MORGAN HITS DOUBLE-CENTURY FOR GRIMSBY

READERS LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER LEAGUE

By Ann Boulton

Top and bottom of the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League may already be decided but a season of eventful matches and surprise results continued into the final week.
At Grimsby, Jim Morgan became the first – and only – double centurion of 2011 when he blasted 208 off 169 balls with five sixes and 21 fours. Morgan, together with Neal Snell who made 58, helped the home side to 329 for seven and Carl Taylor and Gary Tillison then joined forces to take four wickets each as Louth were bowled for 116.
At Skegness, more than 600 runs were scored for the loss of 10 wickets as the home side notched up 366 for five against Market Deeping, Wade McCall with an unbeaten 151. Deeping then replied with 236 for five.
Fahad Masood ended the season on 86 wickets, shattering the league record at Bourne who were restricted to 196 for nine by Woodhall Spa. Masood then took five for 63 as the visitors were bowled out for 136.
Matt Bradley also took five wickets for Bracebridge Heath at Lindum, the champions hitting 271 for eight before bowling their hosts out for 152.
Bourne had already claimed the runners-up spot but Boston gained sufficient points to hang on to third place despite going down to Sleaford, for whom Matthew Mountain made an unbeaten 127. Sleaford finished on 249 for eight before bowling the home side out for 194.
But the closest game of the day was at Hartsholme who ended their 50 overs on 204 for nine. Going into the final over with four runs needed and eight wickets down, Nettleham looked like claiming their sole victory of the season – but Rob Thorpe’s first two balls bowled both Nettleham’s final pair, giving Hartsholme a three run win.

YESTERDAYGrimsby 329-7 (Morgan 208, Snell 58), Louth 116;
Bourne 196-9, Woodhall Spa 136 (Masood 5-63);
Sleaford 249-8 (Mountain 127no), Boston 194 (Baxter 61);
Bracebridge Heath 271-8 (Houston 53), Lindum 152 (Robinson 50, Bradley 5-47);
Hartsholme 204-9 (Shooter 55), Nettleham 201 (Manby 63, Wright 75, Shillito 6-60);
Skegness 366-5 (Epton 75, Wilson 71, McCall 151no), Market Deeping 236-5 (Wheatley 60no);

FINAL TABLE
P W L Draw Ab/Can Bat Bowl Win Draw Ab/Can Total
Bracebridge Heath 22 13 2 3 4 84 77 130 27 29 347
Bourne 22 12 6 3 1 76 89 120 19 8 312
Boston 22 10 7 4 1 66 77 100 26 8 277
Sleaford 22 9 8 4 1 81 68 90 24 8 271
Grimsby 22 10 7 2 2 76 68 100 12 13 269
Market Deeping 22 8 5 6 3 76 65 80 14 24 259
Louth 22 8 7 4 3 65 69 80 20 24 258
Hartsholme 22 6 6 7 3 69 65 60 25 21 240
Woodhall Spa 22 6 9 6 1 68 70 60 24 8 230
Lindum 22 7 10 2 3 53 66 70 12 24 225
Skegness 22 4 10 6 2 68 53 40 38 13 212
Nettleham 22 0 15 3 4 41 43 0 9 26 119