Sunday 7 September 2014

HOLTON-LE-CLAY V OUTCASTS - LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Outcasts gained a very good victory at Holton le Clay as they look to finish in their highest league position ever in the Lincolnshire League, WRITES GLEN SANDS..
On arrival at the ground it became apparant that there were no umpires which meant both teams had to do the job themselves but to their credit they stepped up to the plate marvellously with no dissent or  controversy even when players were given out by team mates in either innings. Outcasts were invited to bat first on an overcast day and a track that had plenty of grass on it but undeterred Andrew Lawson got his team off to a quick start despite losing opening partner Danny Hilton early. Shaun Byrne made six before he was second to go , caught by Paul Holmes off Luke Ford then the prized wicket of Lawson was taken by Rich Griffin who had the big man caught behind for 32 and suddenly the Isle side were in a spot of bother. Things didn't improve when Mark Fletcher was caught at slip by Rob Griffin making it 41 for 4 and it was obvious someone needed to steady the ship. Skipper Russell Fletcher and Graham Clark did just that , easing the ball around to put on a stand of 53 before Fletcher was bowled by Danny Portus for a well constructed 20 which brought the enigma that is Deol Singh to the crease looking to push the run rate on. He hit one towering six and another boundary before being adjudged LBW off the bowling of Portus and at 108 for 6 once again Outcasts had to regroup if they were to make enough to have a hope of defending a total. Clark was batting exceptionally well and along with Tom Sharpe they progressed the score to 137 before Sharpe was deceived by Portus's quicker delivery and was out for 16 but that brought Stuart Clark ( no relation ) to join namesake Graham and they continued to put the foot to the floor. Graham , back from his tour abroad with his regiment , brought up an impressive half century and the total had grown to 177 when Stuart was trapped LBW by the wiley Portus for 19. Graeme Fletcher was next to the crease and he became Portus's fifth wicket ( for 57 ) when he was caught by Rob Griffin off the final deliverty of the innings leaving Clark on a potential match winning 69 not out.
Holton le Clay made a decent start to their innings although both Tom Sharpe and Graeme Clark bowled tightly giving nothing away as Danny Portus and Paul Holmes were made to fight hard for their runs. Portus was somewhat unluckily given out caught behind by Mark Fletcher off brother Graeme for 16 just when he appeared to be finding some form then Josh Plaskitt and his skipper were given little in the way of loose deliveries as they inched their way past fifty. It was at this point that Russell Fletcher introduced that man Deol to the attack and boy did he make an impact ! He induced  Holmes into a return catch to make it 51 for 2 then the continually impressive Sharpe trapped Plaskitt LBW for 13 and HLC were falling behind the required run rate at 61 for 3. From that moment on it became the Deol Singh show as he produced ball after ball that posed the opposition all manner of trouble. His accuracy was impeccable as be bowled out Gash for five then had Sam Ford caught by Alex Fletcher for 15 which brought the Griffin brothers to the crease looking to guide their team to an ever increasingly difficult target. Rob Griffin had reached 13 and the total 98 when Deol produced a jaffa that bowled him neck and crop then Alex Fletcher picked up a deserved wicket when bowling Jim Birkwood for five. The responsibility was now firmly on the shoulders of Rich Griffin if HLC were to pull off an unlikely win but fading light and that man Deol proved to be a bridge too far as the innings was drawn to a close. Deol finished with outstanding figures of  7 for 25 from 12 overs , leaving HLC all out for 143 which meant a full twenty points haul for the Isle side , lifting them above Cleethorpes into third place again with just a trip to Horncastle remaining before the curtain falls on the 2014 season.
Outcasts' second eleven still harbour hopes of promotion but were robbed of the opportunity to climb into second place when rain brought an early halt to proceedings against rivals Old Lincolnians. The Lincoln team were invited to bat first , making 142 all out with Oliver Hoare taking 3 for 47 , Jonathan Wroot an impressive 3 for 22and Conor Webb 2 for 33 , Banfield top scoring with 34 and Outcasts were going well on 69 for 2 when the rain came , Scott Buttrick making 38 not out and Hoare 15. 
This means that Jason Whiteley's men need to win against South Kelsey on September 13th and hope that Old Lincolnians don't win at champions Cleethorpes 3rds so the mobile phones will be red hot listening for updates from Chichester Road !!      

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