GRIMSBY TOWN RETAIN THEIR OWN KNOCKOUT TROPHY

BY ANN BOULTON

Grimsby Town waited 75 years to win their own Knock Out Trophy in 2011 – then 12 months later made it two in row.

But Town were made to fight every inch of the way in a low scoring game against Lincolnshire Cavaliers who were new to the competition in 2012.

On a bright and sunny evening, Cavaliers won the toss and invited Grimsby to bat, a tactic that appeared to have paid off when only 24 runs came off the first four overs for the loss of one wicket – Richard Antcliffe run out for seven.

But former Grimsby spinner George Linde joined top Skegness batsman Peter Houghton who was guesting for the evening and the run rate accelerated.  When Linde was caught by Gayan de Silva off Matt Rutherford, Grimsby had 66 on the board and after eight overs the total had reached 77 for two.

However, as in the previous week, it proved to be a spinners’ track and Rutherford and Karanjit Bansal again slowed the charge, just 13 runs coming off the next four overs for the loss of another wicket.

And despite the efforts of Houghton who made 56 off 57 balls with five fours and a six, at the close Grimsby had reached only 120 for seven, De Silva and Bansal each finishing with an economical one for 22 off their four overs and Tom Webb taking three wickets, including that of Houghton who was caught behind by Steve Crossley.

Grimsby opened their attack with Gary Tillison and Linde, a move that paid off when Linde bowled Sanjay Roderigo with only three on the board.  Bansal followed, caught and bowled by the spinner and Grimsby then secured the valuable wicket of last week’s man of the match Simon Webb, run out by a throw from Antcliffe.

After four overs, the score was 30 for three and like their opponents, Cavaliers accelerated thanks to Crossley and de Silva.  But by now Grimsby had introduced Johannes Diseko to the attack and in the eighth over, the South African bowled de Silva. 

At the end of that over, the score was 65 for four, still on a par with Grimsby   But again the next four overs proved decisive, Carl Taylor joining the attack to produce some accurate and aggressive bowling and only 16 runs coming for the loss of another three wickets, including Crossley, stumped by John Maddock off Diseko for 29.

The 10^th over also brought a maiden for Diseko – a rare achievement in this fast-moving competition.

With three eight-ball overs to go, Cavaliers still needed 35 to win.  This became 27 off two, with Tillison back in the attack, but when Tom Webb sent two sixes sailing over the hedge in successive balls, suddenly it was “game on” once again.

Webb was out next ball and Graeme Bell was also caught behind to give Maddock his fourth dismissal and Cavaliers went into the final over needing just 10 to win with one wicket standing.

But it was dangerous Linde who returned for this over and his first ball bowled Dale Christie, giving him figures of three for 19 and taking Grimsby to victory.

Linde, Maddock, Diseko (3-21) and Webb were all in the running for man of the match but the umpires decided that it was Houghton’s excellent innings that had set up the Grimsby win and the batsman was presented with the award by Stuart Maxwell of match ball sponsors Springboard Recruitment.

The final was sponsored overall by John Pettit.  Grimsby Town would also like to thank all the other competition sponsors -  Pronuptia, Graypen and Solutions Tax and Accountancy – overall club sponsors Great Coates Motors and Grimsby Van Centre and all the helpers at the club and those who came along to watch and support the 2012 Knock Out.

Grimsby Town

R Antcliffe r/o 7

P Houghton c Crossley b T Webb 56

G Linde c de Silva b Rutherford 25

D Wood b Bansal 8

C Taylor b de Silva 13

G Tillison b T Webb 2

L Charlton c de Silva b T Webb 0

J Diseko not out 1

J Wilson not out 5

Extras 3

Total (7 wkts) 120

Bowling: G de Silva 4-0-22-1, T Webb 4-0-40-3, M Rutherford 4-0-34-1, K Bansal 4-0-22-1.

Lincolnshire Cavaliers

K Bansal c & b Linde 3

S Roderigo b Linde 1

S Webb run out 7

S Crossley st Maddock b Diseko 29

G de Silva b Diseko 18

M Rutherford c Tillison b Taylor 6

I Williams st Maddock b Diseko 3

G Bell st Maddock b Tillison 10

T Webb c Maddock b Tillison 16

D Christie b Linde 1

G Middleton not out 0

Extras 17

Total (all out) 111

Bowling: G Tillison 4-0-41-2, G Linde 3.1-0-19-3, C Taylor 4-0-23-1, J Diseko 4-1-21-3.