CHAMPAGNE MOMENT IS HOBSON'S CHOICE

By Glen Sands

Outcasts bounced back to pick up their first win in three outings when they beat Grimsby Town 2nds by 20 runs at Hirsts Priory , keeping them in touch with the top two sides in Lincs League Division One.
Skipper Mark Coulman had to withdraw at the eleventh hour when twisting his knee which saw Danny Taylor step into the breach but it was the captain's son that took centre stage when Outcasts were invited to bat first by Grimsby on winning the toss. David Hobson must have upset the cricketing Gods as he once again went early , this time to an excellent catch by Nigel Fanthorpe off the bowling of Brendan Volley for eight but Scott Buttrick , deservedly promoted from the second team , joined young master Coulman and together they took the total to 98 with some splendid batting. Buttrick had made 30 when he was caught by the giant Dan Wood to earn the wiley Richard Evans his first wicket of the game bringing Andy Lawson to the crease and he made an instant impact by smashing two huge sixes , one of which landed on the roof of the pavilion. Evans bowled him with a good delivery when he had reached 17 but Coulman was still going well and he brought up an impressive half century with a maximum of his own. He had reached 79 when he directed a high full toss straight back to Volley and when Matthew Teal was run out for eleven the Outcasts total had risen to 172 for 5. Three wickets fell on 180 as the Isle side pressed for 200 , , those of Tom Sharpe who was bowled by Dan Wood for three , Russell Fletcher who was caught by Chris Waters off Evans for 19 and Jason Whiteley who was bowled by Evans without opening his account. The overall svcore finished at 185 for 8 from the alloted overs , Richard Evans being the pick of the Grimsby bowlers with figures of 4 for 33 from fifteen overs.
Grimsby's reply saw opener Darren Burchall take the attack to Outcasts as he smashed sixteen in no time at all but he attempted one hit too many and was bowled by Tom Sharpe who then had skipper Dan Wood well caught by Matthew Teal for 17 leaving the visitors on 54 for 2. Nigel Fanthorpe had hit a ton against Outcasts in a Cup encounter in May but he was out cheaply this time around when adjudged to have edged a catch to Oliver Coulman off Liam McAnaney for just nine and suddenly the runs dried up with some outstanding bowling from McAnaney and Jason Whiteley. Brendan Volley hit out in an attempt to break the shackles but was caught in the deep by Tom Sharpe off Whiteley having reached ten then David Hobson produced the champagne moment of the match when he took a quite remarkable tumbling one handed catch to dismiss Richard Taylor for siteen when it seeme dfor all the world that the ball had gone way past him ! That earned Whiteley his second wicket and he went on to pick up two further victims , both to catches by fielder of the match Hobson , as Outcasts turned the screw . Chris Waters however was standing firm and he hit a deserved half century and was joined by Tom Lehman who ended the innings on seventeen not out to deny Outcasts a maximum twenty points , Whiteley ending the game with terrific figures of 4 for 18 from 14 very tight overs.
So the Priorymen gained seventeen points to maintain their position in the top four of the Division table. There were some excellent contributions from Oliver Coulman with the bat and both Jason Whiteley and Liam McAnaney with the ball whilst last minute stand in Danny Taylor is to be given special praise for his whole hearted attitude throughout the match both with the bat and in the field.
Next up for Outcasts is a home fixture with South Kelsey who have been making steady improvement as the season has progressed so it promises to be a keenly fought encounter.