RECORDS tumbled in the top flight of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League on a superb day of cricket action.

South Kelsey were on the receiving end of a record-breaking ninth wicket partnership as Barton Town's Billy Wright and Will Yates put on an unbeaten 81 – but the pair still finished on the losing side.

The partnership beat the 79 runs added by Louth duo J Reynolds and N Chesterton against Bracebridge Heath in 2002 and it completed a unique double for bowler Wright, who last season shared in division three's 10th wicket record while playing for the club's second team.

Kelsey's Chandi Wathukarage managed exactly 100 to top score in their 227 for seven, with Barton being contained to 186 for eight in reply.

More magnificent batting saw one of the league's longest-standing top-flight records smashed by a couple of Haxey batsmen.

Rob Young and Ollie Tonks added 246 runs for the fifth wicket against Appleby-Frodingham 2nds, comfortably overtaking the 1971 effort of 166 by Brian Christie and Geoff Plaskitt for Grimsby Town against Paper Mills.

Having made a poor start to the season, Haxey found themselves in some trouble against the bottom-placed Scunthorpe Steelmen at Brumby Hall, slumping to 27 for four after 17 overs.

However, that brought Young and Tonks to the crease and together they destroyed the App-Frod attack, compiling their unbeaten 246-run partnership in just 33 overs in a terrific team total of 273 for four in 50 overs.

In reply, Frod started well, reaching 102 for one in 30 overs, but then lost wickets steadily to be bowled out for 156, opener Vince Grimes – the former Scunthorpe United footballer – carrying his bat for an unbeaten 64.

For the Steelmen, Jack Forrester managed two for 65, while Haxey's top performers with the ball were Aaron Moody (four for 27) and Paul Bradley (two for 11).

Elsewhere, second-placed Caistor Town really needed to win at home to Bracebridge Heath 2nds, but the visitors secured victory with their last pair at the wicket.

Caistor's 200 for seven featured 59 from Sahan Wijerathne, 27 not out by Lewis Jefferson and 26 from Harry Boulton, as Paul Fletcher bagged five for 63.

For the visitors, opener Ryan Watson managed 60, Matt Turner 57 and Carl Stubbs 35 – but Ben Powell's unbeaten 12 at the end proved just as important. Caistor's best bowling figures were Jefferson's three for 47.

Messingham continue to look set to earn themselves the chance to take another crack at life in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, having, like Caistor, suffered relegation to the top-flight of the Lincolnshire county competition for 2010.

On Saturday, Messingham visited another of the title challengers, Cleethorpes 2nds, and returned from their day out at the seaside with 20 more points in the locker.

Messingham won the toss and captain Andy Langford elected to take first use of the Chichester Road strip, which proved a wise choice as they made 244 for eight. Highlights were 92 from Richard Dannatt and 63 from Cameron Fletcher, as Jack Harrison managed two for 62 and Indie Hayre two for 39.

The Meggies were bowled out for 210 in the 48th over, James Windeatt top scoring with 40 and skipper Paul Sunley making 37, as Andy Langford captured five for 56.

Given the strength-in-depth of Alkborough's batting, Scunthorpe Town knew they would need to post a competitive target on their visit to West Halton Lane – one of the league's northerly outposts.

However 203 for seven, in which Simon Kiddle made 92 and Liam Redmond 50 not out, did not prove enough, as John Knapton and James Barker made 44 apiece and Nigel Brown 37 not out. Alkborough's Steve Clay was the game's most effective bowler with four for 46.

Not a lot of people know it but Holton-le-Clay's inability to "Get Carter" cost them dearly in a 60-run defeat at home to leaders Cherry Willingham in division one.

Will Carter stroked his way to 102 not out in Cherry's 235 for seven, in 45 overs, Scott Coupland helping along the way with 43.

The home side replied with 175 for seven, in which Peter Thompson made 50 and Sam Ford 50 not out.

Lewis Gash (two for 43) was the only Holton bowler to manage more than a single wicket, while Graham Priestley took three for 38 for the visitors.

Cleethorpes 3rds visited London Road but were beaten by Louth 2nds, who have been showing improved form of late.

The Meggies posted 217 for seven, opener Ryan Harrison leading the way with 45 and Elliott Drinkell hitting 36, as Matthew Hamilton took two for 44.

Louth won with an over to spare and seven wickets remaining, Jason Collinson finishing 92 not out and Mark Duell scoring 45, despite the efforts of Jeff Todd (two for 42).

