HYKEHAM BEAT THE RAIN AND OUTCASTS

By Glen Sands
Lincs League Division One - Hykeham v Outcasts

Outcasts began their 2011 season with a comprehensive defeat at Hykeham on Easter Saturday on a hot and sultry afternoon which ended with a hefty thunder shower which arrived just too late to save them.
They had the misfortune to lose the toss and had to bowl in the heat of the sunshine , but things got off to a decent start when Tom Sharpe had home skipper Mark Conyers caught at slip by Darren Clark for seven with the total on 21. Lee Maddocks and Josh Taylor then took the Hykeham score to 96 , both of them punishing any deliveries that were slightly off line then acting captain Russell Fletcher caught Taylor off Jason Whiteley for 41 and with just a further four runs added Charlie Mason caught Maddocks , again for 41 to earn Matthew Teal his first wicket of the innings. Nick Boulton was bowled by Whiteley for 21 with the total on 132 and another wicket at that stage might well have proved vital for the Isle side but it was not to be as they wilted in the heat of the day. New recruit Sam Inman and Chris Hammond took the fight to Outcasts , putting on 86 runs in quick time to essentially bat the visitors out of the game. Hammond was just one short of his half century when he was well caught at deep mid off by Darren Clark off Tom Sharpe and .despite Matthew Teal picking up two late wickets Hykeham eased to 257 for 7 thanks to Inman's 63 not out and a late 13 from Kieran O'Sullivan , Teal finishing with 3 for 41 for the Priorymen.
Outcasts' reply saw them quickly slip to 20 for 3 as Oliver Coulman was trapped LBW by Chris Hammond for siw then David Hobson and Graham Clark both went to the bowling of Rick Chester. The weather was beginning to change as thunder boomed out from the skies but Outcasts continued to lose wickets with alarming regularity as the home side strode to victory. Darren Clark had made 22 when he was bowled by Chester with a delivery that in truth kept a little low then skipper Fletcher was caught by Mark Conyers at slip for nine giving Chester his fourth wicket of the innings. Scott Buttrick was next to go , caught by Clark off Hammond for four and new slow bowler Nick Boulton then joined the party as he picked up two late wickets himself. By that time the rain had began but the umpires to their credit kept the players out in the field as Hykeham were so close to finishing the game and sure enough Chester picked up his fifth wicket when Liam McAnaney was well caught leaving Outcasts on a paultry 88 all out.
So the new campaign has seen Outcasts 1st team make a poor start, but it was different for the 2nd eleven who posted a score of over 200 at home to Immingham Blossom Way (in division three) thanks chiefly to Richard Wroot who hit 66 with further contributions from Andy Lawson and Tom Whitton and despite a late rear guard action from stalwart Ron Farmery Blossom Way ended their 45 overs on 147 for 9 , which means Ian Fletcher's men made a terrific start following last season's disappointments.
Outcasts CC would like to thank the River Don at Eastoft for sponsoring the match ball for their game against Immimgham Blossom Way - a gesture they appreciate greatly.