Cleethorpes batsmen shine as Sheffield United crumble

CLEETHORPES CC completed a comprehensive 167-run victory over Sheffield United at Chichester Road on Saturday that saw all of the Meggies top order contribute to their highest score of the season.

Sheffield won the toss and surprisingly asked Cleethorpes stand-in skipper Charlie Tomlinson to bat in sultry conditions.

Openers Bill Kirby and Eddie Carlton got them off to a bright start, with Carlton in particular looking in positive touch as he dispatched Shutt to the cover boundary twice off his first two deliveries.

Having taken the score to 26, though, Zafran Ali, Sheffield's 16-year-old opening bowler, who had ripped through Cleethorpes in the away fixture earlier in the season, got a ball to nip back through Carlton's gate to bowl him for 18.

For once Cleethorpes were not over reliant on overseas pro Peter Fulton as the Kiwi departed for just 11 having clipped Ali twice away through the leg side for fours.

This time he drove Shutt straight to cover where Wade completed a routine catch to leave Cleethorpes 39-2 in the twelfth over.

Cleethorpes' middle order was under pressure due to a lack of runs in recent weeks but all made telling contributions.

Yaniv Judah helped Kirby add 68 for the third wicket as the pair took the score past the 100 in the 31st over.

With Khan's off-spin keeping one end quiet, Cleethorpes were content to knock the singles.

They had reached 107 when Judah feathered Khan to the keeper for a patient 20 in 70 balls.

Alex Osmond, who has been so short of runs this year, came in at five but was able to get off the mark immediately as young spinner Jahangir greeted him with two juicy full tosses which he gratefully put away with aplomb through midwicket.

Kirby went past his fifth half-century of the season in 96 balls and looked well set for a century when he became fourth man out having made 73.

Ali had returned to the attack at the Chichester Road end but Kirby could only drive tamely to cover to end his 123-ball vigil having hit eight boundaries.

Skipper Tomlinson and Osmond then went into overdrive as they looked to take the score past 250.

They added 48 in only 38 balls for the fifth wicket with Tomlinson especially punishing, picking the gaps after making room.

Osmond was first to complete his 50 in just 49 balls with seven fours, but was next out as Ali's catch at long-off gave Jahangir his first wicket.

Tomlinson raced to his half-century in 32 balls as three times he put Jahangir into the Daggett Road gardens for maximums. He departed for 59 to another boundary catch to Maynard before James Windeatt's final flourish (28 in 16 balls) ensured Cleethorpes posted a formidable target with 285 for six in their 55 overs.

Sheffield's openers got off to a patient start adding 23 in the first nine overs before Alex Osmond made the initial breakthrough.

Opening with Andy Ellis, Osmond's leg-spin accounted for Harrison, who played all around a googly to be trapped lbw.

Rodgers was next to depart having made a dogged 25 when Ellis bowled him having taken the slightest deflection to remove the bails.

At 43 for two, Sheffield's backs were against the wall as Cleethorpes' top bowlers were to destroy the middle order.

Hettiarachchi (eight) was trapped by Ellis, who soon followed up by having Ali caught behind by Windeatt for four.

Wade (nine) was snapped up at first slip to a sharp catch from Fulton who repeated the feat to remove Tetley (eight) off the bowling of Osmond.

At 84 for six, Sheffield were in deep trouble as Cleethorpes looked to close the game out early.

Khan and Shutt added 18 before Ellis completed his fourth five-wicket haul of the season with Tomlinson taking a superb tumbling catch at short mid-wicket.

After Cleethorpes' fielders had got themselves in a tangle to give Zafran Ali a life, Osmond made sure this was not to be repeated as he ran through two teammates to claim the eighth wicket caught and bowled.

Jahangir went two balls later to a catch behind and it was left to Jack Harrison to claim the final wicket of Shutt (25) as the quickie shattered his stumps to emphasis Cleethorpes' dominance.

Ellis had claimed five for 56 in 15 overs, with Osmond picking up four for 35 from his 16 overs as Cleethorpes claimed their sixth win of a stop-start campaign.

They face a much sterner test next Saturday when they travel to second-placed Barnsley.