OUTASTS DEFEATED IN PENULTIMATE GAME

By Glen Sands

Outcasts suffered a five wicket defeat against promotion chasing Broughton in Lincs League division one on Saturday, and once again it was their inability to set a stern enough target that let them down.
They took first knock on the excellent Broughton strip and set off at a reasonable pace except that they kept losing wickets which eventually proved to be their downfall. Paul Clark picked up a wicket in the very first over when having David Hobson caught behind by Nick Dobbs then Peter Taylor reduced the Isle side to 11 for 2 when he bowled Scott Buttrick for six. Stand in skipper Andy Torr batted well , opening the innings and seeing them through the early overs but no one was sticking around with him at the other end. Graham Clark was out caught and bowled by Taylor for five and Andy Lawson quickly followed when he was caught behind for just four to earn Taylor his third wicket leaving Outcasts on 48 for 4. Torr had reached 33 when he became the fifth man out , bowled by a terrific delivery from the impressive Taylor and when Charlie Mason was bowled by an equally super delivery from Clark Outcasts had slipped to 66 for 6 and were struggling. Jason Whiteley joined Peter Tait at the crease and the pair of them put together an excellent counter attack with some sensible batting , taking the score past three figures. Whiteley had made 20 when he was well caught by Steve Johnstone off Clark with the total on 106 then Tait was out for 33 , caught by Jake Parker , again off Clark leaving the visitors on 119 for 8. Tom Sharpe was stumped by Dobbs off Paul Reed without scoring but Matthew Teal and Andy Colebrook added a further 24 runs for the last wicket before Teal was caught by Mark Wilson off Taylor for an excellent 27 earning Taylor figures of 5 for 38 and at the same time giving Broughton an extra eight overs n which to chase down their target.
Their response saw them get off to a cracking start as Neil Simpson in particular was merciless on anything loose. He and Steve Johnstone put on fifty for the first wicket after only twelve overs then Johnstone was caught by Peter Tait off Jason Whiteley for eleven then Nick Dobbs was superbly caught at slip by Andy Lawson off Matthew Teal for eight with the total on 63. Whiteley and Teal then really tightened things up , Whiteley trapping Simpson LBW for 42 when the score stood at 65 and when Jake Parker was caught behind by Andy Colebrook off Tom Sharpe Broughton were on 79 for 4 and tottering. However they knew they had those extra overs to fall back on and slowly Paul Clark and Paul Reed steadied the ship with some sensible batting. Whiteley continued to keep things very tight but they just could'nt prize out that vital fifth wicket. Clark made 43 not out whilst Reed had helped to draw the scores level with 28 when he was caught at slip by Tait off Whiteley and it was left to Shaun Clark to hi the winning run in what was the first of those extra overs , ensuring his team maintained their position in second place and keeping them in pole position for promotion abck to the Premier Division.
So Outcasts have just one game remaining, away at Appleby Frodingham 2nds, which if they can win will see them finish in the top half of the table for the first time in several years but it is by no means a certainty as Frod themselves will be looking to pick up the points to ensure their safety at the wrong end of the table. It promises to be a terrific match to end the season.