OUTCASTS v MESSINGHAM 2NDS - LINCS LEAGUE DIV ONE

Outcasts'  hopes of finishing second in the table and having a chance of promotion to the top flight were dealt a huge blow when they were beaten by already relegated Messingham 2nds at Hirst Priory on Saturday, August 31st in a match sponsored by JF Electrical, WRITES GLEN SANDS.Home skipper Richard Wroot won the toss and chose to bat first on a well prepared Sean McAnaney track that offered the batsmen a great opportunity to accumulate runs but Messingham's opening bowlers both bowled well as one by one the Isle sides top order got themselves out. Darren Clark was first to go , playing across a straight delivery from John West to be trapped LBW foe 15 then Scott Buttrick was superbly caught by a diving Jimmy Snee to give West a second wicket that left Outcasts on 21 for 2. Opener Lee Gash had looked in no trouble before West surprised him with a short pitched delivery and skied his attempted hook straight to Brian McVey at square leg then Graham Clark was late moving his feet to Dave Langford and the total stood at a pitiful 20 for 4. Things got worse when Russell Fletcher gloved a catch to wicket keeper Ed Cook and when Peter Tait was out for just two when his attempted hook found McVey again the Priorymen were in complete disarray at 34 for 6. Richard Wroot and Mark Fletcher pieced together a stand of 26 before Wroot was adjudged LBW to Messingham's evergreen skipper Jimmy Snee for 18 then Fletcher and Tom Sharpe took the score to 75 , then the latter was bowled by West for whom it was a fifth wicket of the innings.. Fletcher's long occupation of the crease ended when he was bowled by Snee for 14 and the innings was brought to a close when Paul Baxter bowled Liam McAnaney , leaving Outcasts all out for a very disappointing 83. Credit should go to the Messingham side who bowled and fielded splendidly throughout , the highlight undoubtedly being the diving catch taken by Snee that had everyone talking , although John West ( 5 for 35 ) and Dave Langford ( 2 for 19 ) both peoduced some excellent bowling.
The Messingham innings got off to a sensational start as Liam McAnaney picked up three wickets in his first over. He bowled Ed Cook with a brilliant swinging delivery then repeated the trick two balls later when smashing Paul Baxter's stumps then he trapped Brian McVey LBW with the last ball of the opening over , leaving Messingham somewhat shell shocked on 1 for 3. However the old head of that man Jimmy Snee joined opener Steve Cox and they set about steadying the ship with some sensible batting. Both batsmen picked off the loose deliveries and before long they had put together a half century partnership. They appeared set to cruise to victory when Snee was caught by wicket keeper Mark Fletcher off Graham Clark for 23 then spin bowler Scott Buttrick captured the wickets of Isaac Hammond , caught by Graham Clark , Neil Birkitt , caught by Mark Fletcher then the impressive Steve Cox who dollied a return catch to Buttrick having scored 40 0f the then 70 runs on the board. Having only managed one victory all season the prospect of requiring just fourteen to win was weighing heavy on the visitors but Dave Langford and John West , who had done so much to bowl their team into a strong position , held their nerve to see them home , Langford making nine not out and West five to ensure a rare but well deserved victory.
So Outcasts go into their final match of the season needing to beat fellow promotion hopefuls Scothern by a maximum 20 points and hope that a couple of results go their way elsewhere but they know they will have to play much better than they did in this match to have any hope at all. It promises to be a thrilling game.