MIRACULOUS MEGGIES

Cleethorpes players celebrate victory against Harrogate.

PICTURES AND REPORT BY GRAHAM HACKNEY

Cleethorpes made a miraculous recovery to claw victory from the jaws of defeat to strengthen their challenge for the Yorkshire league on Saturday. After being bowled out for just 136 by an excellent Harrogate attack, Cleethorpes bounced back and backed up by a fine bowling and fielding performance knocked over their opponents to claim a confidence boosting 32-run win. With veteran Andy Ellis leading the side for the first time in Charlie Tomlinson’s absence, Cleethorpes were put in by Harrogate in what looked like seamer friendly conditions. Friday’s rain had left the wicket damp and openers Bill Kirby and Rory Osmond found conditions hard as they battled against the moving ball. Having added 11 in the eighth over Cleethorpes suffered a double blow. Kirby (3) attempting to leave a Ben Biker delivery only succeeded in diverting the ball onto his stumps. Worse was to follow next ball when a majestic leave from Eddie Carlton saw his off stump ripped out of the ground to leave Meggies 11-2. Young Callum Robinson, promoted from the seconds, came in at four and despite a number of play and misses dug in with Osmond to try and build a recovery. Osmond had looked reasonably comfortable and struck the innings first boundary in the 14th over off the accurate Craven. The pair had added 25 when Craven had his revenge with Osmond disappointed to feather a catch behind having ground out 15 in 46 balls. Robinson was beginning to flourish as a couple of cover drives got the scoreboard moving. He had made 23 when Biker pinned him on the backfoot to trap him lbw. James Windeatt soon departed to a catch behind for 5 and when Sri Lankan Omesh Wijesiriwardan perished first ball pushing forward Cleethorpes had slipped to 59-6. A second rain interruption took the players from the field but Alex Osmond (16), who had begun in confident mood, soon departed as Dan Cravens second delivery found the edge for Bradshaw to take at slip at the second attempt. Rob Griffin added 10 but when he fell to a turning delivery from Craven Cleethorpes looked dead and buried at 76-8. Harry Clewett and Jack Harrison then lead a minor recovery that was to take the score past the hundred. Clewett, in good form of late, found the spinners to his liking, as the pair eaked out the runs. Harrison’s unorthodox style was unsettling Harrogate as a number of sweeps and reverse sweeps kept the score ticking. Clewett departed for 17 when Taylor’s long hop saw Clewett find the man at deep midwicket to reduce Cleethorpes to 101-9. Ellis joined Harrison and the pair played sensibly eating up the overs. Harrison continued to entertain as the pair looked like batting out the 55 overs. Having reached 136 in the 54th over, Ellis (7) was stumped overbalancing to Biker’s short ball having added a crucial 35 runs for the final wicket. Harrison remained 33 not out to top score in 41 balls to at least give Cleethorpes a glimmer of hope.
Harrogate’s innings had barely got started when another rain delay took the players off again. A 25-minute delay meant Cleethorpes bowling with a wet ball as Twigg and Craven started in confident manner. With Omesh cranking up some good pace it looked a good contest. Twigg was first to depart with Omesh beating him for pace to trap him in front with the score on 21. Sedgely soon followed in identical fashion as the Sri Lankan got in his stride. When Craven edged for Eddie Carlton to take a great diving catch at second slip, Harrogate had slipped to 38-3 as Cleethorpes sensed an opportunity. Harrogate skipper Bradshaw fell to Andy Ellis with the score on 50 and when Alex Osmond finally managed to get a response from the umpire to trap Burcher lbw, half of the Harrogate batsmen were back in the pavilion for 66. Harrison replaced Omesh and kept it tight with a good seven over spell of 0/12. This enabled Osmond to build pressure from the other end. With Ben Biker intent on playing shots, Cleethorpes knew a chance was just around the corner. Omesh returned and in his second over produced a menacing delivery that Biker could only fend off for Rob Griffin to take a decisive catch down at fine leg with the score on 93. Osmond struck the next over trapping Sam Biker lbw to his first ball and in his next over removed Taylor with the tail ender panicking, slashing Osmond high to Callum Robinson at mid-on. Harrogate looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights at 95-8. Lindley batting at four had attempted to hold the innings together and had top scored with 39. However with wickets running out his attempt to win the game single handedly ended when Omesh took a pressure catch at long off to great delight from the fielders. And the brilliant comeback was completed two balls later when Osmond had Craven bowled to seal the 32-run victory. Osmond finished with stunning figures of 5/19 in 8.3 overs while Omesh’ pace had knocked over the top order. Omesh recorded 4/40 in 14 overs and with table toppers York surprisingly beaten, Cleethorpes close the gap to eight points with a game in hand.

