TWO super, high-scoring semi-finals were played out on Sunday in the George Marshall Trophy – the senior knockout competition organised by the Lincolnshire County Cricket League.

Four premier league teams were involved and the batsmen did their level best to entertain the spectators.

Caistor won at home to Barton Town, while Alkborough triumphed on their trip to Bracebridge Heath 2nds.

Caistor totalled 249 for three in their 45 overs, Pete Briggs cracking 84 and Harry Boulton 71 – sharing an opening stand of 131.

In Barton's reply of 241 for seven, Paul Bell managed 55 and Chris Kipling 81.

Meanwhile, Alkborough hit 255 for seven and Bracebridge replied with 241 for seven.

The George Marshall Trophy final between Caistor and Alkborough will be on Sunday, August 29 at Grimsby Town's Augusta Street ground.

The final of the junior knockout, the Bob Welton Cup, will be on Sunday, August 22 at Alkborough's West Halton Lane ground, where Cleethorpes 3rds will meet Messingham 2nds.

With overseas star Sahan Wijerathne in good all-round form, Caistor Town's premier division title challenge was bolstered by a 40-run win at Cleethorpes 2nds.

Caistor's 229 for eight was probably a par score at Chichester Road, Wijerathne making 93, Harry Boulton 40 and Mark Gowshall 32.

Top wicket-takers for the Meggies proved to be captain Paul Sunley (three for 79) and Inderjit Hayre (four for 30).

Clee were given a solid base by openers Nathan Judah and Callum Robinson, who both scored 36.

Patrick Hughes added 64 in the middle-order, but that was as good as it got for the Meggies who were dismissed for 189 in the 46th over.

Tom Boryszscuk proved to be Caistor's top man with the ball, finishing with five for 63, while Wijerathne managed three for 57 – both from 16 overs.

Barton Town, who entertain hopes of gaining promotion to the ECB Premier, enjoyed a decent win at mid-table Haxey.

The villagers were delighted to remove Barton's on-song Aussie opener Simon McInerney for only 12, caught by Jon Stanser, off the bowling of Rob Young.

However, after the entire top order had missed out, Paul Bell (64) and Will Yates 36 not out contributed significantly to a good, late fightback, allowing Town to reach 208 for nine.

Haxey's reply began well, with 41 from opener Tom Wraith, but fell away to 176 for eight.

Young proved Haxey's top man with the ball, managing four for 64, while Barton slow bowler Dean Cressey took the eye with five for 33.

In division one, Holton-le-Clay's home win over near-neighbours Cleethorpes 3rds was an important one for the villagers, who stay above the danger zone – while the Meggies find themselves in deeper trouble.

Invited to bat first on their own Tetney Lane strip, Holton made a decent 193 for four, the highlight being 55 from all-rounder Ian Bellamy – against one of his former teams.

Sam Ford also played his part with an undefeated 39.

The Meggies' bowling was not particularly penetrative, but Stuart Harvey managed one for 61 in 16 tidy overs.

It was totally different when Holton took to the field, however, as they dismissed Cleethorpes for 50, Danny Portus bagging four for 13, Peter Thompson two for six, Ian Hallam two for seven and Bellamy two for 23.

Reports from all divisions on our website at sportgrimsby.co.uk/cricket

Bottom side Nettleham 2nds were beaten by three wickets when Louth 2nds visited Mulsanne Park, but nevertheless collected eight useful bonus points.

Laurence Scott's good season with the bat continued for Louth, the opener hitting 85 in his side's 232 for seven, in which Dean Jacklin scored 56, as Danny Lea took two for 48 in his permitted 12 overs.

Nettleham lost both openers cheaply but mounted a decent reply of 201 for nine, Ash Graham finishing 84 not out, Jack Curtis making 39 and skipper Martin Strawson 32.

Martin's opposite number, Lee Freeman, claimed three for 27 for the visitors, while all-rounder Jacklin capped a good day with a return of three for 38.

Outcasts' Tom Sharpe bowled his heart out for the Isle of Axholme side with career-best figures of seven for 30 as Scothern were dismissed for 105, Jason Whiteley chipping in with three for 20.

But the home side's batting then let them down badly as they were dismissed for 63, Ian McGowan taking five for 25 and Richard Johnson five for 13 for the visitors to Hirst Priory.

In a game which produced few notable innings, James Drabble scored 23 for Scothern and team-mates Nathan Pearse and McGowan 22 apiece.

In division two, an inspired bowling spell helped keep Market Rasen in the hunt for promotion with a comfortable seven-wicket victory at Alkborough 2nds.

It came from seamer Simon Bunn, who sent down 20.3 overs, half of which were maidens, to grab seven for 40 as the home side were dismissed for 121.

Opening partner Dan Norburn supported him well, in two spells, with three for 27.

The pitch offered little or no help to the accurate bowlers, who were assisted by some good Rasen fielding, Andy Richley taking two catches in the slips and keeper Mark Robinson effecting a lightning stumping to end an entertaining late-order 17 from Ollie Kirman, which was the second-best score.

