OUTCASTS OPEN WITH A VICTORY

BY GLEN SANDS

Outcasts made an excellent start to their first season in Division One of the Snaith & District Evening Cricket League when picking up a 21 runs victory at Burn on a sunny but still chilly evening on May 2nds.
Under the new " management " of Anthony Fitzgerald and Mark Coulman the Isle of Axholme side were happy to see skipper Fitz call correctly , allowing them to bat first and it was new recruits Mark Donahue and Matt Parsons who opened the innings. Both newcomers took the game to the Burn bowlers although Donahue had struck one terrific boundary and reached five when he got caught on the back foot and was bowled by Shaw with the total on 14. Graham Clark joined Parsons in the middle and betwen them they took the total to 44 before Parsons was caught by wicket keeper Adamson off Shaw for a bright and breezy 17. Russell Fletcher and Clark then batted very well and at a good tempo , Clark in particular hitting some awesome shots including two huge sixes and four boundaries but he was then caught on the boundary by Shaw off Watson for 34 which saw Mark Coulman take to the crease. Sadly for him it was'nt a long stay as he attempted a suicidal run to the impressive keeper Adamson and was run out having faced just one deliveryand at 69 for 4 the tide appeared to be turning. James Glew joined Fletcher , taking the total to 88 before the latter was caught at deep mid off by Mark Webster off Montgomery for 24. Youngster Josh Bramhill and Glew then added 29 runs for the sixth wicket but the Burn bowlers were making it difficult for them to accelerate and when Josh was trapped LBW by Jack Rich for nine it signalled the arrival of his dad Jonathan who was able to up the tempo as the innings drew to a close. He finished the 20 overs on 26 not out having hit three towering sixes and one boundary four whilst Glew , playing the anchor role , also ended on 26 as the total reached a creditable 149 for 6. Jack Rich was probably the pick of the Burn bowlers although they used no less than eight through the innings and they all contributed whilst their fielding was sharp throughout.
Jamie Bingle and wicket keeper Adamson opened the batting for the home  side but the young stumper had reached just three when he was bowled by visiting skipper Anthony Fitzgerald who chose to open by taking the pace off the ball from the off. Graeme Fletcher was bowling quickly from the other end and it was he who struck a big blow to the home side when picking up two wickets in two deliveries in the seventh over , having number three batsman Montgomery very well caught off a steppler by Mark Donahue for one then following that by bowling the threatening Bingle for 15 , leaving Burn on 20 for 3. Jack Rich , who looks to be a terrific prospect with both bat and ball was joined by Mark Webster and between them they started to rebuild the innings. Webster was in very good form and appeared set to make a sizable contribution before being well caught by Fitzgerald at mid wicket off Josh Bramhill for 39 , Bramhill bowling well on a small ground with small boudaries. Shaw joined the increasingly accelerating Rich but made only six before he was bowled by soldier Graham Clark with the total on 102 and despite a spirited attempt by youngster Rich , who ended the innings on 48 not out Burn fell 21 short of the Outcasts total as the sun sank below the roof tops to bring a decided chill to procedings.
So the Priorymen made a winning start to their 2013 evening league campaign and will go into their first home game against Hensall in good spirits on May 9th whilst Burn will look to pick up their first points when travelling to Airmyn who made an excellent start themselves when beating Hensall by nine wickets in their opener.