Cleethorpes 2nds slipped to a disappointing seven wicket defeat at reigning champions Messingham on Saturday. A depleted side were bowled out for just 105 in 30.3 with only Skipper Paul Sunley (53) and Fred Lumby (22) offering any resistance. They failed to recover from a dreadful start as the top order slipped to 8-5. Messingham had little difficulty knocking off the runs in the 22nd over for the loss of three wickets. Lumby recorded 2/31 in seven overs while Sunley picked up 1/17 in five. The defeat means Messingham close the gap on Cleethorpes who remain top of the Lincs Premier league by a solitary point.

Cleethorpes 3rd X1 had a successful weekend winning at Haxey 2nds on Saturday before seeing their home match with Nettleham 2nds abandoned when in a strong position. Saturday’s win was built on a solid batting display that saw them total 208-4 in their 45 overs. Ben Marris (50) and Kris Richardson (69) added a century partnership for the second wicket on a benign wicket before Andy Haith added a quick fire 36 not out. Haxey never seemed interested in chasing their target and despite Cleethorpes setting attacking fields Haxey closed on 155-2 in their 45 overs. Dean Cressey was the only successful bowler with 1/31 in a marathon 16-over spell. The win gave Cleethorpes 15 points to consolidate their third position in the league. Sunday’s abandonment against Nettleham at Chichester Road came after the home side had bowled Nettleham out for 146 in the 35th over. Matty Owen again lead the Cleethorpes attack with 4/63 in 13 overs while Andy Severn picked up 3/14 in five overs. Simon Taylor’s 2/39 (12 overs) had inflicted some early damage and Lewis Markham wrapped up the innings with his first delivery. The only negative for Cleethorpes was a nasty eye injury to Jeff Todd who was lead from the field with blood pouring from a cut after failing to grasp a sharp slip catch. He was later to recover in the bar. Cleethorpes were able to claim ten points to round off a good weekend after the rains made conditions impossible.

Cleethorpes 4ths will feel they were robbed in their 11-run defeat at the Stamford Club against Immingham Blossom Way on Saturday. After bowling IBW out for 123 in 37.2 overs the rain breaks lead to the match being a time game giving Cleethorpes 32 overs to reach their target. Paul Nilsson rolled back the years to record great figures of 6/28 in 14.2 overs with youngsters Ryan Pearson and Kris Hall both adding wickets. Young off spinner Henry Tasker had shown great promise on debut with 0/25 in 8 overs. In reply only Bob Leafe with 44 could stick around for long with only Josh Latimer (14) giving him any real support. With the rate rising Cleethorpes lost wickets in the chase and they were finally bowled out for 112 with eleven balls of the innings left.

Sunday’s East Lindsey match at Holton le Clay was also abandoned with the Academy side 121-4 in 23 overs. After Josh Latimer (18) and David Mansfield (20) had got Cleethorpes off to a good start, Paul Sunley (52) smashed his second half century of the weekend before the rains put paid to proceedings.

This weekend sees Cleethorpes 1st X1 face two important clashes. On Saturday they face Scarborough at Chichester Road (12 Noon start) in the Yorkshire league in what is always an entertaining fixture. On Sunday they travel to Sandiacre of the Notts Premier league for a regional Semi-final on the ECB National Knockout having already seen off Belvoir and Whitley Hall of Sheffield. Cleethorpes 2nds' George Marshall Trophy clash with Barton has been re-arranged for July 3rd so they are without a fixture while the 3rd X1 travel to Alford 2nds in the quarter finals of the Bob Welton Cup. Cleethorpes 4ths are also without a match this weekend. Sunday sees the 3rd X1 welcome Owmby for a Lincs Second Division clash while the Academy X1 entertain Southbank at the Stamford club (2pm start).

Alex Osmond celebrates another wicket against Harrogate.


Andy Ellis traps Harrogate skipper Ryan Bradshaw LBW.

Callum Robinson drives through the covers against Harrogate.