ANDY PUTS SIX ON PAVILION ROOF

By Glen Sands

Outcasts produced a battling performance last Saturday to record a rare April victory against promoted Messingham 2nds - their first ten pointer of the season.
Having won the toss the Priorymen chose to bat first but quickly lost their first wicket when David Hobson was caught by Ian Dawson off the bowling of Dave Langford for just four and with the total on 36 fellow opener Oliver Coulman was trapped LBW by Langford as the innings faultered a little. Darren Clark was looking in good nick only to chase a wide delivery from Langford to edge a catch to wicket keeper Kev Hindson having reached 29 then Andy Lawson produced a typical cameo innings when crashing a six onto the pavilion roof only to smash his next attempt straight to Matt Snee at deep mid off leaving Outcasts on 85 for 4. Richard Wroot had steadily built his score but he became victim of an LBW to Matt Snee having made 21 and at 99 for 5 the Isle side needed to regroup and settle things if they were to make a decent total. Skipper Russell Fletcher joined Graham Clark at the crease and the two batsmen began to build a valuable partnership. Clark was in fine form and with Fletcher batting cannily at the other end they took the total past 150 with an array of super shots. Clark brought up an excellent half century before the returning Langford bowled him with a beauty for 51 and Tom Sharp made just four before he was the seventh wicket to fall , bowled by Sheldon Sekul with the total on a creditable 192. Fletcher went on to make his own half century ( 52 not out ) along with Matthew Teal ( 10 not out ) as Outcasts closed their innings on 216 for 7 ensuring a full five bonus batting points whilst Dave Langford was the pick of the Messingham 2nds bowlers taking 4 for 72 from 16 overs.
The Messingham reply got off to the worst of starts when the usually prolific Adam Cook was caught by Andy Lawson off Tom Sharpe without scoring which brought Matt Snee to the crease to join the impressive Ian Dawson to steady the ship. Jason Whiteley and Sharpe kept things tight with boundaries at a premium and it was Sharpe who struck again when Richard Wroot took a spectacular diving catch behind the stumps off Snee for 17 and his third victim followed quickly when he trapped Nigel Barnes LBW for 4 with the total on 56. Matthew Lawson joined Ian Dawson to then put together a partnership of 40 runs , Dawson reaching a well constructed 62 but as the pressure built to score runs more quickly they had to take a few chances and after hitting a large six to bring up three figures for Messingham Dawson was bowled by Whiteley with a terrific delivery which was the break through Outcasts were looking for. Lawson had made 23 when he was well caught at deep mid wicket by Matthew Teal off Whiteley , the score standing at 117 for 5 at that stage but that was the end of the chase and the visitors went on to pick up three batting points when closing the innings on 170 for 5 , Al Bradley making 29 not out and Paul Rocks 23 not out.
So Outcasts have registered their first win of the season before the month of May , something they have'nt achieved for quite a few seasons. This was a satisfying victory with some mature batting from Graham Clark and Russell Fletcher guiding them beyond the 200 hundred mark whilst the fielding display was very creditable too in the face of some strong batting from Ian Dawson in particular. Promoted Messingham have now lost both of their opening games of 2011 and know themselves that life in the First Division will be tough but they have got a talented young side with a smattering of more senior players who are quite capable of improving matters .
Outcasts would like to thank the Garthorpe Farming Company for sponsoring the match ball. Their patronage is greatly appreciated.

Outcasts 2nds travelled to Barton Town 2nds in Division Three. Barton batted first and ammassed a blistering 245 in 43 overs with the talented Gary Bell hitting 89 and Mike Wilkinson 66 not out, as Outcasts were made to work hard in the huge acreage that is Marsh Lane. Scott Buttrick was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 47 from his ten overs and it was Buttrick who shone with the bat as well , making 75 of their 128 for 9 in reply in what ended as a hefty defeat for Ian Fletcher's Isle side.