GREAT DAY'S CRICKET

By Glen Sands

The annual charity match between Ian Fletcher's and Nigel Fisher's Select X1s took place on Bank Holiday Monday at Hirst Priory, where a good crowd gathered for an entertaining afternoon which ultimately raised £230 for Outcasts Cricket Club.
Fletch's team batted first this year with ex-Alkborough man Ralph Gray and ex-Luddington wicketkeeper Steve Dixon opening the innings. Bowlers Mick Smith (ex-Brigg) and Pete Hill (ex-Alkborough) did a good job restricting the runs before Dixon was caught by youngster Liam Grimes off Hill for six, Grimes and his brother Alex playing because of a couple of no shows at the event.
Ex-West Butterwick stalwart Ian (Rusty) Rusling then came on to bowl and he picked up the wicket of Gray whom he bowled after the opener had made a well constructed 15. Then skipper Nigel Fisher gained his first victim when George Coulson (ex-Burton ) was caught by Alex Grimes, having struck just one boundary.
Malcom Cooper was next to go, boweld by Fisher for two - and when John Casswell (ex-Messingham) was unluckily run out when being stranded out of his crease following a Steve Kirman drive that was deflected onto the stumps Fletch's team were floundering on 41 for 5.
Quick work by wicketkeeper Andy Sharp (Keelby) saw Vince Grimes (App-Frod) run out, having failed to bother the scorers - and the writing was on the wall when Outcasts' regular Simon Lewis was caught and bowled by ex-Brigg man Col Mumby for seven with the total standing at 59 for 7.
However, cometh the hour cometh the man - and along with Kirman of Alkborough home skipper Ian Fletcher, of Outcasts, went on to produce a match-winning partnership. Both players batted well, taking the score to 126 before Fletcher retired on 50 (from 56 deliveries) and Kirman appeared set for his half-century as well before being bowled by Liam Grimes for 42 in the search for late runs.
Outcasts' pairing Preston Wallhead (11 not out) and David Hobson (5 not out) saw the innings through to 160 for 8 - after which the two teams enjoyed a traditional cricket salad tea with home baked fare to follow, provided by Yvonne Fletcher and family.
Cleethorpes stalwart Bob Leafe opened the innings for Nigel Fisher's side, along with Andy Sharp, and they made a decent start despite some good bowling from George Coulson and Simon Lewis.
The total had reached 38 when Sharp was caught by Ian Fletcher off Steve Kirman for 18 - and it was Kirman who later picked up the wicket of Leafe for 26, accepting a caught and bowled from the impressive opener.
Col Mumby and Mick Smith took the score to 60 before Smith was caught in the deep by Vince Grimes off Preston Wallhead for eight, which brought Vince's son Alex to the crease to join his senior parner Mumby.
Mumby's jovial manner, along with young Grimes' determination to do well against a team in which his dad was playing, proved a good combination and they took the score to 81 before Mumby was run out by a direct hit from Steve Kirman, having made 15.
That brought Pete Hill to the middle, and they took the total to 117 with some good running between the wickets, especially from the slightly older man in the partnership.
But just when Hill was looking to push the score along he was well caught and bowled by Ian Fletcher for 20.
Ian Rusling was bowled by Fletcher without a run being added, blaming the fact that he didn't have his glasses with him - and skipper Nigel Fisher was the seventh wicket to go having made nine (with the total on 130) which brought Rusling's son Bradley to the crease along with Alex Grimes.
They were there at the end, Grimes having reached a very crediable 32 not out and Rusling five more than his dad - a point he was only too quick to point out at the end, although the final total of 141 for 7 saw Fisher's team finish 19 runs behind the target set by Fletcher's men.
The two skippers would like to thank everyone for their work leading up to the match, and on the day, from Ian's wife and family to Rick Green who, despite being unable to play a major part on the field, was very active in selling raffle tickets etc at the match.
Ex-Nuform bowler Ti Hussain travelled from Birmingham to play in the game whilst several ex-players unable to actually take to the field still turned up to support, including Roy and Edwin Chappell of South Kelsey and Owmby, Pete Malin of Crowle and umpire George Housam who has attended every one of the charity games played by these teams.
Alkborough were well represented off the field with Clive Coulthurst, Andy Clay and Paul Mitchell all in attendance, whilst a special thanks should also go to umpires Brian Cross and Steve Bailey who have now been the officials for the past couple of years.
The scorers at the game were young lady Molly Simm, along with old hand Glen Sands - and barman for the day was Andy Lawson who kept everyone well refreshed as a good afternoon turned into an even better evening.
Next season's chosen charity is to be the Diabetic Society and will take place on August Bank Holiday Monday. It may seem a long way off right now, but put it in the diary and come along either to play or watch.
It really is a terrific day out.