JUST SEVEN RUNS IN IT

By Glen Sands, Outcasts CC scorer

Holton Le Clay and Outcasts produced a real run fest in Holton yesterday with over 400 runs posted and only 10 wickets going down throughout both innings in this Lincolnshire League division one clash.
Outcasts' stand-in skipper Andy Torr won the toss and had no problems in deciding to bat first on what was a hot and sultry day. Opening batsmen Oliver Coulman and Richard Wroot were made to graft early on as the new ball nibbled around from home skipper Ian Hallam and opening partner Andy Edwards but the Isle men kept their concentration and eventually the runs began to flow. Coulman, two days away from his 16th birthday, appeared untroubled throughout his impressive innings, whilst Wroot batted himself into a good rythym after taking around 30 deliveries to score his first run. As the home side toiled in the heat the two batsmen began to pile on the runs, taking their partnership past 50 and then past the three-figure mark as they set a terrific platform for the rest of the team. Wroot was first to go, trapped LBW by ex-Cleethorpes man Ian Bellamy for an excellent 39, then when the score had reached 113 young master Coulman was sadly run out having made a flawless 59. Russell Fletcher was bowled by Yorkshire Ladies' all rounder Aimee Simms having made just one. She bowled very well and thoroughly deserved to pick up a wicket in her spell of six overs. That brought Peter Tait to the middle to join skipper Andy Torr and the two of them took control as the runs flowed. Tait in particular was in beligerant form, hitting 55 in just 42 deliveries including two sixes and five fours, while Torr finished on 38 not out as the innings closed on 211 for 4, Tait being stumped by Josh Plaskitt off the bowling of Ian Hallam from the final ball of the 45th over.
Holton Le Clay began their reply with Paul Holmes and Peter Thompson opening against some tight bowling from Jason Whiteley and Tom Sharpe. As was the case in the first innings the ball did wobble a little which made the batsmen a little wary and the first wicket duely arrived when Holmes was bowled by Sharpe for nine with the total on 42. Thompson was beginning to open his shoulders when he too was bowled, this time by the wily Jason Whiteley, having made 21, and that left the home side at 50 for 2 and in need of a rebuilding partnership. Ian Bellamy and youngster Sam Ford did just that as for a period they bossed matters, taking the score to 115 before the introduction of Matthew Teal brought the breakthrough as Ford dragged a delivery into his stumps. Ian Bellamy was going well at the other end but Teal quickly trapped him infront of his stumps with his score on 38, and from a position of strength HLC had to rebuild once again. Alfie Gude and Aimee Simms took the total to 137, Gude in particular looking to be quite aggressive but that proved to be his downfall when he moved across his stumps and was bowled by Liam McAnaney for 20 and with a further ten runs on the board Miss Simms was out, caught by Jason Whiteley off Matthew Teal who had by then taken three valuable wickets. HLC now needed some old heads to giude them if they were to overcome the Outcasts total and they couldn't have asked for anyone better than Ian Hallam and David Taylor, two stalwarts of the club. Tom Sharpe was brought back on to partner McAnaney and both bowlers held their nerve well in the face of some aggressive batting. The runs just wouldn't come as quickly as required for the home side and as each over ended the run rate would grow, putting further pressure on Hallam and Taylor who tried in vane to hit the boundaries needed to win the match. In the end they fell just seven runs short of the Outcasts target, Hallam ending on 38 and Taylor on 22, but it was the Isle side who collected the 10 points for the win while at the same time inflicting a first league defeat on HLC who nonetheless played their part in what was a terrific game of cricket.
Outcasts 2nds remain marooned at the foot of the Second Division table despite a spirited performance against Alkborough 2nds who were bowled out for 149 at Hirsts Priory before the Isle side were reduced to 130 all out in reply. Graham Clark made 48 and brother Darren 20 and it was good to see Anthony Fitzgerald amongst the runs too but in the end they fell 19 runs short against a very good Alkborough team which was full of experience.