MEGGIES IN A SPIN

James Windeatt stumps York's Murphy off Alex Osmond's bowling.

Alex Osmond accounts for York batsman Snell.

REPORT AND SUPER ACTION PIX COURTESY OF GRAHAM HACKNEY

A disastrous batting performance by Cleethorpes 1st X1 batman put paid to any chance of Cleethorpes recording a memorable win at Yorkshire league leaders York on Saturday. After a battling bowling display had kept York to 233 all out, Cleethorpes could not find an answer to York’s spinners and were shot out for just 68 to slip to a 165-run defeat.
York had earlier chosen to bat in what looked like ideal batting conditions. Jack Harrison soon made inroads into York’s strong batting line up having Liam McKendry trapped in front in only the fourth over with just eight runs on the board. He had already seen Snell survive a simple catch at mid off with Callum Robinson the culprit. This brought out Scottish International Oliver Hairs to join the prolific Duncan Snell and the pair soon made their intentions known. A flurry of boundaries off Harrison saw him removed from the attack as Charlie Tomlinson’s side struggled to contain York. Overseas professional Omesh Wijesiriwardana was getting little assistance from a featherbed pitch with little bounce. Andy Ellis replaced Harrison and initially fared little better as Hairs, in particular, continued to find the boundary at will. The pair brought up the fifty stand in the tenth over and Hairs had moved untroubled to 43 in just 35 balls when Alex Osmond accounted for him with only his third ball. After smashing him through mid off Hairs surprisingly hit a legside full toss straight to Eddie Carlton on the square leg boundary to make the vital breakthough. In Osmond’s next over Snell also departed having hit a six over long on. The very next ball Osmond beat the batsman’s forward lunge to comprehensively bowl him to leave York 94-3. Collins and Kay then went about rebuilding the innings and they brought up a studious half century partnership in 90 balls as Cleethorpes regained some control. Ellis, having bowled six overs had to come off suffering a hamstring strain. Harry Clewett stepped in and gave little away with York content to work the singles. Having added 88 and taken York to 182, Cleethorpes made a double breakthrough. Kay, attempting a quick single, only succeeded in running Collins (48) out with Kirby executing a fantastic diving throw from cover. Two balls later Omesh snapped up Ryan McKendry caught and bowled as Cleethorpes sensed an opening. Clewett trapped York skipper Wood lbw seven runs later before Omesh accounted for Kay who edged behind a ball after passing 50. York’s later order offered little resistance as Osmond cashed in with two late wickets, courtesy of a Windeatt stumping and bowling last man Durham, as York were bowled out in the final over to close on 233 all out. Osmond finished with 4/55 in 12.3 overs with Omesh showing great heart on a flat wicket to pick up 2/53 in 15. The pick of the attack though was Clewett who despite only taking one wicket conceded just 65 runs in his 17 overs against the best batting attack in the league.
Cleethorpes' hopes of closing the gap on York in the table soon evaporated as they opened top Minor Counties spinner Dan Woods.
Rory Osmond (1)feathered behind in only the third over with Carlton (0) playing over a straight delivery in his next over. Callum Robinson (4) , after hitting the first boundary of the innings, was caught napping, as Kirby’s call for a sharp single saw the youngster run out by McKendry’s direct throw from cover. Alex Osmond (7) stuck around before leg spinner Pringle turning ball found the edge to Woods at first slip. When Kirby fell lbw sweeping at Woods, Cleethorpes had slipped to 29-5. Tomlinson’s attempt to break the shackles only found Collins at mid off while Omesh (6) was unlucky to be taken via a deflection off the keeper saw the loop up to slip. With Clewett perishing to a Woods delivery that kept low, Cleethorpes were now 49-8. Harrison’s two swept boundaries at least took Meggies past fifty while Windeatt (11 not out) also showed some fight to hit Pringle for two fours. When Harrison (11) swept once to often at Pringle to top edge to backward square the game was over. Ellis opted not to bat and worsen his hamstring as Cleethorpes closed on a paltry 68 all out inside 25 overs.
York take eight points to stretch their lead over Cleethorpes to sixteen points with Rotherham, losers at Scarborough on Saturday, in second twelve points ahead.
The Meggies travel to Hull this weekend desperately needing a good batting display to restore some wounded confidence.

Harry Clewett survives a vociforous appeal for a catch at slip.