Knockout feed - This is Grimsby

Big hitters are all set for the 2010 Knock Out final

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:00:00 GMT

AN action-packed game is promised tonight as the 2010 Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out reaches its climax.

Holders Messingham will be defending their title against a rejuvenated Fenner side who have crossed the river every summer for seven years with the aim of reaching this stage of the competition and have finally achieved their goal.

Both sides have some big-hitting guest players – Jason Scheepers, Jacob Thorne and Lee Brocklebank will be turning out once again for Lincolnshire County Cricket League leaders Messingham.

Barton batsman Simon McInerney, who was instrumental in the Scunthorpe side's first-round victory but missed the semi-final, returns for this match.

Fenner have stuck with their own players for the first two rounds but with three of their number missing, the Hull side - who play in the top division of the York Senior League - have brought in Andy Simpson, the Hull-based player who is now making an impact with the bat for Scarborough in the Yorkshire League.

Ross Davy, Fenner's hero of the semi-final, is back for a third time as are Dominic Rhodes and former Gloucestershire player Steve Sergeant.

For Messingham, David and Andy Langford and Danny Rands will be looking to repeat their successes with the ball.

As the final date has been delayed by two weeks because of the weather, with the resulting reduction in light, both sides are aiming to arrive for a 6pm start.

Messingham: Andy Langford (capt), Jason Scheepers, Cameron Fletcher (wk), Dave Dawson, Jake Thorne, Lee Brocklebank, Jamie Belton, Kieron Lindley, David Langford, Danny Rands, Simon McInerney, Richard Dannatt.

Fenner: Jon Park (capt), Alan Darcy, Mike Cooke (wk), Phil Daniels, Ross Davy, Steve Sergeant, Dominic Rhodes, Andrew Simpson, Mike Arundell, Graham Williamson, Joe Elliott.

Grimsby Town handed a Knock Out blow by Messingham

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:00:00 GMT

FOR the second year in succession two teams from outside the area will compete for the Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out trophy.

After the second semi-final produced the highest scoring game of the competition so far, Grimsby Town lost out to holders Messingham at Augusta Street.

Town set Messingham a huge total of 185 off their 16 eight-ball overs, only to see their opponents claim victory with more than an over to spare after spectators had been treated to some huge hits – 13 sixes and 30 fours.

Messingham won the toss and decided to field, scoring early success when Andy Langford caught and bowled Richard Antcliffe.

Steve Crossley was caught off Danny Rands but Neal Snell and Jaco Scholtz shared 53 before the latter was caught by K Keiran Lindley off Jacob Thorne for 30.

Dammika Gunawardena joined Snell, who after a further stand of 52, was finally bowled by Rands for 74 which he hit off 65 balls, Harry Warwick and Gunawardena took Grimsby to 185 for five at the close, the Sir Lankan making 48 off just 21 balls.

Messingham's chase began with Thorne going out to open with Jason Scheepers, who was bowled by Lee Charlton.

Charlton dismissed Cameran Fletcher, stumped by Crossley. And after Dave Dawson exited after putting on 30 with Thorne, the latter added 103 with knock out stalwart Lee Brocklebank in just six overs.

Gary Tillison bowled man-of-the-match Thorne for 81, but Brocklebank went on to make an unbeaten 61 as he and Langford saw Messingham to a six wicket victory with 14 balls to spare.

Messingham will play Fenner in the final next Monday.

Grimsby and Messingham to contest Knock Out semi-final

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:00:00 GMT

GRIMSBY and Messingham will make a second attempt to play their Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out semi-final tonight having last week seen Fenner race to victory over Louth and reach the final.

Trophy holders Messingham crushed Cleethorpes in their opening fixture while Grimsby, keen to show they are getting to grips with the shorter version of the game, put out the Grimsby Institute representative side.

The highlight of their first-round game was an unbeaten 66 off 39 balls from Grimsby skipper Richard Antcliffe, while on the bowling front Gary Tillison, who is in good form in the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, bagged four wickets.

