BAT-BREAKING EFFORT PAYS OFF IN FINAL

From Phil Burrell, ELCL Chairman

The East Lindsey Cricket League held their first ever T20 Finals Day on Sunday at Woodhall Spa CC.
The first semi final got under way at 10.45 am with hosts and Northern Group winners Woodhall Spa CC taking on Southern runners up Alford CC. Woodhall won the toss and chose to bat first, having reached 86 for no loss in the 8th over a large total loomed, however Sam Evison was first to go for 28, wickets then fell at regular intervals and when Jack Luffman was dismissed for 57 Woodhall were 110 for 4, having reached 124 for 4 they then collapsed to 130 all out with Tom White taking 4 for 21 off his 4 overs and Ross Dixon 3 for 2 off 1.1. Alford began their chase in positive fashion as Glyn James and Andrew White played some aggressive shots, wickets fell regularly but at 97 for 5 with 10 overs remaining Alford appeared to have it in the bag, but when Ross Dixon fell for 27 off the bowling of Rob Bee (4-0-30-3) Alford too collapsed. They went into the final over needing only 5 runs for victory, however they managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory as Sam Evison bowled his solitary over for only 2 runs and picking up 1 wicket as Woodhall won by 2 runs.
The second semi final was not so close, as Southern winners Skegness CC and Northern runners up Tetford CC did battle, a very strong Skegness side batted first and after losing both openers with only 32 on the board proceeded to smash 253 for 5 off their 20 overs, Wade Mcall (83) and Tony Santini (87) adding 123 for the 3rd wicket in rapid time as Santini cleared the ropes 9 times, Australian Lochlan Christian added a quickfire 38 at the end of the innings, Tom Baxter (4-0-37-2) being Tetford most successful bowler. Tetford began positively in their approach and their run rate was good all the way through at 7.5 runs per over, a rate on any other day would have seen them succeed. Despite 43 from Richard Dixon and 34 from Joe Smith they finished on 148 for 9 but credit must be given for the spirited way they went about their chase and not once did any heads drop. Tony Santini backed up his batting display with 3 for 9 off 2 overs.
During the second game we also had the pleasure of several fly pasts from a Lancaster bomber, Spitfire, Hurricane and a Dakota – umpire John Tuck assured me he had secured their services for his wife’s birthday which was that day!
So to the final, a game which at the start promised so much, as Skegness scored at a much subdued rate, this time opening batsman Pete Houghton plays some excellent shots to make 42, backed up again by Wade Mcall (33) and Tony Santini (21) but the game changed when Lochlan Christian hit a rapid 68 including 7 maximums and also breaking his bat in two during the process! Skegness posted 213 for 6, a score which at one stage looked like would only reach 160-ish, Jack Luffman (4-0-31-3) was the pick of Woodhall’s bowlers. In true Woodhall were never in the hunt, and the final was a bit of an anticlimax as they lost regular wickets and couldn’t get no way near the required run rate, they eventually crept to 101 for 8 off their 20 overs with Tom Cushen (19 not out) top scoring, 16 year old Dan Nuttal claimed 4 for 16 off his 3 overs as Skegness triumphed by 112 runs and were crowned T20 champions 2011.
A massive thanks to Ivor Bee who despite worrying that the track might not be up to Woodhall standards produced a fantastic wicket which yielded 976 runs and 47 wickets from 119.1 overs of cricket.
The umpires for the day were excellent, so a big thanks to Gary Dawson, John Tuck and Paul Maidment.
Vice President Wilf Petit presented the trophies to the winner team and the runner’s up. A great day was had by all and the spirit shown by all the teams was fantastic.

NF adds: Chairman Phil plans to send us a league update later in the week, for which many thanks, sir!