READERS LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE MAY 24

BY ANN BOULTON

  

Augusta Street in Grimsby hosted the only game to take place, not just in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League but, it would appear, throughout the whole of Lincolnshire.

League leaders Bourne made the journey to Grimsby more in hope than anticipation and at noon, the scheduled start time, things were not looking hopeful.

But umpires and players agreed to wait and at 2.30pm, after much hard work on the part of the Grimsby groundsman and both teams’ willingness to help, play began with the overs reduced from 100 to 64.

Grimsby, who lie in ninth place having secured their first win of the season the previous weekend, were invited to bat and got off to an excellent start thanks to Joe Farmery and Yamin Butt who put on 60 for the first wicket.

But the introduction of Tom Dixon to the attack saw Farmery caught for 27 and with 16 runs added, Butt followed, having hit 33.

Maninder Singh and skipper Steve Crossley both got into double figures but Dixon was on good form and went on to take six for 34 as Grimsby’s 32 overs ended on a total of 125 for seven.

Bourne also started well and had 40 on the board when Bailey Mawer bowled Pete Morgan for 31.  Conrad Louth came out to join Ben Stroud in a partnership of 43 before Stroud fell to new signing Matthew Owen for 27 and Owen then bowled incoming batsman Stuart Airey for a duck.

But this was to be Grimsby’s last success as Louth hit 31 and with Carl Wilson (24) took Bourne to a seven wicket win that increased their lead at the top of the table.

Result: Grimsby 125-7 (Dixon 6-34), Bourne 126-3; All other games cancelled.

	P	W	L	Draw	NR	Bat	Bowl	Win	Total
Bourne	6	3	0	2	1	21	20	30	92
Woodhall Spa	6	2	0	2	2	18	15	20	79
Sleaford	6	2	0	3	1	19	21	20	78
Bracebridge Heath	6	3	2	0	1	19	23	30	77
Louth	6	2	0	2	2	13	17	20	72
Spalding	6	1	1	3	1	20	14	10	64
Market Deeping	6	2	1	1	2	14	15	20	62
Lindum	6	1	2	1	2	10	16	10	53
Grimsby	6	1	3	1	1	10	14	10	40
Billingborough	6	0	2	2	2	10	15	0	39
Skegness	6	0	4	0	2	6	9	0	25
Market Rasen	6	0	2	1	3	2	4	0	24