OPENING bowler Pali took six wickets as Punjab Lions continued their winning start in division three of the John Pettit Grimsby and District Cricket League.

The Lions had already piled the pressure on opponents HLC Badgers with a stunning opening stand of 171 with Indy Hayre hitting 96 and Sangha 71no.

And the combination of supreme form with both bat and ball saw Lions thrash the inconsistent HLC Badgers with a winning margin of 156 runs.

The Lions batted first and set off in their now traditional high octane fashion through Hayre and Sangha.

They weren't separated until there were only three balls remaining in the innings.

Hayre tried to bring up his century in style but fell to a good catch by Steve Wright in the deep.

His 14 boundaries and one maximum had put the Lions in the driving seat and they closed on 177 for one.

Pali then set about the Badgers top order.

He removed four of their top five batsmen for ducks and finished with wonderful figures of 4-2-7-6.

With Girish (4-0-9-1) and Udi Sheikh (2.2-2-0-2) also contributing to the Badgers's parade of low scores, it required Howard to stick around for 11no to boost his sides total up to 21 all out in the fifteenth over.

Meanwhile over at HLC, Harvest Moon had elected to bat in their game against Cuxwold.

A very solid and consistent performance followed from the Moon's batsmen as Bentley (20) and Morgan (21) built the platform for Turner (19no) and Warnock (34no) to post a competitive 126 for three from 20 overs.

It was a welcome return to form for Warnock.

Turner then opened the bowling and was rewarded with figures of two for 26 as he removed both opening batsmen. Warnock also chipped in with two for 35 as he bagged both top scorers in T Bromley (26) and M Cooper (30).

The Moon bowling attack was well supported in the field with good catches from Turner (three), Board (two) and even one from Mark 'slap my hands' Hutchinson.

Bentley then bowled the last two batsmen to ensure he mopped up the entire tail and finish with a superb five-wicket haul for only 19 runs.

Elsewhere in division three, Rovers secured a comfortable 55-run victory over Bradley Old Boys – thanks in no small part to D Barker, who top-scored with 44 in a total of 118 for five before taking four for 17 as Bradley were dismissed for 51.

Division one has now been reduced to a six-team league following the mid-season withdrawal of Immingham Blossom Way.

It is a particular shame for some of the club's long-serving players like Parker, Marfleet and Fountain who have earned a crack at top-flight cricket over the years and may now have to wait a little longer to test themselves at the highest local level.

IBW's 2010 results have been expunged from the record books and the league table also reflects that.

In division one reigning champions Blossom Way OB crush a weakened Waltham Millers side by a massive 139 runs.

The victory was set up by a breathtaking opening stand of 179 by Danny Portus (119) and Rob Todd (64).

The Millers' attack was punished by some ferocious hitting as Portus launched seven maximums on his way to a life-time best midweek score.

BWOB closed on an enormous 206 for three from only 16 overs which was never realistically in the under-strength villager's sights.

R Sands showed plenty of fight in his 24no but that was the only highlight in a total of 67 for five.

G Tillison was the bowling pick with 4-2-6-1, ably supported by A Portus who returned 4-1-12-2.

The withdrawal of Immingham BW does mean that there will be no relegation from this year, something which will no doubt be a relief to the Millers as they can now play without the pressure of battling against the drop.

A superb individual performance by Chandika inspired One Medical 1st to victory over Old Clee at the Stamford Club.

Firstly he smashed 85 runs in a total of 163 for four, helped by 48no from Hawkins. He then followed that with an economical spell of one for 17 which helped restrict Old Clee to 137 for four.

Opener Hardy top scored with 55 and S Campbell chipped in with 47 but both good knocks proved to be in vain.

Grimsby Town Pumas continued their good start to the season with a nine-wicket home win over Willys.

The Pumas's opening bowlers Taylor (1 for 12) and White (1 for 15) kept things tight before Nick Gibbons took out the middle order returning 3 for 26.

A late 32no from R Woodward pushed the score onto a respectable, but still below par, total of 96 for 5.

The Pumas's reply suffered an early setback as bowling pick Foster (1 for 13) made an early breakthrough. However, this was where Willys's joy was to end as Crossley (58no) and Taylor (29no) guided their team home with 33 runs to spare

Another team to win by nine wickets were Emplex as they breezed past Wilkin Chapman BWT at their Healing HQ.

The hosts were invited to bat and found all the Emplex bowlers in economical mood.

Only C Robinson with 26 made any real headway and BWT closed on 76 for 6 from 16 overs.

That was a target that a team with the batting talent of Emplex would always find to be within their reach and so it proved as Coy (43) and Cocks (25no) dominated and reached the target within eight overs.

Phoenix 1 couldn't raise a side so the points were awarded to PO Milan 1st who remain the only unbeaten team in division two.

The first century of the season from Darren Gamwell saw Hendry Electricals defeat division four rivals Grainthorpe at the hospital ground.

Grainthorpe must have been confident after scoring 172 for three from 20 overs.

C Elvidge top-scored with 62 before falling to Gamwell (5-0-37-1), with notable contributions from P Burrell (47), M Palmer (16) and A Marsh (nine not out).

Smith (5-0-37-2) took two early wickets, including Lynch (15), for Grainthorpe but could do nothing to stop opener Gamwell who began to unleash his power.

Burrell (4.2-0-24-3) gave his side hope with crucial wickets but Gamwell stood firm and was unbeaten on 110 when Hendry won by three wickets with four balls to spare.

Tetney batted first against Westlands and, against his former club, Jack Harrison scored an impressive 75 before being bowled by Ken Meech (5-0-14-2).

