Winless Meggies beaten as Caistor continue run

SEVEN games into the Lincolnshire County Cricket League season and Cleethorpes 2nds are the only team yet to register a win in the top flight.

The Meggies hosted mid-table Caistor Town on Saturday and fell to a disappointing 40-run defeat at Chichester Road.

After losing the toss and being sent into bat, the visitors made 190 in 49.4 overs – with Ryan McKitton (62) and captain Liam Wood (32) the main contributors.

Deputy Cleethorpes skipper Stuart Harvey claimed four for 53, while fellow spinner Andy Severn weighed in with three for 55.

The Meggies were then contained for 150 for nine in reply, with opener Ryan Harrison scoring 40 and Paul Sunley a useful 24.

Bowlers of contrasting styles took the majority of home wickets – Paul Dimbleby taking three for 51 and Tom Boryszczuk three for 52, both from 16 overs.

In complete contrast to Cleethorpes, Premier Division leaders Messingham have won all seven matches, with their latest success coming at home to Bracebridge Heath.

Alkborough suffered a four-wicket reverse on their visit to Cherry Willingham, while eight wickets from Ramesh Chand led Scunthorpe Town to victory against Barton Town.

Meanwhile, Market Rasen were beaten by a rejuvenated Nettleham at Mulsanne Park.

Gary Bierlien struck an unbeaten 48, but the visitors' total of 172 was passed by the strugglers with more than 11 overs to spare.

In the absence of captain Matthew Rutherford, spinner Bierlien was also the chief destroyer with the ball – he took three for 52.

In Division One, Holton-le-Clay were soundly beaten on their visit to leaders Broughton.

Sean Clixby was the main man in that 61-run humbling, taking five for eight in only 7.4 overs during the second half of the game.

In pursuit of 143, the visitors struggled to 81 all out, of which captain Paul Holmes made 38 at the top of the innings.

Louth 2nds were beaten by six wickets at Owmby, for whom Sam Atkin impressed with bat and ball.

Having elected to bat first, Louth were bowled out for 142 with opener John Medler making 49 and Atkin taking four for 37.

Atkin then hit eight fours before he was bowled by Phil Burrell for 50, but veteran Edwin Chappell (21 not out) steered Owmby home with useful cameo.

Meanwhile, Outcasts notched up a surprise win at Horncastle, while Messingham 2nds lost out in a close encounter with Scothern.

In Division Two, tight bowling from Richard Evans and useful runs from John Maddock and Nigel Fanthorpe helped see Grimsby Town 2nds beat Alkborough 2nds.

Evans sent down 16 overs, taking three for 33 as the villagers were held to 152 for nine in their 45 overs – the bulk of the runs coming from Lee Brocklebank (39) and Mark Standerline (45).

Grimsby openers Maddock (41) and Fanthorpe (57) gave their side a good start and, while Brocklebank took four for 39, the visitors won with two balls to spare.

Two batsmen caught the eye as leaders Haxey 2nds won their home game against Caistor Town 2nds by 46 runs.

Tom Smith scored 68 and captain Jeremy Evans 36 as the Isle of Axholme villagers scored 144 for six.

Mark Gowshall then scored 28 for Caistor, but they were dismissed for 98 after 35 overs – Wasim Ahmed bagging four for 23.

All-rounder Mark Parker took four for 40 and scored 34 as Keelby won by seven wickets at Hibaldstow, whose all-out 156 included 31 from Tom Taylor.

In addition to Parker's good knock after tea, skipper Danny Bevis made 35, Andy Bagnall 35 not out and Sanjay Chauhan 30 – Keelby cruising home in the 34th over.

DIVISION THREE

A super display by Gill Singh Palli, of Grimsby team Laportes, dominated his team's 53-run away win over lowly South Kelsey.

He made 93 and Mick Hanson in a team effort of 181 for eight, as Mark Fisher took four for 42.

Gill then grabbed six for 25 as the villagers were dismissed for 128, top scorer being Antony George with 36.

Managing to bat out all their 45 overs, despite making a moderate 117 for eight, proved to be the springboard for Barton Town 2nds to secure an 18-run home win over Old Lincolnians.

Alex Shreeve scored 38 of Barton's runs and after tea the skipper's bowlers came to the fore, dismissing the visitors for 99 inside 30 overs, Regs (CORRECT SPELLING) Koen taking four for 42.

There was a five-wicket haul by a player on each side as Caistor 3rds won by 15 runs when hosting Broughton 2nds at Brigg Road.

Ryan Thompson claimed five for 14 for the visitors, while Ollie Barrick took five for 38 for Caistor.

Veteran opener Dave Gowshall managed 36 in the home team's 136 for nine, with Craig Hall making the same score in Broughton's 121.

Outcasts 2nds were short of runs and paid the penalty when hosting Washingborough at the Hirst Priory ground, near Crowle.

Josh Bramhill's 30 was tops in Outcasts' 115 for nine, but it was nowhere near enough, despite newcomer Lee Gash claiming two wickets after tea.

DIVISION FOUR

Veteran spinner Udi Sheikh took five for 54 for second-from-bottom Keelby 2nds but they lost heavily at home to leaders Morton.

The Gainsborough side posted 181 for nine, but James Gorbutt's 35 was the only double-figure score for Keelby in an all-out 96 – apart from a very generous 32 extras!

Mid-table Normanby Park suffered a 34-run defeat to visiting Scothern 2nds.

Alan Dawson bowled well for Normanby, taking five for 26, as Scothern were dismissed for 131.

But Normanby could muster only 97 themselves, of which opener Paul Cowling scored 26.

All-rounder Gary Nicholls missed out with the bat for Holton-le-Clay 2nds but turned in a match-winning performance with the ball at Old Lincolnians 2nds.

Josh Plaskitt's 26 was the best in Holton's 115 for eight. But the city side were dismissed for 55 as Nicholls grabbed six for 19 in 10 overs.

There was an unusual dismissal in this game, Holton's experienced batsman Paul Farmery departing hit wicket for 19 to the bowling of Mike Savage – another senior statesman of Lincs League cricket.