AMAZING SMILE DIV ONE - LUDDINGTON v MESSINGHAM

BY GLEN SANDS

Luddington produced a polished display against Messingham on Sunday, September 1 to strengthen their hopes of promotion to the First Division of the Amazing Smile North Lindsey Cricket League.Messingham won the toss and chose to bat first , getting off to a good start despite the early loss of skipper Danny Rands who edged a catch to opposite number Gareth Parkin off Grtaham Clark in the opening over. Steve Cox and Mark Greenwood put together a partnership of 43 in quick time then the latter was caught by Arron Curry , earning Clark a second wicket then Cox was out for 23 , offering Parkin another catch this time off Matthew Mellers and suddenly the balance of the game swayed in favour of the Isle side. Elliott Markham was yet another victim to the gloves of Parkin , becoming Clark's third wicket then Neil Birkitt was trapped LBW by Mellers for two leaving Messingham on 57 for 5. Sam Yates and Andy Langford added eleven before Yates was caught and bowled by Clark for seven and the Luddington soldier picked up a fifth when he bowled Paul Baxter with the total on 72. Langford needed to stay at the crease if Messingham were to post a tough total but he was out for thirteen , caught at mid on by Jamie Arrowsmith off Arron Curry then father and son combo Ian and Tom Sowerby took the score to 90 before the latter was bowled by Curry for five. Ben Wicks then picked up the final wicket when he bowled Sowerby senior leaving Ludd with a target of 91 to win the match , Graham Clark being the pick of the bowlers with 5 for 37.
Clark and Wicks opened the innings for Luddington but Clark perished early when he was adjudged LBW to Andy Langford having made just a single which saw veteran Geoff Smith head out to the middle to join his young partner. Wicks grew into his innings with every shot whilst Smith simply nudged the singles to give him the strike. Messingham tried seven different bowlers but Wicks was dismissive of them all , bringing up a terrific half century with ninth boundary and it was fitting that he won the game with another four , taking his own total to 59 with Smith on 22 as Luddington eased to a nine wicket victory.
The Second Division title race remains extremely tight with four teams still in the hunt for the top two places. Alkborough are top and in pole position but Luddington , Haxey and Outcasts are all within striking distance and both Luddington and Haxey have still to play Alkborough so it promises to go right to the wire.