Wicketkeeper Steve Crossley hit 61 for Lincolnshire Under-17s in their recent match against Cambridgeshire at Sleaford.

Messingham would have included Brett Houston in their side but the Bracebridge Heath player is unavailable this week.

His teammate Jason Scheepers, however, who made 24 not out off 13 balls to help win the previous match, is expected to return. The Scunthorpe side will also be looking for magic with the ball from David Langford, who took six for 12 against Cleethorpes.

This season's competition has seen more than two-dozen sixes scored while the fours total is almost 100. With two matches to go, more spectacular shots are surely in store.

The semi-final, at Augusta Street, starts at 6.15pm. Spectators are welcome.

Louth miss out on place in Knock Out final after defeat to Fenner

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:00:00 GMT

LOUTH missed out on a place in the final of the Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out after defeat to a Ross Davy-inspired Fenner.

Man-of-the-match Davy put in a sparkling display, hitting an unbeaten 61 and then taking three Louth wickets, two of them in two balls.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Fenner lost former Gloucestershire player Steve Sergeant, bowled by Seth Rance, with only 14 on the board.

The second wicket fell to Stewart West on 35 but from there, Fenner gradually upped the run rate per over, Davy and Dominic Rhodes putting on 42 before Rhodes was caught off Mark Roberts.

Rory Osmond and Graeme Bell each chipped in with a wicket but the last four overs produced 40 runs as Fenner finished on 140 for five, Davy's 61 coming off 58 balls with six fours.

Sergeant then struck in his first over, trapping Bell lbw and Rhodes' first over brought the wicket of Morgan, out to a sharp catch by wicketkeeper Mike Cooke.

But after four overs Louth were just ahead of the run rate and continued to push the score along until, on 47 for three, Davy came into the attack to take two wickets with his first two balls.

Graham West was still at the crease and he and Jason Collinson took Louth to 70 before West was caught on the boundary by Danny Parker off Davy for 25.

From here wickets fell steadily, Luke Robinson taking two and Sergeant making the final dismissal as Louth were all out for 87.

Davy finished with three for 21 off 24 balls and was presented with the man-of-the-match award by Chris Broadburn on behalf of sponsors E A Broadburn Chemists.

Fenner will now play the winners of the other semi-final between Grimsby Town and Messingham next week, with the final taking place on August 2.

Louth upbeat ahead of big Knock-Out semi-final against Fenner

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:00:00 GMT

TONIGHT'S Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out semi-final brings together the two highest-scoring teams in this season's competition.

Louth play Fenner at Augusta Street (6.15pm) in a re-run of one of last year's first round matches – which Louth won after an exciting finish.

This year, both have been on top form.

Louth hit 158 runs in their first round match and beat Caistor by 32 runs, while Fenner rattled up 177 in their 27-run victory over Nettleham.

The run makers from that match – Steve Sergeant, Ross Davy and Dominic Rhodes – will line up against Louth, but Fenner will be missing bowler Jason Hellwig who took three wickets.

This is Fenner's seventh year in the Knock Out and the York Senior League side have set their sights on a place in the final.

However, Louth, whose fortunes in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League have taken a turn for the better, also have a strong line-up that includes Seth Rance.

He hit 23 runs and took three wickets in their earlier match.

Mark Roberts is another to watch – he took two wickets in one over to turn the game for Louth.

One absentee for the semi-final is big-hitting Ian Williams but, in his place, Louth will welcome back Graham West. They also hope to have Laurence Scott available, who top-scored in the first round match with a quickfire 38.

Fenner: Jon Park (c), Steve Sergeant, Mike Cooke (wk), Phil Daniels, Ross Davy, Alan Darcy, Luke Robinson, Ian Pratt, Danny Parker, Dominic Rhodes, Mike Arundell.

