ALMOST 350 runs were scored as Louth and Nettleham fought out the opening match in the 2013 Grimsby Town Knock Out in brilliant sunshine.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Louth got off to a flying start in front of a large and appreciative crowd, putting 65 runs on the board in the first four eight-ball overs.
Stewart West and Laurence Scott shared a stand of 50 for the first wicket, before West and Azeen Ghuman added 37 for the second.
West hit 52 off 30 balls, with seven fours and a six before he was run out – Ghumman's 30 came off 21 balls.
Jason Collinson contributed an unbeaten 39, but it was Tom Corden who ensured the total passed 200 with an innings of 63 not out, which came off just 31 deliveries and included two sixes and eight fours.
Louth finished on 211 for three with Collinson and Corden, pictured right, sharing an unbeaten partnership of 95.
Nettleham also set off well with Ben Pearce and Josh Taylor batting steadily until Taylor was bowled by Andy Carrington.
Jack Curtis joined Pearce and the next four overs brought 47 runs meaning that, after eight overs, Nettleham were less than 20 behind the required run rate.
But when Jake Sanders – who had already taken the wicket of Pearce – bowled Curtis for 53, a clatter of wickets followed.
Curtis' total came off 32 balls with a six and six fours but, from 92 for three, the Lincoln side tumbled to 98 for seven and, despite the efforts of Danny McCardle (27) and Russ Binnington – who batted with a broken finger sustained in the first innings – the target slipped further away.
When McCardle was caught off Robbie Dwyer, Nettleham were 128 for seven and only ten more runs were added before the final wicket fell with Dwyer and Sanders taking three wickets each.
Corden was named man-of-the-match for his innings and his part in a run out.
The match was sponsored by Ray Carson Groundworks and the overall competition by Great Coates Motors and Grimsby Van Centre.
Next week's game sees Fenner take on Cleethorpes.
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