MEGGIES CONSOLIDATE THIRD PLACE

Driffield batsman survives a sharp stumping attempt by Cleethorpes' James Windeatt.


Two pictures of Alex Osmond on the attack for Cleethorpes against Driffield.



Cleethorpes 1sts v Driffield. Back Row (left to right) James Windeatt (Wkt) Charlie Tomlinson Eddie Carlton Omesh Wijesiriwardana Alex OsJohn Zielinski. Front Row (left to right) Andy Ellis Harry Clewett James Osmond (Capt) Bill Kirby Rory Osmond.


By Graham Hackney

This Bank Holiday weekend sees Cleethorpes 1st X1 complete their away programme in the Yorkshire league with trips to Harrogate this Saturday before the trek to Scarborough on Bank Holiday Monday. Cleethorpes 2nd face a crucial home encounter with Alkborough on Bank Holiday Monday (1pm start) while the 3rd X1 also have a top of the table clash with Caistor 2nds at Chichester Road this Saturday (1.30pm Start). Cleethorpes 4ths travel to Outcasts 2nds this Saturday. On Sunday the North Lindsey X1 face Appleby Frodingham at home (2pm) while the East Lindsey X1 attempt to reach the league cup final with a trip to Holton le Clay.

Cleethorpes 1st X1 completed a highly professional 126-run over Driffield at Chichester Road on Saturday. Off spinner Harry Clewett was Cleethorpes’ ace in the pack as he produced Yorkshire league best figures of 7/32 to skittle Driffield for 105.
James Osmond had earlier won the toss and after much deliberation opted to bat first on a dry wicket in sunny conditions. Charlie Tomlinson once again opened the batting with the prolific Bill Kirby and the pair were soon climbing into the Driffield attack as Tomlinson launched an assault from ball one. The pair raced the fifty inside ten overs with Tomlinson eager to drive anything pitched up with Kirby content to rotate the strike. Tomlinson raced the his personal fifty in just 46 balls and had smashed eight fours and an enormous six when he departed needlessly with the score on 87 in the 17th over. Kirby drove a ball straight at cover giving Tomlinson little chance of making his ground after being called through for a quick single. Rory Osmond joined Kirby but perished for just four looking apprehensive as Driffield spinners were starting to get turn and uneven bounce out of the wicket. Attempting to gain the upper hand Osmond was beaten in the flight coming down the wicket for Major to complete a routine stumping. Kirby once again passed fifty in 80 balls as the hundred was brought up in the 19th over but he departed when bowled by Brent having taken his score to 51. Alex Osmond was joined by Eddie Carlton as Driffield spinners started to gain control. Alex in particular was looking in watchful mode. Carlton (4) was trapped lbw sweeping while James Osmond was also bowled by Brent for 11. With the innings losing momentum Alex smashed two sixes to take the score past 200 before holing out to long on for 54 in a patient innings lasting 110 balls. Windeatt (7) blasted a massive six before falling attempting the same shot and it was left to Omesh Wijisiriwardana (14 not out) and Harry Clewett ( 4 not out) to shepherd Cleethorpes to their closing total of 231-7 in 55 overs.
John Zielinski and Andy Ellis opened the bowling for Cleethorpes but were getting little assistance as Driffield’s openers comfortably negotiated the opening overs. Driffield’s Sri Lankan Rodrigo was looking a dangerous touch having added 30 in 40 balls before first change bowler Alex Osmond was able to turn a delivery away from him and having him bowled with the score on 41. This led to a spectacular collapse as the introduction of Clewett was to pay immediate dividends. Osmond had removed Norman to a superb catch at slip from brother James before Clewett’s first delivery reared of a length and Drury could only glove to keeper Windeatt. Three balls late he trapped Broumpton in front to claim two wickets in his opening over. Four overs later he repeated the feat first having Kohler Cadmore taken at midwicket by Rory Osmond attemting a slog sweep then trapping Hardgrave plum in front as Driffield collapsed to 56-6. Major showed some lower order defiance hitting Clewett for successive fours before the bowler had his revenge as he bowled him through the gate with a sharp turning delivery. By now Cleethorpes spinners were in complete control with Clewett claiming his third lbw decision to remove Woodcock. When Alex Osmond claimed his third victim to send Halder back Driffield were 85-9 with 24 overs still to negotiate. At least Driffield Skipper Brent and number eleven Tennant took the score passed 100 with entertaining cameos before Brent played one shot too many to sky a return catch that Clewett gratefully accepted. This gave Clewett stunning figures of 7/32 in 8.5 overs for his best return in Yorkshire league cricket. Alex Osmond finished with fine figures of 3/22 in 13 overs in a match were 16 out of the 17 dismissals fell to spin with the other being a run out. With York and Rotherham taking maximum points on Saturday, Cleethorpes consolidate their third position in the league with four matches to play. This weekend they face their final away fixtures of the campaign with tough trips to Harrogate on Saturday and Scarborough on Bank Holiday Monday.

Cleethorpes 2nd X1 slipped to an eighth successive Lincs Premier league defeat despite two stand out performances as Scunthorpe last Saturday. Having posted an excellent 256-3 in their 50 overs some poor bowling meant they were unable to defend that total as Scunthorpe clinched a nail-biting encounter with just two balls remaining. Earlier Stuart Airey had marked his return to Cleethorpes with a superb hundred as he and Callum Robinson added a massive unbeaten 228 for the third wicket. This was just 14 runs shy of the league record as Robinson (114 not out) himself completed a maiden ton with eleven fours and two sixes. Airey hit twelve fours and a couple of maximums as the pair lead a recovery from 28-3 of which Ryan Harrison had added a positive 17. Cleethorpes’ attack were unable to build any pressure as Scunthorpe comfortably kept up the rate although of spinner Andy Severn bowled a marathon spell of 20 overs for 2/67 to at least keep Cleethorpes in the game. Skipper Paul Sunley (1/47 in ten) had only six runs to defend in the final over which Scunthorpe knocked off in four balls. Peter Thompson had picked up 2/43 in eight overs as the spectre of relegation still hangs over the team.

Cleethorpes 3rd X1 maintained their title challenge with an easy five wicket home win over Alkborough 2nds at Chichester Road on Sunday. Cleethorpes shot out Alkborough for just 87 in 27.4 overs with Stuart Harvey recording season best figures of 6/55 in 13.4 overs with great support from Rob Brice who ripped the middle order out with 4/29 in 13 overs. Cleethorpes made hard work of reaching such a small total losing five wickets before completing the twenty point win in the 23rd over. Ben Marris hit 40 with Dan Tolson hitting 15 before being run out.

In the most exciting game of the weekend Cleethorpes 4ths clinched a brilliant 1-wicket win at Hibaldstow on Saturday. Having bowled their opponents out for 160 in 41.5 overs, Cleethorpes had slumped to 52/7 in reply when Nathan Judah (65 not out) and youngster Kris Hall added 81 for the eighth wicket. Hall showing great maturity hit 31 with four boundaries. With 20 runs still required after losing the ninth wicket, another young debutant Vivek Babu helped Judah reach their target in the 48th over to complete an unlikely win. Judah hit ten boundaries in his 65 while Babu remained 0 not out having kept Hibaldstow at bay for some eight overs. Earlier Hall had also starred with the ball picking up his first senior five wicket haul with 5/28 in 7.5 overs with spinner David Mansfield taking 3/30 in 13 overs. Henry Tasker and Judah also added wickets enabling Cleethorpes to claim an extra three overs from Hibaldstow which would ultimately prove decisive when chasing their target.