Louth (from): Graeme Bell (c), Seth Rance, Graham West, Stewart West, Jim Morgan, Mark Roberts, Matthew Crowther, Rory Osmond, Jonathan Darke, Joe Irving, Matthew Hamilton, Jason Collinson, Dale Chambers, Laurence Scott.

It's holders versus hosts for a place in the KO final

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:00:00 GMT

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.

Meggies' trophy chances receive Knock Out blow

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:00 GMT

MESSINGHAM romped home by 10 wickets against Cleethorpes in one of the shortest matches seen in the Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out for some years.

Having won the toss, the Scunthorpe side invited their opponents to bat, the Meggies starting steadily with Ed Carlton and Peter Fulton at the crease and Andy Langford and Danny Rands bowling.

After three overs, Cleethorpes had 25 on the board but in the next over, Rands trapped Carlton lbw.

This brought Bill Kirby to the crease and he and Fulton took the total to 43 before Fulton fell to a good catch by Tom McDougall off Rands, having hit 24 off 20 balls.

Jake Thorne took over from Rands and his first over brought another wicket, Yannif Judah caught behind by Cameron Fletcher to make it 57 for three at the half way stage, with no hint of what was to come.

Then Messingham introduced David Langford to the attack and the Cleethorpes innings collapsed. Langford's first over brought two wickets, Kirby caught behind for 20 and James Windeatt, well caught by Simon McInerney.

Langford's second over was even more devastating, sending three more batsmen back in the pavilion, one of whom skied a shot that the bowler caught.

And when Thorne struck again in his third over, it was left to Langford to take the final wicket as Cleethorpes were all out for 79 with three overs of the 16 still to be bowled.

Rands took two for 18 and Thorne two for 14, both off three overs, while Langford finished with six for 12 off just 21 balls.

McInerney and Jason Scheepers then opened for Messingham and made short work of the total, McInerney hitting 44 off 35 balls with one six and seven fours and Scheepers blasting 24 off 13 balls with a six and three fours, the winning runs coming in only the sixth over of the innings.

Langford's bowling performance earned him the Man of the Match award, which was presented by Grimsby Institute Executive Director Hugh Callaway.

Messingham are back at Augusta Street next week for their semi-final match against Grimsby Town.

Sri Lankan Sahan stars for Caistor CC but Louth go through to semi-finals

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 08:00:00 GMT

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.

Louth to face Caistor for a place in semis

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:00:00 GMT

FENNER and Nettleham showed the way – and tonight neighbours Louth and Caistor will hope to follow their big-hitting example when they make their first appearances in the Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out.

Louth, who are gradually climbing the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League table having overcome a poor start to the season, won an exciting match in last year's competition to progress to the second round and this evening sees the return of bowler Jonathan Darke, who was one of the heroes of that match.

Louth will be without Arran Brindle, who is recovering from a broken thumb, and will be led by Graeme Bell.

Among the players are opener Matthew Crowther and up-and-coming youngster Joe Irving, while a new face is Seth Rance, over here from New Zealand as Louth's overseas player for 2010.

Rance has slowly increased his haul of wickets since his arrival culminating in a "five-for" in Louth's surprise defeat of league leaders Bracebridge Heath.

At Caistor, Sri Lankan Sahan Wijerathne has returned for a second year, this time as vice-captain to Peter Briggs, and is the mainstay of a side that is fighting for an instant return to the ECB Premier League after being demoted at the end of 2009.

In the last two weeks, Wijerathne has hit 70 in the league and a century in the George Marshall Cup as well as contributing with the ball.

Alongside him are some more familiar knock-out names including James France, Paul Dimbleby, Harry Boulton and Mark Gowshall. And keeping wicket for Caistor is Nick Dobbs, son of the former county wicketkeeper Nigel.

The match starts at 6.15pm and the winners will go through to play Fenner in the semi-final on July 19.

Louth: G Bell (captain), S Rance, J Irving, M Hamilton, J Darke, J Collinson, D Chambers, Z Ahmed, J Medler, L Scott, M Roberts.

