MEGGIES MOVE UP TO SECOND SPOT

Omesh Wijesarewardana in full flow at Driffield.


ACTION PICTURES AND REPORT BY GRAHAM HACKNEY

Cleethorpes 1st X1 returned to winning ways with an excellent 59-run away at Driffield on Saturday. Boosted by the inclusion of Sri Lankan professional Omesh Wijesarewardana, Cleethorpes bounced back from successive defeats at Rotherham and Barnsley with a victory that lifts them back into second place in the Yorkshire league behind leaders York. With James Osmond still recuperating from his broken finger, vice-captain Charlie Tomlinson took charge of the team and elected to bat after winning the toss in perfect batting conditions. Openers Bill Kirby and Rory Osmond once again got Cleethorpes off to a fine start seeing off the threat of Driffield’s opening bowlers with good running as the pair dispatched anything loose to the boundary. It wasn’t long before Driffield captain Brent introduced spin into the attack and left arm spinner Hardgrave made the breakthrough in only his second over. Cleethorpes had just passed 50 in the 14th over when Osmond (20) was adjudged to have got the faintest of edges to the keeper. It had been the fourth fifty run opening stand by the pair this season and had laid a great foundation for Cleethorpes. The recalled Eddie Carlton joined Kirby and Carlton looked in confident mood lofting Hardgrave back over his head twice in one over. With Kirby looking completely untroubled Cleethorpes had their sights set on a big total. Kirby reached his third fifty of the campaign in the 23rd over while the fifty stand was brought up in just 58 balls. The introduction of Brent though was to slow the run rate. The boundaries began to dry up and although the pair were to go on and add 112 in total, the second fifty had taken over 13 overs. Kirby was next to depart as Hardgrave’s delivery evaded the batsman as he advanced to bowl him for 86 (135 balls) when set for another century. Carlton (50) had just reached his half century (79 balls) when he departed to a great diving catch at midwicket with the score on 180-3. Skipper Tomlinson soon made his intensions known by promoting himself and immediately thrashed two drives through cover off Brent. With Omesh also promoted , quick runs were the order of the day. Tomlinson perished for 19 to the leg-spin of Rodrigo before Omesh went into overdrive. He added 30 with Yaniv Judah (8) before a brilliant final flourish with Alex Osmond (8 not out) took the score away from Driffield. Omesh smashed a brilliant 64 not out in just 36 balls including six massive sixes as Driffield’s spinners were put to the sword. He added 52 in just 25 balls with Osmond as Cleethorpes closed on a massive 274-5. Omesh’s fifty had taken just 31 balls.
Driffield’s reply began in contrasting conditions to Cleethorpes as the clouds rolled in under a cold sea fret. Omesh opened the attack with Jack Harrison but Driffield’s openers Norman and Rodrigo got off to a positive start with the pitch continuing to pose few problems to the batsmen. Having added 51 in just eleven overs it was Omesh that made the initial breakthrough beating Norman (19) for pace as the batsman attempted to hook and he only succeeded in top edging to Tomlinson at short-leg. Alex Osmond replaced the ineffective Harrison and soon had Woodcock caught behind by Windeatt with the score on 76. Rodrigo and Drury then went on the offensive adding 44 in just 41 balls for the third wicket before Andy Ellis finally accounted for the dangerous Rodrigo. The little Sri Lankan had hit 64 in 74 balls before a miscued drive to Kirby at cover brought his downfall. Broumpton and Drury kept up the momentum for Driffield with Tomlinson forced to swap his bowlers around. Clewett replaced the expensive Osmond (1/54 in 7 overs) before Ellis struck again when Broumpton’s towering drive, having looked like clearing the boundary, was spectacularly taken by Judah at the second attempt to give Cleethorpes a vital breakthrough. Clewett followed up with the two quick wickets of Hardgrave (0) and Chippendale (10) as Driffield slipped to 168-6. Drury was now playing a lone hand and reached his half century in 61 balls. Ellis had Major (3) caught behind and when Brent fell to Carlton’s leaping catch at point Driffield were now 197-8. It took the re-introduction of Clewett to finally wrap up the innings with two wickets in three balls courtesy of Ellis’ diving catch at fine leg to remove Drury for 67 and bowling Ezard second ball. Clewett finished with 4/22 in 5.3 overs but the pick of the Cleethorpes attack was Ellis who picked up 4/44 in a 16-over spell as Cleethorpes take maximum points to reclaim second spot in the Yorkshire league.


Bill Kirby made 86 at Driffield.