LOUTH beat Caistor by 32 runs in almost a carbon copy of last week's game to earn a place in the second semi-final of the Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out.

They will play Fenner, who had beaten Nettleham by 27 runs after also batting first and racking up a challenging total.

Louth won the toss and got off to a flyer, putting 46 on the board after four overs.

During this period they lost Jonathan Darke, stumped off Lewis Jefferson for 11, in which he hit the first six of the night.

And in the fifth over, Graeme Bell was bowled by Sahan Wijerathne for 22.

In his next over, the Sri Lankan dismissed Stewart West and the run rate slowed despite the efforts of Seth Rance and Mark Roberts, Rance hitting 23 off 25 balls, which included one six.

At the end of 12 overs, Caistor had restricted their opponents to 98 for six but then the runs began to flow, Ian Williams making 27 off 19 balls with two sixes before being caught off Nick Warmoth.

And when Williams went with 13 balls of the innings to go, wicket-keeper Laurence Scott took over, blazing away with three sixes and two fours on his way to an unbeaten 38 that helped Louth to 158 for eight at the close.

Caistor's reply started slightly more slowly after Peter Briggs was caught off Bell with only five scored. But Harry Boulton and Wijerathne took charge and after five overs, Caistor had 50 on the board.

Boulton was bowled by West for 18 and was followed shortly afterwards by Wijerathne, who had hit a quickfire 27 off 18 balls with four fours.

However, Jim Parker and Mark Gowshall added 49 and after 12 overs, Caistor were ahead of the run rate on 114 for four.

But three wickets in two overs from Roberts turned the game, Gowshall first to fall to an excellent catch by Joe Irving for 29, which came off 21 balls with a six and four fours.

Irving himself then claimed a wicket before Roberts dismissed Parker for 18 and bowled Gareth Johnson in successive balls in his next over.

This made it 122 for seven and Rance's return to the attack finished Caistor's innings on 126 as the New Zealander took three wickets in four balls while Roberts ended with three for 11.

Wijerathne's innings, his four wickets and a catch in the field earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Next week's game is the postponed fixture between Cleethorpes and Messingham, the winners going on to play Grimsby Town in the first semi-final the following week. Fenner and Louth then play on July 19 with the final on 26.