Caistor: from P Briggs (capt), S Wijerathne, H Boulton, J France, R Farrow, M Gowshall, S Indian, L Jefferson, J Smith, N Warmoth, L Wood, J Parker, N Dobbs, T Borysczcuk.

Man-of-the-match Will Rhodes seals semi-final place for Fenner

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:00:00 GMT

UNTIL this season Fenner and Nettleham had never met in the Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out – but their first fixture produced an action-packed match that saw almost 330 runs scored.

Nettleham won the toss and invited their Hull opponents to bat.

And in the first over Fenner skipper Craig Denby gave notice of what was to come when Jack Bayliss' fourth ball went for six.

Denby opened with Steve Sergeant but went soon after his first big hit, bowled by 15-year-old Alex Graham with the first ball of his spell.

This left Fenner nine for one and when Bayliss had Yorkshire Under-15 batsman Will Rhodes caught by Tom Dalton, the score was 27 for two.

But Will was replaced by brother Dominic, who hit a quick-fire 45 off just 17 balls, including five fours and three sixes in consecutive balls before being caught behind off Dalton.

Sergeant and Rhodes had put on 49 in just three overs before Ross Davy joined Sergeant to add another 51 before Paul Cook joined the attack to slow the run rate and dismiss the opener for 47.

Cook took his second wicket in the same over and went on to finish with three for 28 as Fenner reached 177 for seven at the close, Davy unbeaten on 50.

Warren Nel and Russ Binnington set off in hot pursuit, putting on 45 off the first four overs before Nel fell to Will Rhodes for 18.

Binnington was next to go, bowled by Dominic Rhodes for 31 which he hit off 23 balls with five fours.

This made it 56 for two but Nettleham were still well up with the run rate and after the third wicket fell on 68, James Stevens joined Matt Smith in a partnership of 52.

By now Fenner had their slower bowlers on and, coupled with some superb fielding from the Hull side, this slowed the scoring and brought the wicket of Stevens for 34 which came off 24 balls with two sixes and a four.

Smith and David Hutchinson battled on but going into the final over, Nettleham were still 27 behind.

And when Jason Hellwig's first ball bowled Smith for 38, Fenner had one foot in the semi-final.

But Hellwig still had more to come and the final over finished as a triple-wicket maiden as Nettleham's innings ended on 150 for seven.

This match, which was sponsored by Solutions, brought seven sixes and 27 fours.

Dominic Rhodes' quick-fire innings and his two wickets earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Fenner will now play the winners of next week's match between Louth and Caistor in their semi-final on July 19.

Travelling sides prepare to clash

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:00:00 GMT

AFTER last week's big-hitting match played in glorious weather, cricket lovers will be hoping for a repeat tonight when two sides from opposite ends of the area meet up in the Grimsby Town CC/Grimsby Institute Knock Out.

Nettleham travel from Lincoln to play Fenner from Hull who face a tough task against last year's beaten finalists.

This year, Nettleham bring their own big hitter in South African Warren Nel, who is top of the runs scored list in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, in which his team are in fourth place.

Nettleham will be looking to go one step further than in 2009 by carrying off the trophy.

They have a new captain for 2010, with David Manby replacing Russ Binnington, who stood down at the end of last season but is still a regular in the club's ECB Premier League side.

Nettleham face a Fenner side keen to progress into the second round after going out last year at the first hurdle.

Fenner are always something of an unknown quantity, but one face that will be missing from their line up is John Maddock, who has moved to Grimsby and is now playing for Grimsby Town in the Lincs Premier League.

Fenner currently play in division one of the York & District Senior League and their team includes former Gloucestershire 2nd player Steve Sergeant. The skilled all-rounder has already hit more than 200 runs and taken 18 wickets this season.

Fenner also boast a new captain in the form of Craig Denby, who has taken over leadership duties from Sergeant.

