Cricket: Last-ball six bags Grimsby victory amid a tense finale

ALL-ROUNDER Matthew Cocks hit a magnificent last-ball six to give Grimsby Town a one-wicket victory against Lindum at Augusta Street.

With both Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League sides struggling for batting form, it was somewhat inevitable that they would produce a low scoring thriller.

Town captain Neal Snell won the toss and invited Lindum to bat on a pitch which had been under covers for two days, due to heavy rain.

A tentative batting display saw the visitors dismissed for 156 in 49 overs.

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Opening batsmen Karanjit Bansal (31) and Will Wright (25) put on 47 for the first wicket but Town dropped Bansal twice when he was on 18.

Grimsby’s opening bowler, Carl Taylor, is performing well this season and, despite a sore groin, he shortened his run up and bowled 17 overs straight through.

Taylor finished with four for 43 and unsettled the Lindum batsmen with his awkward bounce.

Town, once again, bowled well as a unit. South African Johannes Diseko, bowling his left-arm spin, took a season’s best three for 32.

Only a determined 26 from wicketkeeper Richard Bishop ensured Lindum claimed a second batting point.

Grimsby were soon in trouble when they took to the crease – medium pacer Stuart Turner produced a fine opening spell, taking out Town’s top three and conceding only 25 in his 12 overs.

But unfortunately for the visitors, he injured his Achilles and was unable to take any further part in the game.

Lincolnshire batsman Jim Morgan batted positively for Grimsby, hitting 30 from 42 balls – including five fours.

Once he was bowled by Turner, youngsters Harry Warwick and Jack Wilson stabilised the innings and added 39 for the fourth wicket.

Town’s run rate suffered as off-spinner Bansal bowled 17 tidy overs to finish with three for 38.

He was fortunate to dismiss Wilson when the youngster hit a full toss to long-on, where Wright took a stunning catch, inches from the ground.

This brought Dan Wood to the wicket and his useful 20 increased the tempo as he and Warwick began to attack the bowling.

Wood was caught by Wright, again at long-on, off Bansal, but Warwick remained and completed a patient 50 off 101 balls.

He was disappointed to be dismissed by Luke Robinson who had him well caught by the excellent wicketkeeper Bishop.

Lindum captain Jon Miller had introduced Robinson as a ‘last throw of the dice’ and when he produced two wicket maidens and took three wickets in eight balls, it looked like a masterstroke.

The last over saw Town needing eight to win and Lindum needing one wicket to take the points.

By the final ball, Grimsby needed four runs to clinch victory.

Cocks had the final say, hitting a superb six over long-off to claim a much-needed 20 points for Grimsby.