TROPHY holders Messingham return to Augusta Street tonight for the first semi-final of the Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out having crushed Cleethorpes in their opening fixture.

Grimsby Town are the opponents and, having put out the Grimsby Institute representative side a month ago, the host club are keen to get back into the action and prove that they are getting to grips with the shorter version of the game.

The highlight of their first game was an unbeaten 66 off 39 balls from Grimsby skipper Richard Antcliffe while on the bowling front, Gary Tillison bagged four wickets.

Since that first match, Neal Snell has also been in fine form with the bat in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League and should Appleby-Frodingham batsman Jaco Scholtz be available again, Grimsby will field a strong batting line-up.

Messingham, currently top of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League, will be without Barton's overseas player Simon McInerney, who hit 44 last week.

But they are likely to have Lincolnshire all-rounder Brett Houston playing alongside fellow Bracebridge Heath team-mate Jason Scheepers, who made 24 not out off 13 balls to help win the previous match.

And the Scunthorpe side will also be looking for more magic with the ball from David Langford, who took six for 12 against Cleethorpes.

This season's competition has seen more than 20 sixes scored while the total of fours is already well over 80 and with three matches to go, more spectacular shots are promised.

The semi-final starts at 6.15pm and all spectators are welcome at Augusta Street.