MEGGIES WIN IN SCUNTHORPE

Omesh destroys Jack Forrester's stumps.

REPORT AND PICTURES FROM GRAHAM HACKNEY

Cleethorpes 1st X1's fine Yorkshire League campaign continued with a hard fought 30-run win away at Appleby-Frodingham on Saturday.
Unlike the week previous when they had completed an easy cup win at Frodingham, Cleethorpes were pushed all the way by a young Scunthorpe outfit with the result always in doubt until Sri Lankan’s Omesh Wijesiriwardana’s late burst. It came as no surprise that after winning the toss Frod Skipper Matt Morland chose to insert Cleethorpes on a dry wicket expected to play low. Cleethorpes openers Bill Kirby and Rory Osmond made a methodical start helped by Hilton’s first delivery going for five wides. Eventually Kirby upped the tempo with successive boundaries off Watson and the pair eased to 50 in the 17th over. A half an hour rain break did not help the momentum with both batsmen having to start afresh. Osmond had been given two lives after being put down at slip and more easily by the keeper. They had taken the score to 80 in the 30th over when Kirby, attempting to clear mid off only succeeded in finding him to depart for a patient 39 in 104 balls. Osmond followed with the score on 103 when he failed to beat Handley’s direct throw went sent back by Alex Osmond. His 42-run effort had taken 90 balls and had included six boundaries. Cleethorpes appeared in trouble when Alex Osmond fell to a superb diving catch by Day at mid on having made only nine. With overs slipping away, James Windeatt joined skipper Charlie Tomlinson in what would be a decisive stand. Both players immediately went on the counter attack with some massive shots. Windeatt added 32 in 31 balls smashing two giant sixes while Tomlinson hit 34 in just 29 balls with two maximum’s. The pair added 64 in just 50 balls as the balance swung back Cleethorpes’ way. Pickersgill was taken for 31 runs in just four overs forcing a change in the attack. With the score on 182 though Cleethorpes were to lose both big hitters to successive balls. Windeatt departed attempting to run the ball down to third man and edged behind before the first ball of the following over brought Tomlinson’s demise. Leg spinner Fowler found both bounce and turn to induce an edge which keeper Powell gobbled up. Callum Robinson and Paul Sunley then 27 before Robinson (14) was run out going for a suicidal second while Omesh’s poor run of form with the bat continued as he tamely mishit to cover off his first ball. Sunley (19) and Clewett (5) both departed to Hilton in the final over as Cleethorpes closed on a modest 224-9 in their 55 overs.
Frodingham’s reply got off to a blistering start as Morland punished some wayward bowling by Omesh. Driving repeatedly through the covers Morland and Duncan Heath raced to fifty in just nine overs forcing Tomlinson to turn to spin as both Alex Osmond and Harry Clewett were quickly introduced. The move worked immediately with Heath (18) holing Osmond out to the safe hands of Clewett mid off as the breakthrough came with the score on 61. Morland continued to play his shots despite losing Handley (9) as Osmond benefitted from a dubious leg before decision. With Pickersgill eating up the strike Cleethorpes were at last able to apply some pressure as the rate finally began to rise. Morland passed his half century in 52 balls but fell tamely to Clewett having reached 62 when clipping the spinner to Kirby who pounced at midwicket to take a sharp catch. Pickersgill (18) soon followed as his desperate charge at Osmond presented Windeatt with a routine stumping. Day chipped Osmond to Kirby and when Watson (11) and Powell (0) both fell to Osmond in quick succession Frod had slipped to 163-7. Osmond had taken six wickets for the second successive Saturday to underline his importance within the Cleethorpes attack. Tomlinson opted to bring back Omesh to wrap up the tail and despite some lusty blows from Fowler and Hilton the innings soon subsided. He knocked over Hilton and Forrestor’s stumps with back to back deliveries and trapped Fowler lbw to complete the win. Fowler’s brave innings of 44 completed a fine all round display to go with his four wicket haul. Omesh finished with 3/58 in 12 overs while Osmond recorded superb figures of 6/67 in 19 overs. Clewett’s 1/20 in nine overs had put the brake on the innings. Cleethorpes win keeps them in third place in the league tucked in behind second placed Rotherham and leaders York.


Alex Osmond produced a fine spell of leg spin.

Rory Osmond drives through the covers on the way to 42 at App-Frod.