Cleethorpes put in a spin as batsmen falter at home

CLEETHORPES slipped to a third straight Yorkshire ECB Premier League defeat at a baking Chichester Road – Doncaster exposed the home side's inability to cope with a strong spin attack to win by 67 runs.

The visitors had no hesitation in deciding to bat first, with Andy Ellis returning in place of Phil Hutchinson as he and Graham Hume opened the attack for Meggies.

South African Hume immediately found pace and bounce, beating Cox's outside edge with all six deliveries of a fine opening over.

He finally got reward when Indy Hayre took a stunning diving catch at gulley in the sixth over, with Ellis removing Guy to a loose drive with Fred Lumby snapping up a simple chance.

Ex-Yorkshire opener, Simon Widdup, played the anchor role for Doncaster, but was able to pounce on anything over-pitched as he reached fifty in 78 balls.

He added 61 with Stuart for the third-wicket but, just as the pair threatened to break free, Stuart departed – top-edging a premeditated sweep at James Keast to offer an easy catch to brother Tom behind the stumps.

Australian Nick Wright played aggressively, striking 30 in 35 balls as he added 59 for the fourth-wicket, before playing over the top of an Alex Osmond delivery

However, Doncaster never completely broke the shackles as they struggled to take the run-rate over four an over, despite the lightning quick outfield.

Widdup stepped on the gas in the later overs and went to a deserved hundred in 122 balls.

Hume returned late in the innings and struck three times in the final over, including Widdup for a brilliant 136, to complete his first five- wicket haul of the campaign.

He finished with five for 48 as Doncaster closed on a challenging 238 for eight in their 55 overs.

Cleethorpes began their reply in confident manner with Rory Osmond and Indy Hayre striking eight boundaries between them as they added 42 for the first-wicket.

The introduction of spin pegged the Meggies back as first Hayre edged a bouncing Jackson delivery to first slip for 19, and Osmond edged leg spinner Knowles behind for 26 as the home side slipped to 48 for two.

Skipper Alex Osmond crashed two early boundaries, but departed soon after as Gosney took a superb catch at mid-on.

With Cleethorpes needing to rebuild, Yaniv Judah and Tom Keast added 59 in seventeen overs for the fourth-wicket to give them hope.

Both played patiently with some good running and, with 120 required off the final 20 overs, the game was in the balance.

Knowles struck for the third time, removing Judah (40) to a sharp catch at first slip and, after Keast had stroked a composed 34, offered up a simple caught and bowled to Widdup as the Doncaster spinners took a stranglehold on the game.

With the rate above seven an over, the Meggies' lower order offered little resistance with only Paul Sunley hitting 14 as they collapsed to 171 all out.

Knowles finished with a five-wicket haul as Cleethorpes must quickly learn how negotiate pitches that offer both turn and bounce if they are to drag themselves up the league table.