Alkborough's experienced opener, Neil Gray, played the sheet anchor role to compile a very watchful 46, which was the main reason for his team lasting into the 41st over and setting Rasen some sort of target.

The home side desperately needed to make early inroads after tea but failed to do so, Dean Richards (46) and Jon Stephenson (42) compiling an opening stand of 93.

Simon Leak joined the attack as first change bowler and dismissed both openers in fairly quick succession to finish with two for 32.

Then a run-out saw Alkborough add a bowling bonus point to the solitary one gained for batting – but Rasen secured victory in the 31st over without further loss.

Caistor 2nds are having a pretty good summer and secured a five-wicket home win over lowly Outcasts 2nds.

The Isle of Axholme villagers – fresh from their first league win of the season – found the bowling of home skipper Dan Healy too hot to handle.

He took six for 10 in Outcasts' all-out 85 – insufficient as a target at Brigg Road – and later made 24 not out.

Caistor keeper Gareth Johnson managed a catch and three stumpings.

The ever-changing story at the top of the table in division three took another twist as, with leaders Stamford Homes not in action, Keelby won at Scunthorpe Town 2nds to unseat them yet again.

Scunthorpe, who are not having a particularly good campaign, posted a competitive 212 for nine at Heslam Park, Gary Spencer bagging five for 47.

However, despite conceding more runs than they would have liked, Keelby rose to the challenge, winning by seven wickets, Andy Bagnall finishing 79 not out and Sanjay Chauhan making 62.

Broughton 2nds remain in the relegation dogfight after a disappointing derby defeat at the hands of visiting Hibaldstow, who could yet finish in the top two.

Put in to bat, Hibaldstow managed 201 for nine, Jon Taylor scoring 58 and skipper Mark Nicholson 53, as Andy Hillyard bagged four for 22.

But only three batsmen reached double figures as Broughton were dismissed for 57 in 20 overs, Simon Pullan leading the way with five for 20 and Josh Cowling taking two for seven.

Nick Beatty's undefeated 50 in a total of 146 for nine was the highlight of lowly Cherry Willingham 2nds' defeat at Washingborough, who went on to secure an eight-wicket success.

In division four, leaders Old Lincolnians turned in yet another workmanlike display, defeating second-from-bottom visitors Scunthorpe Town 3rds by eight wickets.

The margin was exactly what the form book might have suggested.

Scunthorpe were bowled out for 139, Tim Foster's 37 being the only score of real note, as Luke Jelly managed three for 29, Dan Hill three for 16 and Lincs League secretary Mick Savage three for 28.

Joey Walukiewicz (64 not out) and Dave Hill (39 not out) then compiled an unbeaten partnership of exactly 100 to guide their side home to victory.

It was derby day out in the Wolds – with a vital match at the picturesque former Nettleton Mines ground between promotion-chasing sides South Kelsey 2nds and Caistor 3rds.

Bolstered by a five for 14 return from Connor Hawking, Tony Potter's Kelsey secured a six-wicket win against Ernie Allison's visitors – Caistor's all-out 102 (McKitton 60) proving disappointing.

Bottom side Brigg Town failed with the bat and failed to take any points from their defeat at Keelby 2nds.

Brigg were skittled for 46 in 24 overs, the wickets being shared by Mark Wade (five for 24) and Rich McLellan (five for 17).

Visiting skipper Dyan Hildreth took an early wicket after tea but that was Brigg's solitary success, as Andy Sharp finished 25 not out against one of his former teams.

With inspirational skipper Andy Richley called up for first team duty, Market Rasen 2nds might have been expected to struggle a little in their mid-table match with Morton.

But, inspired by Johnny Purkiss, they stormed to an excellent four-wicket win.

French won the toss and the Rasen attack, led by Purkiss' 5 for 32, never let Morton get away and build the total they would have wanted. Purkiss was backed up by some fine fielding as well as keen bowling at the other end, particularly from Paul Bett (three for 34). With Aaron Wells and George Fussey also turning in searching spells with the leather, Morton were dismissed for 166 in only the 38th over. With 51 overs to chase down the target, Rasen's openers might have been expected to take their time. But George Fussey (30) and Aaron Wells (29) attacked from the off, flaying the ball to all parts of Rase Park, putting on 47 in only eight overs.

The demise of Wells and Shaun French with the score on 68 put the game back in the melting pot, only for Rob Chamberlin (25) and Jonny Purkiss (61 not out) to put on 66 for the fourth wicket to take the game away from Morton.

Purkiss shrugged off the loss of Chamberlin to continue his one-man crusade against the visitors from Gainsborough and led Rasen to a comfortable success.

Alford's ground has proved something of a batsman's paradise this season – but last Saturday proved an exception as the bowlers dominated proceedings.

Having one of their best seasons for some time, Alford 2nds comfortably beat visiting Hykeham 2nds, who remain just clear of the re-election zone.

Alford were bowled out for 138, in which Kev White hit 35 and Richard Smith 23, with Rob Buckley claiming three for 49.

Hykeham were then dismissed for 56, Aaron Wilkinson bagging six for 12 and experienced all-rounder White two for 15.