COULMAN IS MUSTARD WITH BAT FOR OUTCASTS 2NDS

LINCS LEAGUE DIVISION THREE REPORT BY GLEN SANDS

Outcasts 2nds gained a valuable 20 points victory over Cherry Willingham 2nds at Hirst Priory in a match sponsored by JW Joinery - Mark Coulman guiding them home when scoring an impressive 57 not out.
A heavy shower caught everyone by surprise before the match and on a damp wicket home skipper Ian Fletcher invited Cherry to bat first. It didn't take the Isle side long before they picked up their first wicket when young opener James Gray was bowled by Alex Fletcher for eight then without a run being added visiting captain Matt Dobson was superbly caught by wicket keeper Andy Colebrook off the bowling of Graeme Fletcher having scored just three. Next to go was Nick Beattie who was caught at slip by Andy Lawson to earn Alex a second wicket and when Pete Wilkinson went for ten , caught by Alex off brother Graeme Outcasts were well on top at 36 for 4. Matt Good had shown great patience for his 15 when he was tempted out of his crease by Josh Bramhill for Colebrook to whip off his bails then came a partnership between Caleb Pipes-Goulbra and Matt Hudsn which threatened to hold up the Outcasts bowlers until Hudson was trapped LBW by Scott Buttrick for 13. Pipes-Goulbra became Colebrook's third victim when glancing a leg side catch to the stalwart keeper off Bramhill for 18 then Luke Benyon and Keith Whiteley took Cherry past the hundred mark with Whiteley in particular hitting some hefty boundaries. He had reached 21 when he was deceived by a slower delivery from Buttrick and the last two wickts fell on 105 as Chris Hues was run out and Benyon looped a catch to Alex Fletcher off Graeme again to earn him figures of 3 for 21. The other three bowlers , Alex , Scott Buttrick and Josh Bramhill each picked up two wickets as Cherry fell to a disappointing total.
Outcasts began their reply with one eye on the gathering clouds which threatened to intervene and sure enough they were taken off the field at 25 for 1 as the rain fell , Chris Jones being the one man to go , bowed by Keith Whiteley for five. Umpires David Simpson and Mick Stothard kept a close account of the skies but were eventually able to get the players back on the field which was a relief to teIsle side who were obviously in a good position to win the game. Mark Coulman played some exceptional shots after an early life whilst Peter Tait weighed in with 17 before he got a delivery that spat off the surface which he guided to Matt Dobson off Matt Hudson with the total on 63. Scott Buttrick joined the imperious Coulman , making 17 not out as Outcasts cruised to 106 for 2 , Coulman bringing up his personal half century with a towering six and ending the innings on 57 not out , earning his team afull twenty points which lifts them further up the Division Three league ladder.
It has to be said that Cherry had a rough time when losing the toss and having to bat first but for all that theOutcasts bowlers performed well and when it came to the batting they were certainly shown the way by the very impressive Mark Coulman who really was a class apart.
Next up for the Priorymen is a visit to South Kelsey on Saturday before they head to Alkborough for the Bob Welton Cup Final against Second Division leaders Scunthorpe Town 2nds as they look to defend their trophy. They will do so in good form as for once they managed to beat the rainy weather.