OUTCASTS WIN CUP BY TWO RUNS

By Glen Sands, North Lindsey League

Broughton 3rds and Outcasts 3rds produced a thrilling North Lindsey League Division Two Cup Final at Alkborough with two young sides giving their all in a low scoring but nonetheless thrilling match played in exceptional spirit.
The Alkborough ground looked a picture despite the day's rain just 48 hours earlier in the week , a testament to the hard work of groundsman Ralph Gray and it was Outcasts who batted first infront of a decent audience which swelled further as the afternoon wore on. Jamie Belton was first to go , caught and bowled by Robbie Glentworth for just four and opening partner Oliver Coulman soon followed when Jake Parker took a juggling catch at mid on off the bowling of S Clark to send him back to the pavilion having made 15. Broughton were bowling very well , keeping things tight and fielding terrifically , a point proven when Peter Tait was run out after some sharpe fielding in the covers left him out of his ground. Outcasts skipper Russell Fletcher was next to suffer at the hands of the Broughton fielders when he was spectacularly caught in the covers vby Lewis Parker off Clark once more , leaving the Isle side struggling on 35 for 4 and when Matthew Teal was bowled by James Watson for two the total read 42 for 5 and they bwere in deep trouble. Garthorpe youngster Scott Buttrick was then joined at the crease by Charlie Mason and they began to steady the rocking boat with some excellent batting which belied their tender years. They took the score up to 69 before Mason was bowled by Parker for 12 as Broughton hit back once again then Liam McAnaney went to the middle and continued Mason's work as he too batted well to push the Outcasts total towards three figures. Buttrick had looked assured and calm at the crease but was eventually out bowled by Parker for an invaluable top score of 27 then Tom Sharpe and vice captain McAnaney took the score to 113 before Broughton hit back once again as Glentworth bowled the latter for 14. Broughton's wicket keeper Nick Dobbs produced a stunning stumping to send Sharpe back for 13 and the innings was ended when Alex Fletcher was bowled by Clark for one leaving the final total at 117 all out with all the Broughton bowlers having played their part in restricting the Priorymen , Clark finishing with 4 for 21 and Jake Parker 3 for 15.
After a superb tea provided by Alkborough's stalwart tea lady Phylis Mitchell, the teams took to the field once more with the general opinion that 117 was probably not going to be enough to defend but to their credit Outcasts battled just as hard as Broughton had earlier and even when Broughton had reached 58 for just one wicket their heads remained high. Nick Dobbs was the first Broughton man to go , caught behind by Oliver Coulman off Liam McAnaney for 14 but old heads Nick Crawford and Neil Simpson were keeping the runs flowing , pushing the singles and punishing any rare wide deliveries with aplom. However things began to change when another Garthorpe youngster entered the fray , namely Matthew Teal who produced an excellent caught and bowled to prize Crawford out for 15 and when Simpson struck a catch to Russell Fletcher at mid off from Teal's bowling having reached 25 the game was once again i the balance. Peter Tait came on to bowl , a cunning plan as he was taking the pace off the ball and he produced a terrific yorker to bowl Jake Parker then Teal picked up the fifth wicket to fall when bowling Lewis Parker for four and Broughton were teetering on 77 for 5. Shaun Clark was the man in form having made a half century only 24 hours earlier and for a while he and Rob Ward settled things down but Outcasts were not to be denied and Teal struck for the fourth time when bowling Ward for eight with the total on 85. Robbie Glentworth joined Clark at the crease and once again the flow of the game changed as the two batsmen appeared to swing things back in Broughton's favour , taking the total to 102 only for Outcasts to hit back once again when Tom Sharpe bowled Glentworth for 12 , leaving them needing 16 runs and Outcasts three wickets in what was now becoming a test of nerve for both teams. The standard of fielding in this match was exceptional and that point was proven when Tait produced an impressive run out to send James Watson back tot the pavilion for just a single with the score on 104 and a further two runs had been added when Sharpe bowled Lee Stothard which meant Broughton had to find 12 runs to win with their last pair at the crease. Clark and number eleven batsman Sam Benson kept calm in the face of some jangling nerves whilst the Outcasts team as a whole held themselves together in the field well , allowing Clark to take the odd single in the hope of bowling to the less experienced Benson but he was quite stoic in defence as they crept closer to their target of 118. Sadly for them however they fell just two runs short when Clark attempted to turn a one into a two so as to keep the strike only to be run out by a tremendous throw from Liam McAnaney which meant that Outcasts had won a quite dramatic Final by the narrowest of margins in what had been a quite outstanding game of cricket.
NLL Fixture Secretary Glen Sands thanked Alkborough for their hospitality throughout the day which was as ever exceptional and also gave praise to the two match umpires Nigel Fisher and Paul Goodhand who were outstanding throughout the entire match. He commiserated with Broughton who had put up such a great fight, then invited Outcasts captain Russell Fletcher forward to accept the Trophy on behalf of the Isle side.

PICTURES TO FOLLOW WHEN WE GET A MINUTE TO DOWNLOAD THEM OFF THE DIGI-WATSIT - NF!


NLL DIVISION ONE
Messingham 3rds were catapulted to the top of the table without even playing as their scheduled double header at Marshalls Sports was called off due to lack of numbers for the Gainsborough outfit who are bottom of the table now whilst Caistor Cougars inflicted a rare defeat on Champions Cleethorpes 5ths in a close encounter at Chichester Road , Sahan Wijerathne top scoring for the Cougars when hitting 87 from their total of 193 for 9 , Stuart Harvey taking 6 for 65 for the Meggies who replied with 187 for 9 thanks chiefly to Eddie Carlton who scored 59 and Kris Richardson who added 36 , Wijerathne picking up 3 for 29 for the triumphant Cougars.

DIVISION THREE
Barton Academy Vikings won the title decider at Marsh Lane against Luddington and did so in some style despite losing the services of their inspirational skipper Jeremy Evans to a broken finger. Youngster Dominic Bishop hit an imperious 96 not out with Tom Palin adding 44 and Nathan Jones 32 as the Vikings made 249 for 9 , Jamie Arrowsmith picking up 3 for 55 for the Isle side who replied with 166 all out , Arrowsmith top scoring with 43 whilst Oliver Saxon continued his recent good form with 32 , Waller picking up 3 for 40 for the happy Vikings. Elsewhere Misterton 3rds eased to a 7 wickets victory over Epworth who were bowled out for 111 , Marshall hitting 67 for the leagues newest recruits as Darren Emmingham took 4 for 54 then Tim Sharpe scored 59 not out to guide Misterton home and finally Bottesford suffered a major collapse when in a winning position at Upton cum Kexby who they bowled out for 108 thanks to four wickets from veteran bowler Will McVey and three from Alan Watkins and at 94 for 1 they appeared set for a second win of the season only to lose Matt Baxter for 66 after which they slipped to 104 all out , four short of the Upton total.


FIXTURES
Sunday, August 22nd

DIVISION THREE KO CUP FINAL @ Marsh Lane, Barton
Luddington v Upton cum Kexby


DIVISION ONE
Caistor Cougars v Scunthorpe Town 4ths
Cleethorpes 5ths v Barton Town 3rds
Messingham 3rds v App Frodingham 3rds

DIVISION TWO
Brigg Town 3rds v Outcasts 3rds
Grimsby Town 3rds v Alkborough 3rds
Haxey 3rds v Broughton 3rds
Hibaldstow 2nds v Wheatley & Leverton

DIVISION THREE
Epworth v Bottesford @ Luddington (double header)