S Ford took three for 44 from his five overs but, with Paul Shawcross making 30 before retiring, Tetney closed on 164 for eight.

Scott Hilton (5-0-25-2) claimed two early wickets in Westlands reply.

S Ford (17) and R Bell (27) staged a small recovery before they were both dismissed by Mark Fisher (2-0-9-2), while James McGregor (2.2-0-11-3) wrapped up the tail as Westlands were bowled out for 97 in the 20th over.

A consistently economical performance from all the Woodlands bowlers featuring no wides or no balls helped the Immingham side to an eight-wicket win over Crystal Millennium.

Nigel Walker (5-1-14-0) and Humphrey (5-0-16-1) kept the openers quiet with Mike Binns (15) and Andy Grainger (16) finding there were no poor balls to score from.

This trend continued through Bilton (5-0-15-1) and Paul Fannon (5-0-21-3) as Crystal closed on 69 for five, with Hardy unbeaten on 14.

Woodlands new recruit Tony Potter continued his good form and anchored the innings with 17 not out, while Johnny Leach top-scored with 22 and the winning runs were scored at the end of the 16th over.

Clee Vagabonds continue to lead division five after gaining a nine-wicket win over Crows Nest 1sts.

Simon Taylor (5-2-8-1) and Harness (5-1-13-2) put the Crows' on the back-foot with their early wickets.

Sam Would (5-1-20-2) nipped in with a brace of wickets, but Phil Rogers (5-1-29-5) took the bowling honours with a five-wicket haul which included the wicket of Jimmy Rock (27) as Crows Nest were bowled out for 81.

Fred Lumby (25) was the only Vagabond to fall as Dan Tolson (37no) and Craig Brown (six not out) saw their side home after 14 overs.

A spectacular high-scoring match between Phoenix 2nds and division six rivals CSSC Emplex took place at the hospital ground with the result decided off the last ball of the match.

Batting first, Phoenix posted a score of 189 for six in 20 overs.

Gareth Cook (84) was again in imperious form ably supported by Kev Harris (25), Jason Stead (26), Tim Tait (13no) and David Pears, whose brutal innings of 18 was terminated by a brilliant running one-handed catch by Bignell.

Chief wicket-taker for CSSC was Rushby with four for 54.

The CSSC reply was dominated by Karl Sykes (96) who was in the form of his life and, with three sixes and 13 fours, ensured the visitors were always up with the run rate.

He was cruelly denied a century by a good catch at deep long off by Cook.

Andy Dulieu (5-0-53-2) picked up the wickets of R Cook (10) and Bignell (23) which brought Jeff Hutchinson (27no) to the middle and, with his wise head on young shoulders, he hit the final ball for four with three needed for victory.

A good all-round display gave One Medical 2nds the spoils when they played host to Crows Nest 2nds.

Tom Brierley (5-0-20-2) made an early breakthrough for the Crows' but opener Hawkins went on to score 33.

Nick Southern (42 no) and Chris Horsefall (32 no) kept the momentum going as One Medical closed on 136 for three.

A run-out and three wickets for J Tye (5-0-14-3) left the Crows' in serious trouble.

Fellow new-ball bowler Josh Moore (4-0-17-2) bowled Dave Winslow for 18 and, with Shay Offiler (4-0-12-1) removing R Hopkins (11), Crows Nest were bowled out for 60 in the 18th over to give One Medical a 76-run win.

Healing RBL won their third successive game to move into second place in division seven when they defeated Huntsman Hotspurs.

The Hotspurs innings was dominated by a second-wicket stand between Kev Tilby (47 no) and Dave Chesman (36), while an unbeaten 11 from Lee Melin gave them a total of 104 for two.

Healing's openers Wright (52) and Bray (31) gave their side a bright start before a succession of run-outs left them floundering.

Scott steadied the ship with nine before he fell to Chesman (4.2-1-16-2) and two wickets for Rouse (3-0-18-2) left the game in the balance.

An unbeaten four from D Altoft gave Healing a three-wicket win, with four balls to spare.

Grimsby Institute were held to 64 for eight from their 18 overs by the league leaders 3Q.

Opener Michael top-scored for the visitors with 23 but good bowling from Jameson and Carr, who returned identical figures of 5-0-18-1, kept the shackles on.

Ellis made 10 before falling to Alien (4-0-12-2), while Vasey (4-0-16-2) also bagged a brace of wickets.

An obdurate 31 from 3Q opener Jason Moore set up his side's victory despite the efforts of Pete O'Conner (3-1-12-3) and Goodman (2-0-7-2).

Mumby (17no) and Carr (four not out) gave 3Q a four-wicket win in the 13th over.

Midweek honours

Division One to Three

Batting: Danny Portus, Blossom Way OB 119; Indy Hayre, Punjab Lions 96; Sangha, Punjab Lions 71no; Chandika, One Medical 1 85; Rob Todd, Blossom Way OB 64; Crossley, Grimsby Pumas 58no; Hardy, Old Clee 55.

Bowling: Pali, Punjab Lions 4-2-7-6; R Bentley, Harvest Moon 5-0-19-5.

Catches: Turner, Harvest Moon 3.

Division Four to Seven

Batting: D Gamwell, Hendry Electrical 110no; K Sykes, CSSC Emplex 96; G Cook, Phoenix 2 84; J Harrison, Tetney 75; C Elvidge, Grainthorpe 62; Wright, Healing RBL 52; K Tilby, Huntsman Hotspurs 47no; P Burrell, Grainthorpe 47; N Southern, One Medical 2 42no.

Bowling: P Rogers, Clee Vagabonds 5-1-29-5; Rushby, CSSC Emplex 5-0-54-4.

Catches: C Horsfall, One Medial 2 3.