His side includes batsmen Phil Daniels and Paul Scrowston. They and other familiar names, such as Ross Davy and Steve Hewitt, will be hoping to make a second trip across the river in July for the semi-finals.

However, they first have to beat a Lincoln side who are acknowledged as specialists in the shorter form of cricket having reached the final stages of the Premier League 20/20 cup.

The match starts at 6.15pm and will be sponsored by Grimsby member Rob Smith's company Solutions.

TEAM

Fenner: (From) Craig Denby (capt), Steve Sergeant, Mike Cooke (wk), Jon Park, Dominic Rhodes, Will Rhodes, Ross Davy, Danny Parker, Phil Daniels, Ian Pratt, Jason Hellwig, Dylan Barkworth, Peter Shally, Mike Arundell.

Nettleham: (From): David Manby (capt), Sam Hickingbotham (wk), Warren Nel, Andrew Hibberd, Matt Smith, Rob Cook, Paul Cook, James Stevens, Matt O'Halloran, Craig Cosgrove, Russ Binnington, David Hutchinson, Andy Carter.

Grimsby set for a knockout show

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:00:00 GMT

IT may be a week late but what is now the opening game of the 2010 Grimsby Town Knock Out promises to get the competition off to a flying start tonight.

The presence of a South African, a New Zealander, a Sri Lankan, a current Lincs Minor Counties player and three of the Webb brothers are just some of the attractions that will be on show in Grimsby Town's clash against Grimsby Institute.

The South African, Jaco Scholtz, will travel from Scunthorpe to guest for Town – and skipper Richard Antcliffe will be hoping that the Appleby-Frodingham wicket-keeper and batsman can emulate England's Craig Keiswetter in the batting department.

Scholtz joins a line-up that also features former Fenner player John Maddock, who has now moved to the area and plays for Grimsby in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League, in which the club lies second.

The Sri Lankan is Grimsby's regular overseas player Gihan Perera, playing in the knockout for the second year alongside some of the club's top young players, which include Neal Snell, fresh from a league century last week; Steve Crossley, winner of the league wicket-keeping award; and Harry Warwick.

Completing the team are the familiar faces of Gary Tillison, Paul Taylor, Lee Charlton and Matthew Cocks.

Matt Rutherford is the new captain of the Grimsby Institute side and, from his own club Lindum, who are currently fourth in the ECB Premier League, he brings big-hitting Dale Christie, Richard Bishop and Josh Brodie, who enjoyed notable success last year for New Zealand Emerging Players.

The Institute side, representing the competition's sponsors, also features Karanjit Bansal, who is making his mark for the Lincolnshire county team; knockout stalwart Andy Carrington; former Grimsby Town player Geoff Middleton; and Hymie Bentley, who makes a comeback to the competition after several years away.

Making a welcome return visit to their former home ground will be brothers Simon, Matthew and Tom Webb.

With two such talented line-ups of players, who have faced each other in various competitions numerous times over the years, this is set to be a highly competitive game.

The match starts at 6.15pm. Refreshments are available for spectators.

Teams

Grimsby Town: R Antcliffe (capt), S Crossley, N Snell, G Perera, J Scholtz, H Warwick, G Tillison, P Taylor, L Charlton, M Cocks, J Maddock. 12th men: White, Wood.

Grimsby Institute: M Rutherford (captain), R Bishop, D Christie, J Brodie, A Carrington, S Webb, M Webb, T Webb, H Bentley, G Middleton, K Bansal.

Messingham battle to another KO crown

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:30:00 GMT

MESSINGHAM made it two in a row as they lifted the Grimsby Town Knockout trophy to become one of the few teams that have won the competition in successive years.

But the Scunthorpe outfit were made to fight all the way by a Nettleham side who have occupied the runners-up slot previously – and whose skipper Russ Binnington would have relished the chance to get his hands on the trophy before he retires from the captaincy at the end of the season.

However, it was not to be as, having been invited to bat by Messingham, the Lincoln side found runs hard to come by.

