OUTCASTS v HOLTON-LE--CLAY - LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE, MAY 17, 2014

Outcasts have made a terrific start to the new season with both Lincolnshire League teams still unbeaten after the first four weeks, writes Glen Sands.
The fist eleven were given a tough test on May 17th when they took on a battling Holton le Clay side at Hirst Priory and they didn't make the greatest of starts having won the toss and batted when they lost Oliver Coulman and Darren Clark cheaply. At 3 for 2 Scott Buttrick and John Stokoe had to dig in as Luke Ford in particular was proving to be a handful and it was Ford who picked up his third wicket when Buttrick was caught by Rich Griffin at mid off for thirteen then with just 34 on the board Stokoe hoisted a catch to Alex Nicholls off James Rock and he was back in the pavilion for fifteen. Josh Bramhill and Richard Wroot took the total to 63 before Bramhill became Ford's fourth victim but with strength in depth in their batting order the Isle side still harboured hopes of setting a stern target for HLC Wroot was joined by Peter Tait who's last knock at the Priory saw him score a ton and they knuckled down to gradually get on top of the visitors attack. Neither played at their fluent best but they were dogged in their determination and eventually brought up three figures in the ever warming sunshine.The total had reached 123 when Tait was bowled by Danny Portus for 42 in the search for late runs which brought the other hundred hero from May 3rd Oliver Hoare to the middle. He cracked a quickfire 19before he was trapped LBW by the returning Ford , then Portus mopped up the tail , finishing with 4 for 32 as team mate Ford took 5 for 48 in Outcasts all out total of 160 , Richard Wroot finishing on a well constructed 42 not out.
The general concensus of opinion was that 160 was a competative score but the Isle side knew they needed to get off to a good start and that was just what happened as Oliver Hoare ripped one through Danny Portus' defence then Graeme Fletcher followed suit when  bowling HLC skipper Paul Holmes for four leaving the visitors on 9 for 2. Fletcher then suffered a minute of agony and ecstasy when he bowled Lewis Gash off a no ball but then made amends by bowling a legal delivery with his very next ball that rattled Gash's stumps. That brought Rich Griffin and Josh Plaskitt together in the middle and like Wroot and Tait had done in the first innings they dug in to slowly bring their team back into contention. With the temperature rising the Outcasts side kept their focus in the field and with the game in the balance home skipper Liam McAnaney brought on Lee Gash who instantly broke the stubborn partnership when Griffin was well caught by a diving John Stokoe for 38. His brother Rob joined Plaskitt at the crease but he was soon back in the pavilion when trapped LBW by the impressive Gash then Plaskitt's determined effort was ended when Gash again struck , bowling him for 37.  Liam McAnaney then grabbed a couple of quick wickets and fielder of the match Peter Tait produced a splendid throw to run out Alex Nicholls before Graeme Fletcher returned to finish the innings when he caught and bowled Jack Barker to leave HLC all out for 117.
The twenty points gained from this hard earned victory lifts Outcasts into second place in the table with all eleven participants contributing either by bat ball or excellent fielding. The last two games were both likely to be quite tricky but they have stepped up to the plate on each occasion which will see them head to Keelby in the George Marshall Cup in confident mood on May 24th
Things are going well for Jason Whiteley's second eleven too as they maintained their unbeaten start by gaining a very healthy win at Market Rasen 2nds despite having to find late replacements to make the journey. Outcasts batted first , setting a target of 206 for 9 thanks in the main to Jack Lupton's outstanding 89 and 44 from the experienced Andrew Lawson then Whiteley took 4 for 43 and Tom Sharpe 4 for 26 as they bowled Rasen out for 99 , youngster Adam Wroot finishing the innings off when taking his first wickets in senior cricket to end the game with 2 for 1.
The next match for the seconds promises to be a tough one when they welcome Second Division Alford 2nds to the Priory in the Bob Welton Cup.