FANTASTIC START CONTINUES

Cleethorpes Cricket Club’s fantastic start to the season continued over the Bank Holiday weekend with the 1st X1 sitting proudly at the top of the ECB Yorkshire Premier league. Back to back home wins over Castleford on Saturday and Yorkshire Academy made it three wins on the bounce for James Osmond’s side. With Overseas professional Omesh Wijisarewardana still delayed with visa issues in Sri Lanka, Cleethorpes are now six points clear at the top of the table. Both wins were achieved with brilliant bowling performances. Saturday’s win over Castleford came after bowling them out for a meagre 143 in 50.3 overs. Superb opening bursts from Andy Ellis and Jack Harrison did the damage that Castleford never really recovered from. Harrison, restricted to seven overs a spell, bowled with great control to record figures of 2/9 in his seven overs. Ellis came back late in the innings to wrap up the tail to record 4/34 in 13.3 overs. Inbetween Harry Clewett continued to show his improvement as the off spinner picked up three key middle order wickets for 3/37 in 13 overs. With Nathan Judah (1/24 in 8) giving good support Cleethorpes were able to claim an extra four overs with bowling Castleford out early. Despite openers Bill Kirby (4) and Rory Osmond (4) falling cheaply Yaniv Judah (38) steadied the innings but after he and James Osmond (2) departed Cleethorpes looked in troble. They were indebted to an unbeaten fifth wicket stand of 86 between Alex Osmond (35 not out) and Charlie Tomlinson (56 not out in 57 balls) to take them to victory. Tomlinson batted superbly and stroked eight boundaries in a match winning innings. Monday saw a similar performance with Cleethorpes once again bowling first in bowler friendly conditions. Academy were skittled for just 98 in 44.2 overs with Harrison leading the way with a brilliant 4/15 in 10 overs to break the back of the Yorkshire youngsters. Alex Osmond found a return to form as he and Clewett tore into the middle order. Osmond finished with 3/20 in 11.2 with Clewett 2/10 in six. Ellis had no luck as his opening burst when largely unrewarded with 1/37 in 11. Kirby (26) and Osmond (50 not out) added 53 for the first wicket in Cleethorpes’ reply with Judah running himself out for 18. Osmond completed his fifty in 96 balls with the winning boundary to had Cleethorpes their second maximum haul of points for the weekend.

Paul Sunley’s 2nd X1 also recorded back to back wins at Caistor and Alford to top the Lincs Premier league. The bowled Caistor out for just 70 in 32.4 overs on Saturday with Rob Brice the pick of the Cleethorpes attack with a brilliant 5/12 in ten overs. Peter Thompson ably assisted with 2/35 in 10 while Fred Lumby mopped up the tail with 2/11 in 6.4 overs. Eddie Carlton (30) and Ryan Harrison (27 not out) followed up a century opening partnership last week with another fifty stand to virtually take Cleethorpes home and they achieved there win in only the 18th over to take 20 points. Monday’s trip to Alford followed similar patterns with Alford being dispatched for just 92 in 35.5 overs. This time Thompson did most of the damage with 6/51 in 18 unbroken overs with Brice giving fine backup with 3/20 in 17 overs. Despite losing five wickets in reply, Cleethorpes ran out comfortable winners with Carlton (20), Harrison (27) and Patrick Hughes (33) making useful contributions. Another 20 points means a maximum haul for the 2nd X1 after three games.

Cleethorpes 3rds led by Jeff Todd completed an easy 165-run win over Keelby on Sunday after wracking up 222-3 in their 45 overs batting first. After Will Abe (26) and Ben Marris (29) had added 56 for the opening wicket, Kris Richardson (63) and Dan Tolson (77 not out) put on 122 for the third wicket to take Cleethorpes to an imposing total. Callum Robinson (16 not out) also added some late impetus. Keelby were never in contention as Fred Lumby (3/7 in 7) and Matty Owen (1/7 in 7) kept a tight lead on the top order. Stuart Harvey came on and ripped through the lower order to finish with 4/17 in 9.4 overs as Keelby subsided to 57 all out in 32.4 overs. Jeff Todd and Lewis Markham with a wicket apiece completed a fine performance. Despite going into Mondays encounter with joint top Market Rasen in great confidence Cleethorpes were restricted to 156-9 in their 45 overs. After a Rasen hat-trick had seen four of Cleethorpes’ top five out for ducks, a stand of 94 for the fifth wicket between Callum Robinson (62) and Ian Mansfield (51) led the recovery. Despite chipping away at the Rasen order they managed to achieve their target for the loss of 7 wickets in the 37th over. Young Reece Holberry had been the pick of the attack with 2/27 in 8 overs while Markham had figures of 2/35 in 8. Mansfield and Dean Cressey also picked up solitary wickets. Cleethorpes remain second in the Second division.

Cleethorpes 4ths suffered an agonising one run defeat at South Kelsey 2nds on Saturday. Chasing Kelsey’s 134, Cleethorpes slipped to 89-9 before a 44 run last wicket stand took Kevin Blewitt’s side to the point of victory. Unfortunately Kris Hall was bowled for 26 to leave Andy Severn unbeaten on 11. Andy Haith and Jack Gibson had both hit confidents 22’s in the chase. Earlier Ian Mansfield’s 4/19 in six overs backed up by Severn’s 2/20 in 8 had seen off Kelsey. Paul Nillson and Haith also adding wickets.

Cleethorpes' North Lindsey X1 got their defence of the First Division crown off to a fine start with a four wicket win at Barton. Chasing 199 for victory, they reached their target in the final over mainly due to 93 from Patrick Hughes. A crucial 41 not out from Rob Brice saw them home after Eddie Carlton had hit 23. Harry Clewett’s three wickets had earlier restricted Barton with Ryan Harrison, Andy severn, Carlton and Ian Mansfield all picking up a wicket.

With Sheffield Collegiate’s ground unavailable, Cleethorpes 1st X1 are without a game this weekend. Cleethorpes 2nds continue their assault on the Lincs Premier league crown with Cherry Willingham the visitors to Chichester Road. (1pm start). Cleethorpes 3rd X1 make the trip to Owmby this Saturday in the Second division. On Sunday Nathan Judah’s North Lindsey side entertain Messingham (2pm Start) while the East Lindsey Academy side face Frieston at the Stamford Club.