WROOTS OF VICTORY FOR OUTCASTS

By Glen Sands

Outcasts got back to winning ways in great style when they crushed Hykeham by 133 runs at Hirst Priory in Lincs League Divison One on Saturday, and it was Jonathan Wroot who took centre stage with a fantastic bowling performance that must surely cement his place in the first team having stepped up from the second eleven due to unavailabilities and injuries.
Hykeham won the toss and chose to invite Outcasts to bat first a decision which looked to be a good one when Richard Wroot was bowled by Rick Chester for just six with the total on 17. Oliver Coulman was next to go , caught by wicket keeper Alex Bowkett off Chris Hammond for 16 but that brought Andy Lawson and Graham Clark together who produced an excellent partnership which took the Priorymen past three figures as Lawson in particular smashed the ball over the boundary ropes for three huge maximums. Just as he appeared set to take the game away from the Lincoln outfit Lawson was out for 39 , caught behind off Chester with the total on 107 but there was no respite for Hykeham as Peter Tait strode to the middle and along with Clark continued to score freely. Unfortunatley for Clark he was bowled by a terrific delivery from Chester when he was just four short of his half century which saw his brother Darren join Tait at the crease. They took the total up to 174 before Darren was controversially caught by Anthony Clark for 18 who was'nt entirely sure he had held on to a steeepling catch off the bowling of Ian Walsh and Tait was out to the very next delivery for 31 , caught by Rick Chester to leave them on 174 for 6. Skipper Russell Fletcher and 15 year old first team debutant Josh Bramhill then took the score to 195 before the former was caught by that man Anthony Clark for 13 , again off the bowling of Walsh and he picked up his fourth wicket when bowling Jonathan Wroot as Outcasts tried to make 200 , something they achieved from the very last ball of the innings thanks to Jason Whiteley who brought things to a close at 200 for 8 Bramhill ending on a creditable 7 not out.
After a long afternoon in the field Hykeham really needed to make a good start but they were simply blown away by a rampant Jonathan Wroot who ran in like a man possessed. His first wicket came when Ian Walsh clipped a catch to the confident Josh Bramhill having scored just five then fellow opener Mark Conyers played all around a straight one and was bowled for just four leaving them on 23 for 2. Josh Taylor edged a catch to Richard Wroot behind the stumps to give brother Jon his third victim then Graham Clark came to the party when Peter Tait caught Chris Hammond off his bowling leaving the total on 37 for 4. James Wilson and Sam Inman took the score up to 60 but then the wheels realy did come off for the visitor. Bramhill took his second catch of the game to remove Inman for 16 then Wroot took centre stage once more , bowling Rick Chester who failed to trouble the scorers. The next wicket was down to a quite incredible diving catch from Peter Tait which saw the stubborn Wilson out for 10 then Wroot struck twice at the end of his eleventh over to leave himself on a hat trick. Sadly for him it was'nt to be as home skipper Russell Fletcher took an outstanding one handed catch at slip to earn Clark a fourth wicket and in doing so bringing the game to a close but Wroot can be proud of his splendid figures of 6 for 23 which undoubtedly earned him a man of the match performance which was watched in disbelief by second team skipper Ian Fletcher from the boundary edge !
There is no game for Outcasts' first team this weekend as attention turns to the second eleven who entertain Barton Town 2nds on Saturday followed by a Bob Welton Cup Semi Final against Cleethorpes 3rds on Sunday July 17th.
It promises to be a roller coaster ride for the Isle side and they will have a man in form in Mr Wroot!