DIV ONE BATTLE PLAYED IN TREMENDOUS SPIRIT

By BOB WELTON, CHAIRMAN - LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

Yesterday I made a second visit to Chichester Road, Cleethorpes, this weekend for the Division One battle between the Meggies' 3rd string and Bracebridge Heath 2nds.
Cleethorpes won the toss and elected to field on a brighter afternoon than Saturday.
Bracebridge struggled against a miserly Meggies attack of which ex-Barton player Dean Cressey was the most successful with 4 for 27 from 15 overs, Andy Severn 2 for 37 off 13 and Simon Taylor with 2 for 36 off 12 were the only other wicket takers.
Not a daunting total to chase as the happy Meggies left the field. The only three Bracebridge batsmen to score double figures were Josh Lee 22, Thomas Monson 23 and Carl Stubbs 55* .
Cleethorpes captain Paul Hewstone very kindly invited me into the club-house for some of Margaret Ferrier's hospitality. Tea was first-class as ever I remember from my playing days at Chichester Road.
Paul and I were joined by Graham Hackney for some cricket chat over a cup of tea. We left the club-house as the Meggies innings was about to commence and I took up a vantage point near the net bays to watch the second half unfold.
What happened was an excellent display of fielding from the young, enthusiastic Bracebridge side making the home side struggle to score, with some fine stops, as the Cleethorpes batsmen struggled to pierce the astute field placings.
Pick of the visitors' attack was Ben Smith with 4 for 22 off 12 overs, John Kerridge chipped in with 3 for 36 off 10.3 and Ross Carnelly with 2 for 1 off 1 . The only Cleethorpes batsmen to reach double figures were Kris Richardson 18, Joe Farmery 20 and last man out Richard Woodward 35.
The mighty Meggies actually lost their last 5 wickets for an amazing 14 runs turning what could have been a routine run chase into a 44 run defeat.
The game was played in a tremendous spirit throughout and the ground looked in top order considering the recent weather conditions, a credit to the hard work put in by Howard Swain and his army of helpers. The friendly atmosphere within the club is something all clubs should aspire to .
My thanks to Paul and all at the club for providing the entertainment and sustenance; a real pleasure to be there. I'm already thinking ahead to next week-ends trip, crutches polished and ready to go who knows where!