The first four overs yielded only 15, though, by the half-way stage of the innings, Nettleham had 43 on the board.

By this time, three wickets had gone. Danny Rands opened Messingham's account and Tom Johnson took an excellent catch to give Shaun Dalton his first wicket.

The third was a run out, which brought Rob Cook to the crease and finally gave the crowd of more than 400 the big-hitting entertainment associated with the competition.

Cook and James McKay took the score to 86 before McKay was stumped by Jason Scheepers off Nadeem Ahmed and Cook continued to punish the bowling, making an unbeaten 59 off 31 balls with four sixes and four fours.

This took Nettleham to what still appeared a modest total of 123 for seven but, when Cook took a tremendous slip catch to dismiss Lee Brocklebank off the first ball and Scheepers followed, Nettleham gained fresh momentum.

After eight overs, there was nothing in it, the score having reached 42 for three with Tony Wood contributing 22. But it was in the following four overs that Messingham gained the ascendancy as Andy Langford and Irfan Ahmed opened up, taking the score to 74 before Langford was stumped by Sam Hickingbotham for 35, which he hit off 42 balls with two sixes and one four.

With two overs to go, Messingham needed 17 to win but in that over Ahmed was caught by Carter off James McKay, having hit 37 off 30 balls. By now his brother, Nadeem, was at the crease and, going into the final over, he and Tom Johnson were faced with scoring a run a ball.

However, off the first ball, Ahmed hit a six to ease the pressure.

The next was a single, putting Johnson on strike and the third was a dot ball. Then the fourth delivery hit Johnson's foot and squirted away, the pair ran a leg bye and Messingham had their victory with four balls to spare.

Professor Daniel Khan, of overall Knockout sponsors Grimsby Institute, presented trophies to the umpires, the teams and to the man of the match – Irfan Ahmed.

Knockout finale

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:30:00 GMT

THE Grimsby Town Knockout reaches its 2009 climax tonight with a final between defending champions Messingham and fellow Lincs ECB Premier League side Nettleham.

Nettleham beat hosts Grimsby to progress to last week's semi-final where, in a first for the competition, they beat Cleethorpes on a bowl out.

Messingham beat Caistor and Louth on their way to the final.

Tonight's match begins at 6.15pm at Augusta Street. Admission for non-members is £2.

Knockout sides hoping to strike third time lucky

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:30:00 GMT

CLEETHORPES and Nettleham will lock horns tonight in their twice cancelled semi-final of the Grimsby Town Knockout.

Rain last Monday and again on Thursday washed out the match, pushing back the last two games in the competition by a week with the final now scheduled for July 12.

However, the change of date will benefit both clubs as the Meggies will have Bill Kirby back from county duty and Australian bowler James McKay will be available for Nettleham.

With Messingham already through after a nail-biter against Louth, fellow Lincs ECB Premier League side Nettleham will be keen to have an opportunity to wrest the trophy from their Scunthorpe rivals.

But Cleethorpes, after last year's disappointing performance, proved that they have regained their appetite for Knockout cricket with victory over one of the favourites to win the trophy, Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education.

Harry Clewett's two wickets in one over and James Osmond's 46 off 26 balls contributed to an exciting game that ended with just three balls to spare, with Ishan Mutaliph, Alex Osmond and Kirby all contributing with the bat.

The Lincoln side won through at the expense of Grimsby Town, despite setting their hosts a relatively low target of 127.

Wicketkeeper Sam Hickingbotham and Matt Smith were the mainstays of the innings with 42 and 43 respectively, while McKay and Smith took three wickets each.

Cleethorpes are currently just above mid-table in the Yorkshire League and are putting in some good performances.

Opponents Nettleham currently lie third in the Lincs ECB Premier League.

Their bowler McKay heads the list of wicket takers, having topped the 30 mark for the season.

The match starts at 6.15pm and admittance for non-members is £2.