Alford are third following a three-wicket triumph away to mid-table Nettleham 2nds at Mulsanne Park.

Nettleham's all-out 154 included 41 not out – down the order – from Martin Connor, and 31 by Chris Smith.

Andrew White then played a captain's innings of 60 – supported by all-rounder 32 from Glyn James – as Alford took the lion's share of the points.

Mark Irving (three for 30) and James (three for 77) bowled well for the visitors, while Alexander Graham took four for 34 in Nettleham's attack.

With both teams in the upper echelon of the table, Outcasts and Broughton were expected to contest a close encounter – but visiting Broughton won by the wide margin of 84 runs.

Broughton were dismissed for 189 – Joe Wiley cracking 44 – as left-arm seamer Liam McAnaney bagged five for 34 and Jason Whiteley four for 41.

However, Paul Clark then got to work for the visitors, taking eight for 31, including five LBWs, to bowl Outcasts out for 105, of which Andy Torr made 30.

The Lincoln area derby saw Hykeham break their duck for the season with a 28-run win over Scothern.

Richard Johnson took six for 51 and Ian McGowan three for 28 as Scothern restricted Hykeham to 129 for nine, Mark Conyers hitting 56. But Richard Chester then grabbed five for 23 as Scothern were dismissed for 101.

Owmby moved into third place in division two by virtue of another good bowling display, seeing off Alkborough 2nds.

Visiting Alkborough saw their hopes of a win well and truly arrested by the Sheriff – Owmby's Ian Sheriff – who took six wickets for nine runs in 7.1 overs with his "slow loopers."

And that after skipper Kev Bowring introduced him as the fifth bowler in an inspired change!

It was a low-scoring game, Owmby's 131 for nine including 45 from Jamie Brumby, while no-one touched 20 for the visitors as they were bowled out for 85.

Earlier, A J Jenkins had managed four for 45 for Alkborough, and Rich Kirman two for 24 in a typically accurate spell of 18 overs.

When everything's going your way as captain and the side is tasting victory week after week, winning the toss and electing to bat is a very easy option.

And so it proved for Paul Rocks whose table-topping side Messingham 2nds rattled up 250 for five on their way to beating Caistor 2nds.

They got a good start from Ian Dawson (87) and fellow opener Matt Snee (36) before Matt Lawson added an undefeated 80.

Caistor were dismissed for 195 in the 41st over, skipper Dan Healy leading the way with 39 and Liam Wood scoring 36.

Wood was also Caistor's most effective wicket-taker with two for 21, while Paul Baxter claimed four for 45 in the home attack.

There's still no "1" in the wins column for bottom side Outcasts 2nds but they fell only 20 runs short while visiting Cleethorpes 4ths, who now move up to sixth.

The Meggies all-out 178 featured 63 from Bob Leafe, as John Wroot bagged five for 45. Outcasts were then dismissed for 158.

Division three leaders Stamford Homes recovered from a terrible start to comfortably win a high-scoring encounter at Hibaldstow.

The Grimsby title-chasers were keen to take advantage of an excellent batting surface, but three of their top four batsmen made ducks.

Unfortunately for the home side, however, they could not dislodge Mick Hanson, batting at three, who played some fine shots all round the ground – at a decent scoring rate.

He enjoyed a particularly profitable middle-order partnership with Indie Sandhu (35) and it seemed only a matter of time before Mick reached what would have been a well-deserved century.

However, on 89, he tried one pull shot too many against wily left-arm seamer Gary Dixon and skied a catch to keeper Chris Nash.

Stamford's tail wagged to very good effect, Dave Laister, batting at eight, contributing a breezy, unbeaten 53 and Andreas Xiarchos depositing a huge six onto the upper branches of the tallest tree on the ground during a handy 17.

Having allowed the visitors to post an impressive 236 for eight, Hibaldstow were left to reflect on some costly dropped catches, Dixon finishing with four for 80 and Simon Pullen with two for 36. Suffering more than anyone from the missed chances in the field, however, was skipper Mark Nicholson, who went wicketless after a decent containing spell of spin towards the end of the innings.

Starting they response, Hibaldstow also lost a couple of early wickets – but Lee Robinson steadied things with a handy 31 and opener Jerry Thomas took advantage of anything off line to help himself to an impressive 76.

However, the support batting Jerry needed at the other end was not really there and Mick Barton returned for a second, decisive spell to polish off the innings at 172.

