OUTCASTS v SCUNTHORPE TOWN 2NDS - LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Outcasts maintained their promotion push with a comfortable victory over a below strength Scunthorpe Town 2nds side who were missing several players through work and holidays, writes Glen Sands.
Skipper Liam McAnaney won the toss and quickly invited Scunthorpe to bat first on a green wicket that looked likely to offer his bowlers some assistance and that proved to be the case when Graeme Fletcher trapped Darren Quibell LBW without a run on the board. Neil Patrick and Jake Smith batted well in trying conditions but just when he appeared set to make a big contribution Smith got a leading edge and dollied a return catch to Fletcher having reached 26 with the total on 46 and from then on Outcasts were in command. Patrick was next to go , caught by John Stokoe off the impressive Fletcher for 19 then Declan Toyne and Luke Smith put on 22 only for that man Fletch to take a catch off the bowling of Tom Sharpe to send Smith back to the pavilion for twelve runs. It was at that point that Deol Singh took centre stage with a spell of bowling that ripped through the home sides innings. He picked up five for thirteen from nine overs , bowling four of the Scunthorpe batsmen then having the defient Toyne caught by Liam McAnaney as the Town side were reduced to 84 all out.
The Outcasts reply got off to a terrific start with Danny Hilton on his first team debut and Andrew Lawson playing some splendid shots. They had added 33 in just six overs when Lawson was bowled by Declan Toyne for 20 and when John Stokoe quickly followed there was need for Hilton and Russell Fletcher to re group with some more circumspect batting. Fletcher had made eight when he mistimed a shot and gifted Jake Smith a simple caught and bowled but Darren Clark then strode to the crease and he injected some impetous with an array of excellent shots. He and Hilton had taken their team to within four of victory when Clark was bowled by Toyne for 29 and it was left to the livewire Deol Singh to go in and win the game with an audacious switch hit boundary that brought a cheer from his team mates on the boundary and earned the Isle side another twenty points in their quest to finish in the top two. Hilton finished on a creditable 17 not out having batted through the innings whilst Declan Toyne took 3 for 27 for Scunthorpe in what was a valient effort from eight overs.
So Outcasts have now got three tough home games against Cleethorpes , Scothern and Holton le Clay after which they will have a better idea as to how their season will pan out whilst Scunthorpe will hope for players to return from holiday to get their season back on track. Outcasts 2nds were awarded the full 20 points in their game against Scunthorpe 3rds who were unable to fulfil their scheduled fixture and they too have a couple of vital matches coming up against Barton Town 2nds and Old Lincolnians as they look to climb into a promotion place with the season drawing to a close.