DOUBLE HEADER FOR MEGGIES

By Graham Hackney

Cleethorpes 1st X1 face a tough double header this weekend when they travel to Rotherham on Saturday before entertaining Whitely Hall, the South Yorkshire Champions, in the National Knockout Cup at Chichester Road on Sunday (1pm Start). Both Cleethorpes 2nd and 3rd X1 sides are in cup action on Saturday. The 2nds entertain local rivals Holton le Clay in the George Marshall Trophy (1.30pm Start) while the 3rds attempt to make the Bob Welton Cup final for the fourth year on the bounce when they face a trip to Haxey 2nds in the first round.
Cleethorpes North Lindsey X1 travel to Scunthorpe on Sunday in the Division One Cup while the Academy X1 travel to Keelby in the East Lindsey league.

Cleethorpes Cricket Club enjoyed another excellent weekend completing five comprehensive wins over the two days. Cleethorpes 1st X1 led the way with convincing wins in league and cup over Doncaster and Castleford respectively. On Saturday they entertained lowly Doncaster and despite failing to put off an outright win, still claimed six points to maintain their challenge for the league in consolidating second position. Once again James Osmond won an important toss and his opening attack of Andy Ellis and Jack Harrison soon had Doncaster in trouble reducing them to 34-3. A spirited stand of 76 for the fourth wicket held Cleethorpes up as their spinners struggled to make an impact. The vital breakthrough came from Nathan Judah who claimed two wickets in quick succession and when Charlie Tomlinson’s direct throw accounted for another the Doncaster innings looked like folding quickly. However Doncaster’s lower order battled on led by Skipper Morley’s valiant 43 as they limped to 194-9 at the close of their 55 overs. Any fears that Cleethorpes may struggle were soon dispelled as Bill Kirby and Rory Osmond got off to a great start. Smart running coupled with the occasional boundary saw the fifty brought up in the 15th over with Osmond first to his half century in 86 balls. Kirby (69 balls) followed suit and the hundred was passed in the 26th over. Doncaster were now offering little threat and it came as a surprise when Osmond was bowled to a delivery that kept a little low with the score on 178. His 83 had come in 136 balls and included 8 fours and a towering six. Kirby then eased Cleethorpes home in the 44th over but not before completing an assured tenth Yorkshire league century for Cleethorpes.

Sunday Yorkshire league Cup trip to Castleford was reduced to 35 overs a side due to the constant drizzle. When play finally got underway, Castleford batted first and in atrocious bowling conditions posted an aggressive 218-7. All Cleethorpes bowlers struggled to grip the ball with James Osmond being the most successful with 2/39 in seven overs. Five other Cleethorpes bowlers took wickets but all suffered as they struggled to contain. Cleethorpes reply got off to a solid start with the recalled Eddie Carlton (20) and Kirby adding 52 inside 8 overs. A flurry of wickets saw Meggies reduced to 80-3 before Alex Osmond and Kirby took the game away from Castleford with a majestic stand of 137 for the fourth wicket to swing the game Cleethorpes’ way. Osmond hit an unbeaten 57 in just 48 balls but the star performer once again was Bill Kirby who cracked his second ton of the weekend with a magnificent 106 in 98 balls. Bringing up his ton with a straight six, Kirby departed with just two runs required attempting to finish the game. The victory hands Cleethorpes Quarter Final tie at Appleby Frodingham on June 12th.

Paul Sunley’s 2nd X1 maintained their challenge for the Lincs Premier league with an excellent 22-run win over high flying Barton on Sunday. A unbroken tenth wicket stand of 46 proved pivotal in taking Cleethorpes to maximum batting points after slumping to 156-9 at one stage. Callum Robinson (38), Patrick Hughes (37) and Chris Wragg (28) made strong contributions while Peter Thompson (31 not out) and John Zielinski (14 not out) played the key roles in the last wicket stand. Fred Lumby then made two early breakthroughs in the Barton reply but for long periods the game looked in the balance. It was only Thompson’s second spell that swung the game Cleethorpes way as three late wickets saw Barton dismissed for 180, 28 runs short of victory. Thompson finished with 5/71 in 16 overs after ealier suffering from a number of dropped catches. Lumby returned excellent figures of 3/34 in 12 overs while Zielinski recorded 2/35 off 8 overs in his first outing of the season.

Cleethorpes 4ths wasted little time in wrapping up an eight wicket home win over Old Lincolnians at the Stamford Club on Saturday. The bowled their opponents out for just 54 in 20 overs with Ian Mansfiled claiming a brilliant 5/8 in six overs. Kris Hall (2/8 in 4) and Andy Severn (2/7 in 5) also inflicted heavy damage. George Carlton (17 not out) lead Cleethorpes home in just 11.2 overs to hand Kevin Blewitt’s side maximum points.

Cleethorpes Academy completed a clean sweep for Cleethorpes with a 94-run win over Hainton at the Stamford Club on Sunday. John Mansfield’s first hundred saw Cleethorpes post a mammoth 266-7 in their 40 overs. Brother David (37) and Ian (37) also joined in the run fest with Skipper Lewis Markham chipping in with 35. In reply Hainton could only muster 172 all out before being bowled out in the 30th over. Kris Hall was the pick of the Cleethorpes attack with 2/16 in five overs while Reece Holberry and Markham also picked up two wickets.