s team, 2010 saw Lincolnshire launch an Over 60s side into the Spitfire National Over 60 Championship East.
A couple of experimental friendlies in 2009 convinced the Lincolnshire Cricket Board that the county could support a competitive side in this age group, with the result that earlier this month the team played its first match against Essex – and was beaten by 10 wickets!
However, a trip to Letchworth brought a seven-wicket victory over Hertfordshire in the second fixture with Bob Leafe and Keith West sharing a match winning unbeaten partnership of 153. Leafe hit 83 off 93 balls with 14 fours, while West’s 82 came off just 65 balls with 14 fours and a six.
Norfolk are the next opponents, this game taking place at Mattishall CC. The O60s are then at home for their next two matches, taking on Hertfordshire again on 8th June at Billingborough CC and Suffolk at Boston on 15th, both starting at 1.30pm.

HERTFORDSHIRE O60
T Levey not out 135
M Dexter run out 9
C Garside b Smith 38
S Baker c Leafe b Smith 10
J Permutt st West b Spence 18
P Tyler not out 0
Extras 28
Total (4 wkts) 238

Bowling: B Spence 9-1-39-1; G Danby 9-1-38-0; T Wilkinson 9-2-64-0; M Savage 9-0-46-0; M Smith 9-1-35-2.

LINCOLNSHIRE O60
A Taupin lbw Permutt 24
R Boxall b Croucher 10
J Mountain b Permutt 10
R Leafe not out 83
K West not out 82
Extras 21
Total (3 wkts) 239

Bowling: A Cook 2-0-10-0; M Fernando 7-0-46-0; J Permutt 9-3-16-2; S Baker 6-0-43-0; T Thompson 8-1-54-0; P Tyler 3-0-25-0; C Croucher 9-1-28-1; T Levey 0-1-4-0.

Lincolnshire Over 50s got their season off to a good start with a win over Huntingdonshire at Boston.
Playing in Group 2 the ECB 50+ County Championship, Lincs had Neil Calvert and Mark Roberts to thank for their six wicket victory, Roberts hitting an unbeaten 117.
Lincs won the toss and elected to field but had to contend with a strong Hunts top order, Robert Milne hitting 56 and number four Barry Morris finishing 59 not out as the visitors ended their 45 overs on 243 for seven.
The home side then lost their first two wickets for 28 runs but Calvert and Simon Lewis added 60 and when Lewis was out for 29, Calvert and Roberts joined forces to take Lincs within sight of victory.
Calvert was caught behind for 50 but Roberts made no mistake as Lincs claimed their win with three overs to spare.
The O50s next match is against Northamptonshire at Alford on June 2 at 2pm. The team then has two away matches, against Leicestershire & Rutland and Bedfordshire.

HUNTINGDONSHIRE O50
N Andrews st Spence b Johnson 31
R Milne c Calvert b Lewis 56
G Scotcher b Lewis 24
B Morris not out 59
B Cavilla b O’Dare 10
K Cole c James b O’Dare 6
P Ellerbeck b James 18
N King b James 9
G Whitbread not out 9
Extras 21
Total (7 wkts) 243

Bowling: P James 8-0-55-2; A Smart 6-1-17-0; R Johnson 8-1-37-1; M Roberts 5-0-38-0; S Lewis 5-1-23-2; S O’Dare 9-0-37-2; K White 4-0-27-0.

LINCOLNSHIRE O50
P Taylor c Whitbread b Cole 7
D Gilding c Whitbread b Howard 0
N Calvert c Whitbread b Ellerbeck 50
S Lewis c Cavilla b Andrews 29
M Roberts not out 117
R Johnson not out 20
Extras 21
Total (4 wkts) 244

Bowling: B Howard 8-1-28-1; K Cole 5-0-24-1; D Smith 8-0-43-0; N Andrews 9-0-48-1; P Ellerbeck 8-0-48-1; G Scotcher 3-0-31-0; N King 1-0-11-0;