LINCOLNSHIRE v SUFFOLK AT SLEAFORD - MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM CHRIS KEYWOOD - CHAIRMAN, LINCS CCC

For their first Minor Counties Eastern Division Championship match of the season Lincolnshire entertained Suffolk at Sleaford. With Paul Cook and Dan Birch unavailable debuts were given to Grimsby’s Harry Warwick and Lindum’s Ben Powell. Lincolnshire’s side had a very youthful look about it and was possibly the youngest that they had selected for very many years

In ideal batting conditions Suffolk won the toss and elected to bat. In the first over Adam Shepherd removed Huggins but this was not to be the fore runner of a Suffolk collapse. Steadily they built their total aided by a good batting pitch and fast outfield. At one stage they looked likely to pass 400 in their allotted 90 overs but tight bowling by Lincolnshire’s spinners, Carter, Clewett and Bansal kept them in check and they finished on 337 for 8. Four batsmen, Cull, Rash, Mansfield and Ward all reached half centuries for the visitors whilst Adam Shepherd with 4 for 106 was Lincs most successful bowler.

The task was now for Lincolnshire’s youthful squad to meet the challenge. By close of play on day one they had reached 133 for 4 off 34 overs, still some 204 behind the Suffolk total. Steadily at first and then increasing the run rate Conrad Louth with 85 and Brett Houston with 53 added 110 for the fifth wicket. There then followed the highlight of the day as Oliver Burford took the Suffolk attack apart making a chanceless century on his home ground off just 91 balls. Aided by 50 not out from Harry Clewett the pair added 141 for the eighth wicket before Lincolnshire were all out in their final over for 401, a lead of 64.

By close of play on day two Suffolk were 184 for 5, a lead of 120. Lincolnshire needed an early breakthrough on day three to put them in pole position. Shepherd bowled Mansfield with the total on 219 but from then on further success eluded the Lincolnshire attack as Guy and Finch batted on and on putting on 207 for the seventh wicket. For reasons only known to themselves Suffolk continued to bat eventually declaring on 527 for 8, with Guy making 216. This left Lincolnshire around 30 overs to chase an impossible victory target of 464. They reached 104 for 4 off 19 overs with Jim Morgan making a brisk 50.This was a disappointing conclusion to a match that had offered so much on the first two days. Spectators were left wondering why Suffolk had batted until tea on the final day  and had not given themselves time to bowl at Lincs very inexperienced side.

Lincolnshire took 11 points from the match and Suffolk 12. Lincolnshire’s next fixture is against Hertfordshire at Hertford commencing on Sunday, 23^rd June.