CLASSY KNOCK FROM KIWI

PeterFulton drives for four on the way to making 85 against Doncaster.



Pictures and report kindly supplied by Graham Hackney

Cleethorpes 1st X1 went down to a second successive Yorkshire League defeat when losing by five wickets at home to Doncaster last Saturday. After batting first they posted 195 all out in the 55th over, a total that should have been far greater as they had been well positioned at the mid-innings stage. Cleethorpes' innings had been anchored by another classy knock from their New Zealand overseas professional Peter Fulton - 85 runs had come up in only 111 balls and had included eleven fours and a six. Eddie Carlton had got Cleethorpes off to a good start on his return to the side after a broken thumb. Despite losing Bill Kirby (12) early on, he and Fulton added 70 for the second wicket with Carlton making 34. It was after Alex Osmond's dismissal for 14 that the innings ground to a halt with the middle order's inability to get Fulton back on strike. Wickets continued to tumble after Fulton's departure to a fine boundary catch with Doncaster's Stuart claiming a spectacular hat-trick in the final over to leave Meggies all out for a total some fifty runs shy of what was expected. Doncaster's openers got off to a flying start before the introduction of John Zielinski, making his first Yorkshire League appearance this season, pegged them back with two wickets. Skipper James Osmond soon got his spinners into action with brother Alex bowling a marathon 18-over spell. Both he and Harry Clewett were finding turn but were not backed up by the fielders as a number of sharp chances were missed. With opener Attenborough making a dogged century, Doncaster sealed victory in the 49th over for the loss of five wickets. Harry Clewett picked up 2/30 in his 11 overs with Osmond 1/64 in 18.1 overs. Zielinski had been the pick of the attack with 2/42 in ten overs as Doncaster completed a resounding eight-point win.
Cleethorpes 2nd X1 travelled to Messingham last Saturday in what was a clash of the Lincs Premier League's top two. In what was a thrilling match Cleethorpes came away defeated by the narrowest of margins when they went down to a one-wicket defeat. After batting first, Paul Sunley's side made 180 all out in the 49th over therefore giving Messingham an extra over which was to prove costly in the final analysis. Callum Robinson (42) and Sunley (42) had added 78 for the second wicket as Cleethorpes looked to build a commanding total. But after losing Patrick Hughes for 23 the innings went into freefall as they lost an amazing seven wickets for just nine runs to leave them 136-9. It took a fine ninth-wicket stand of 44 between Nathan Judah (15) and Stuart Harvey (27 not out) to drag Cleethorpes to their final total. In reply Cleethorpes opening bowlers soon had Messingham in big trouble as they slipped to 37-6 with Rob Brice (4/38 in 13 overs) and Judah (2/56 in 19 overs) finding plenty of movement. However, Messingham's young wicketkeeper Cameron Fletcher produced a brilliant innings of 101 not out in just 129 balls to drag his side back into the game. After putting on 88 for the seventh wicket, Messingham still needed 22 from the final wicket pair to clinch victory. Twice straightforward catches were put down before Messingham sealed victory in the 51st over, the very over Cleethorpes had forefitted with being bowled out as Meggies slipped to third in the league on the back of this defeat.
Paul Hewstsone's 3rd X1 clinched their first win of the season with an excellent seven-run triumph at Louth 2nds on Saturday. They recovered from 55-5 to post 148-7 in their 45 overs with Richard Woodward hitting a fine 50 not out. Andy Haith (32), Dan Tolson (23) and Neil Wheeler all made telling contributions. Young Ian Mansfield got Clee of to a good start with three early wickets on his third team debut and as wickets tumbled a tense finish was building. Lewis Markham produced a fine spell of 3/30 in 11 overs to peg Louth back and at the close they had reached 141-9 in their 45 overs as Cleethorpes take 16 points. Mansfield finished with figures of 3/22 in his nine overs with Woodward and Jeff Todd both taking one wicket.
Cleethorpes 4th X1 recorded an excellent five-wicket win over Owmby at the Stamford Club last Saturday. Owmby posted a healthy 200-6 in their 45 overs. Mike Shelton was the pick of the Cleethorpes bowlers with 4/86 in a marathon 23-over spell. Young Reece Holberry was Clee's other wicket-taker picking up good figures of 2/16 in his 6 over spell. In reply David Manfield and Will Abe added 69 for the third wicket, Mansfield hitting 43 while Abe went on to make a glorious 86 before being out with victory in sight. He added a further 83 for the fourth wicket with Paul Ridley who remained unbeaten on 43 and finished the game off with a towering six.
With neither the North or East Lindsey sides in action last Sunday, a Select X1 faced South Yorkshire League side Mexborough in a friendly. Cleethorpes had reached 183-7 in the 38th over when the rain began and led to the eventual postponement. Rob Brice (102) hit a maiden ton for Cleethorpes.



John Zielinski in full flight for the Meggies against Doncaster.

Eddie Carlton drives for four.