FANTASTIC EFFORT SEES LINCS OVER 50S REACH NATIONAL QUARTER FINALS

Lincolnshire Over 50s are through to the quarter-finals of the national competition and will play Warwickshire on August 12 (venue yet to be announced).  JIMMY SNEE has kindly penned an update for Lincs Cricket Latest.

On Wed 25th July we travelled to Cambridgeshire in a 'must win' game to qualify for the play-offs.
Cambs scored 172-8 and we scored 175-3.
Subsequently - at 4pm last Thursday - we were informed that we had drawn DURHAM away and the game had to be played on Sunday 29th! 
Needless to say this caused substantial selection problems as players had not made any arrangements to be available. To cut a long story short we travelled with what you would describe as a much-changed 11.
Many thanks to Ian Fletcher, from Outcasts, who responded to a very late call to give us a full complement of players.
The game itself was very competitive, Lincs yet again losing the toss and been invited to bat on a wet uncovered wicket.
We scored 195-7 on a drying wicket (with 2 rain breaks), Paul Taylor and John Mountain both making 50’s which gave the lower order the opportunity to have a go for the last 10 overs.
In reply, taking wickets was the key; accurate bowling, backed up by enthusiastic  fielding, left the hosts on 75-5 at drinks. A partnership of 50 then put Durham back in the driving seat. However, tight bowling and shrewd fielding placing, left Durham wanting 7 an over for the last 10, which subsequently turned out to be to much of a challenge. And in their quest for big hits, Lincs players held their nerve, and catches,  to finish winners by 18 runs - a fantastic effort by all concerned .