He returned the fine figures of five for 28 in 11.2 overs on a very batsman-friendly surface.

Hanson, meanwhile, completed a good all-round match with a return of two for 51.

Keelby – hot on Stamford's heels with games in hand – won by nine wickets at Immingham Blossom Way.

Opener Ady Schrimshaw's 36 was as good as it got with the bat for Immingham, who were dismissed for 131, Gary Spencer taking five for 34.

Keelby came very close to inflicting the 10-wicket whitewash, but Jamie Fountain joined the attack to claim a wicket with only five runs needed for victory, Wright making 64 and opening partner Robson 50 not out.

Washingborough have done pretty well this season since gaining promotion but tasted defeat at Marsh Lane, despite making a decent enough 203 for nine, which included 67 from James Sewell.

Barton 2nds were in no mood to hang about, securing their five-wicket win with 10 overs to spare.

The game's top bowler was Dean Cressey, the Barton slow man, with five for 48.

Cherry Willingham 2nds seem to have an uncanny ability to stay just clear of the relegation zone in division three, and that was demonstrated again by Saturday's home win over Scunthorpe Town 2nds, who are second-from-bottom.

Cherry's 125 for nine was a small total to defend, but they did so by bowling out the visitors for 100.

There was a noticeable bowling performance on each side, Josh Pashley taking five for 34 for Scunthorpe and Jamie Burnett six for 40 for the Cherrymen.

Broughton 2nds – entertaining bottom side Holton-le-Clay 2nds – made short work of the job, bowling out the visitors for 54 inside 18 overs, Danny Thompson leading the way with four for 23.

Broughton took less than 12 overs to reach their target, Dave Jones being undefeated on 36 at the close.

Ernie Allison's Caistor Town 3rds continue to be real division four promotion candidates, giving a workmanlike performance to win comfortably away to Brigg Town at the Recreation Ground.

Bottom-placed Brigg's all-out 122 featured 55 at the top of the order from Dylan Hildreth, who very nearly carried his bat before being the ninth man dismissed.

An opening stand of 86 immediately after tea meant Caistor were virtually assured of victory, but Brigg managed to take three wickets to earn the consolation of a bowling bonus point in their efforts to stave off having to seek re-election at the end of the season.

The McKittons played cat and mouse with Brigg throughout the afternoon, Terry taking five for 18 in 10 overs and Ryan making 58.

Caistor are second in the table – just above Old Lincolnians, who lost at home to leaders South Kelsey 2nds.

Old Lincs did not do well enough with the bat, being dismissed for 127 (Matt Thompson five for 74), Rob Dennis cracking an unbeaten 32 in Kelsey's pursuit of a moderate target.

In a mid-table encounter, Hykeham 2nds suffered a two-wicket reverse at home to Morton, for whom Chris Leonard had a fine all-round match.

Russ Bonner led the way with 49 in Hykeham's all-out 168, as Leonard claimed five for 40.

Morton were then indebted to the efforts of Chris Butroid (45) and that man Leonard (28) for inching over the line.

Veteran spinner Udi Sheikh claimed five for 24 as Keelby 2nds won their home game with Scunthorpe Town 3rds – a result which keeps Keelby clear of the re-election zone but leaves Town in trouble.

Keelby posted 219 for nine – Jeremy Slater managing 46, Andy Sharp 38 and Dan Mawer 37. Scunthorpe made a reasonable start but then fell away to 93 all-out.

Market Rasen 2nds are second-from-bottom, their latest outing ending in a 33-run defeat at fourth-in-the-table Alford 2nds.

High spots in Alford's 210 for four were 61 by Kev White and 41 not out from Harry McHamilton.

Jack Wightwick then took three for 25 as Rasen were bowled out for 177, Darren Salmon scoring 43 and Rob Chamberlin 42.

East Halton inched home by two wickets in a East Yorks Alliance division two game at Kirkella 2nds.

The North Lincs villagers bowled out their hosts for 195, Stuart Davidson taking four for 59 and Shed Backhouse three for 23.

After 44 from opener Nigel Godfrey, Adrian Jack (82 not out) saw Halton home, despite wickets tumbling regularly as the target came within sight.

Brigg Town 2nds' division three championship aspirations were dealt a blow when they lost at arch-rivals Bransholme and Kingswood.

The Hull side managed 138 all-out in 28 overs, but Brigg were dismissed for 33 in reply.