FIRST DEFEAT FOR MEGGIES

By Graham Hackney

Cleethorpes slipped to their first defeat of the Yorkshire league season when they went down by 63 runs to a strong Rotherham side at Clifton lane on Saturday. If James Osmond side can take any satisfaction from the defeat it is the battling qualities they showed in the chase that saw them at least collect a solitary point whilst denying Rotherham maximum points. Osmond had earlier won the toss and chose to bowl on a wicket that although green usually provided plenty of runs. As usual Andy Ellis and Jack Harrison opened the attack for Cleethorpes. After a quiet opening over from Ellis the game burst into life in the second over with Harrison conceding 18 runs. He was struck for three boundaries and also bowled four wides as he struggled with his line and was severely punished. Ellis however was to make the breakthrough in the next over as the dangerous Moorehouse played on to depart with the score on 20. Osmond persisted with Harrison and the decision was rewarded when Stuart Guy feathered through to the keeper to give the young paceman some reward. Sanderson was to follow suit 12 runs later in identical fashion and when Smith played a loose drive to Nathan Judah at mid off Ellis also claimed his second wicket. At 52-4 Rotherham were in deep trouble when the turning point of the match occurred. Lowe, who was yet to score appeared to be caught well back in his crease from a ball from Ellis that nipped back. To most people’s amazement the umpire disagreed and the batsman survived a vociferous appeal. Much to Cleethorpes’ annoyance he then went on to make a solid half century as he and opener Rudolph set about repairing the innings. South African Rudolph, brother of Ex-Yorkshire Batsman Jacques had been positive throughout and was first to reach fifty in 61 balls. The pair brought up the hundred stand in the 31st over as they looked to take the game away from Cleethorpes. After adding 109 and taking the score to 161, Lowe fell to Alex Osmond when he chipped tamely to brother James at cover for 50 in 56 balls. Osmond soon accounted for Randhawa to a simple return catch and when Plater fell lbw to the same bowler Rotherham’s mini slump saw them 182-7. Rudolph now took command and a number of huge blows down the ground off Clewett saw him reach his hundred in just 124 balls. He added 39 for the eighth wicket with Cooper (9) that took them well past the 200 run mark. Harrison returned to the attack to remove Cooper to a skied catch at mid on from James Osmond and Page went the next over to Harrison courtesy of a sharp catch at cover from Clewett. Rudolph completed his 150 in the final over with a brutal straight six off Harrison but the bowler had the last laugh taking a return catch to complete his first five wicket haul in the Yorkshire league. Only Rudolph and Lowe had reached double figures for Rotherham. Despite coming in for some punishment Harrison returned 5/73 in 12.1 overs. Alex Osmond had been the pick of the attack with 3/49 in 14 overs while Andy Ellis finished with 2/35 in ten overs.
Set a massive 256 for victory at four and a half an over, Cleethorpes needed to get off to A good start. With Yorkshire seamer Ben Sanderson showing lively pace, Bill Kirby and Rory Osmond set about the chase in cautious mood. Having reached 17 without loss Osmond fell to a ball that appeared to square him up off Sanderson and he edged behind for 12. Yaniv Judah (5) soon followed and when last weekend’s double century hero Kirby fell to Page for 12 in the twelfth over Cleethorpes were in real trouble at 34-3. Brothers James and Alex now had to rebuild and after seeing off the threat of Sanderson began to milk the attack. The hundred was brought up in the 29th over as the pair attempted to manoeuvre Cleethorpes into a winning position. James reached his first half century of the season two overs later in 84 balls and the hundred partnership came up in the 37th over. With 128 required from the final twenty overs with seven wickets in hand it was now game on. Alex had looked in commanding form and had reached 49 in 70 balls when he departed to a superb stumping from Lowe after Jackson found some turn outside off stump after enticing the batsman down. James (64) was to fall four runs later with the run rate steadily climbing. Attempting an ambitious sweep he top edged to square leg as hope for Meggies began to ebb away. James Windeatt (2) and Charlie Tomlinson (3) fell in quick succession in the vain chase for runs and when Harrison and Judah departed for ducks Cleethorpes had collapsed to 177-9 with nine overs left. Harry Clewett (29 not out) and Andy Ellis (2 not out) deserve great credit for seeing out the overs to pick up a point for Cleethorpes and deny Rotherham. Randhawa picked up 5/37 for Rotherham as Cleethorpes closed at 192-9 some 63 runs short of Rotherham but retain second place in the Yorkshire league.