LINCOLNSHIRE CCC v SUFFOLK CCC AT BRACEBRIDGE HEATH

From Chris Keywood (Chairman Lincs. CCC)

For their final Minor Counties Trophy group match Lincolnshire welcomed Suffolk to Bracebridge Heath CC. Suffolk’s loss to Norfolk the previous weekend meant that neither they nor Lincolnshire could progress to the quarter final stage. Nevertheless an entertaining match ensued with Suffolk winning by 4 wickets with nine balls remaining.
In warm and sunny conditions and with a good crowd present Lincolnshire batted first. Dan Birch and Paul Cook opened and Birch quickly fell for 14. Cook was then joined by Matt Lineker who had already shown his class in Lincolnshire’s previous three matches. These two added 91 before Cook was run out for 57. Conrad Louth joined Lineker and they added 50 before Lineker was caught behind for 63. Morgan, Bansal, Bramley and Louth (31) quickly followed as Lincs went from 159 for 3 to 187 for 7. When Oliver Burford was dismissed with the total at 207 for 8 Lincolnshire’s chances of posting a competitive total looked slim. However Brett Houston and Matt Carter had other ideas and they added a further undefeated 66 for the eighth wicket, Houston with 37 not out and Carter 27 not out. Lincolnshire’s final total of 273 for 8 was certainly competitive but possibly 25 runs short of what was required.
Suffolk lost two early wickets to Brett Houston and at 39 for 2 Lincs were well in the game. The third wicket fell at 85 but then a match winning stand of 109 between Martyn Cull (92) and former Yorkshire player, Simon Guy (60) put Suffolk in command. Two further wickets fell but Suffolk were by now in front of the required run rate and completed their win with nine balls to spare. Brett Houston with 2 for 31 was Lincs most successful and economical bowler.
Lincolnshire begin their Minor Counties Eastern Division campaign at Sleaford with a three day fixture against Suffolk on Sunday, 9th June. Play commences at 11am each day.