Stamford Homes leap over Keelby to reach top of division three

STAMFORD Homes returned to the top of the division three table with a quick seven-wicket win at Cherry Willingham 2nds on Sunday in the Lincolnshire County Cricket League.

It took the visitors fewer than 30 overs to dismiss Cherry for 61, extras comfortably top scoring with 20.

Experienced seamer Mick Barton had a memorable analysis, even by his standards, with four wickets for eight runs in 13 overs. Fine support came from Mick Hanson, with three for 21.

The home side managed an early breakthrough but all-rounder Hanson saw his side through to another maximum 20-point return with an unbeaten 23.

Keelby briefly went top on Saturday after beating bottom side Holton-le-Clay 2nds.

Keelby were dismissed for a modest 144, but Gary Spencer's top form with the ball continued when he took six for 47 to help bowl out Holton for 116.

Keen to retain their division three status, Immingham Blossom Way won by 28 runs at Broughton 2nds, who slip into trouble.

Immingham's greater experience in key areas was perhaps the difference between the sides.

Invited to bat first, Blossom Way were give a fine start by Ady Scrimshaw, with 24, and anchor man Paul Farmery, who made 53. There was also a decent knock of 39 not out in the middle-order from Graham Clarke in the visitors' par score of 178 for nine.

Broughton's most penetrative bowlers proved to be Andy Hillyard (four for 60) and Stuart White (three for 22).

Their reply featured a typically quickfire 22 from their own veteran, Phil Glentworth. And while attacking all-rounder Shaun Clark was at the crease, Broughton were well up with the required run rate – despite continuing to lose wickets.

However, with Clark seemingly taking the game out of his side's hands, Immingham skipper Ron Farmery summoned his most experienced seamer, Dennis Parker, from patrolling the fine leg boundary to join the attack.

And it did not take the wily "silver fox" long to deceive Clark, on 49, and trap him leg-before.

That was the turning point and milkman Dennis proved to be la crème de la crème for the visitors, helping to polish off the tail and finishing with three for 38 as Dave Jones' Broughton fell short on 150, despite a brave attempt.

However, the younger members of the Blossom Way attack played their part, Scott Hilton making inroads at the top of the order with three for 44 and left-armer Danny Khan taking two for 20 in 10.1 tight overs.

It was a fine advert for division three cricket – played in very good spirit between sides determined to enjoy their match in ideal sunny conditions.

All 22 listed on the team card batted and 12 turned their arms over, typifying cricket at this level, with players' ages ranging from the mid-teens to 60-plus.

The form book was well and truly ripped up in the division two match between bottom club Outcasts 2nd and second in the table Grimsby Town 2nd. The hosts pulled off a narrow nine-run victory, their first of the season.

With Market Rasen winning, Grimsby vacated their promotion slot and handed the initiative to their near neighbours.

Having won the toss, Outcasts elected to bat but were soon reduced to 23 for three after 10 overs. David White and Dan Wood kept wicket keeper Tom Lehman busy as he claimed three catches behind the stumps.

However, after the fourth wicket fell to White, the home side's middle order dropped anchor and ground out a total. David Hobson (42), Anthony Fitzgerald (43) and Ian Fletcher (32) made Town work hard for any breakthrough and saw their side to 165 for seven at tea.

White's marathon spell in humid conditions saw him return three for 37, from 18 overs. He was supported by Wood, who took two for 36.

With Grimsby's regular openers promoted to first-team duties, Richard Taylor and Andy Grainger opened up. Taylor departed early but when Andy Hardy joined Grainger, boundaries began to flow.

Grimsby appeared to be making comfortable progress until Hardy attempted one pull shot too many having got to 27.

The introduction of former Grimsby Town player Simon Lewis proved the turning point as his figures of four for 46 from 15 overs kept runs tight and wickets falling.

Skipper Wood (41) did his best to see his team home and a cavalier 29 not out from man-of-the-match White deserved better support.

Fitzgerald claimed three for 19 as Town's batsmen repeated the mistakes of early season.

Six unnecessary catches were offered up to a committed Outcasts fielding display and White looked crestfallen as he ran out of partners and Grimsby were bowled out for 156 with an over of the match remaining.

Second-placed Market Rasen produced another fine bowling display, this time to win by nine wickets against lowly Cleethorpes 4ths.

The Meggies were dismissed for 93 in 33 overs – John Mansfield scoring 33 – as Simon Bunn claimed four for 27 and Karl Bierlein three for 20.

John Stephenson then cracked 73 at the top of the order for Rasen being departing in unusual fashion – hit wicket.

Caistor 2nds' good form continued with a five-wicket triumph at Hartsholme 2nds.

Features of the Lincoln team's 192 for seven were 58 from Nick Wilkinson and 61 not out from Adrian Bunn.

Caistor's successful run-chase included 85 by Kev Parker and 68 from captain Dan Healy. They shared a super third-wicket partnership of 131 – a real match-winner.

In the bowling ranks, Caistor's Ryan Farrow managed four for 32 and Hartsholme's Dave Smith three for 50.

Bottom side Appleby-Frodingham 2nds finally broke their duck in the premier division, tasting victory for the first time in the top-flight this summer during the home game with Cleethorpes 2nds on Sunday.

The visiting Meggies were dismissed for 162, Rob Griffin scoring 35, as Jack Dixon took three for 22.

After tea, the Scunthorpe Steelmen suffered a couple of early losses and although Mick Bramley managed 44, three more wickets went down with three-figures still some way off on the Brumby Hall scoreboard.

However, Rob Day (72 not out) was joined by all-rounder Dixon (21 not out) and they pieced together a good sixth-wicket partnership to see the Steelmen home by five wickets with 16 overs to spare.

Nathan Judder, with three for 34, was Cleethorpes' most successful man with the ball.

Australian Simon McInerney again demonstrated what a shrewd signing he has proved for Barton Town, whose nine-wicket win over lowly Bracebridge Heath 2nds lifted Town into second place.

Bracebridge just managed full batting bonus points, being dismissed for 200 of which opener Ryan Watson scored 41 and skipper Stuart Fraser-Cattanach 34.

McInerney proved Barton's most successful bowler with four for 31. Then he got to work with the bat, scoring an undefeated 130, off 91 balls.

Simon and Lewis Barnes added 179 from 161 deliveries faced for the first wicket, the junior partner making 36.

Horncastle only hold down seventh spot, despite turning in a super home performance to inflict defeat on leaders Messingham.

A good opening stand between Harry Smith (97) and Nick Paige (38) gave Horncastle a good base, Phil Roberts adding 45 in the middle-order in an impressive total of 255 for seven.

Messingham openers Andy Cook and Ian Dawson both reached the 20s but Cameron Fletcher's 44 was as good as it got for the leaders in a disappointing reply of 162 for eight.

Clearly it was not a great day for bowlers. However, Kieran Lindley managed four for 74 in the visiting attack, with Horncastle's Pubs Chandrasekara taking two for 25.

South Kelsey (fifth) lost by eight wickets at home to Haxey (sixth) in a match which saw a very unfortunate injury.

Halfway through Kelsey's innings of 164 all-out, top scorer Attiq Ullah (61) hit a full-blooded shot to square leg which hit umpire Sally Newton on the kneecap.

A stoppage in play of about 30 minutes occurred while Kelsey keeper Steve Wright administered first-aid and team-mate Shaun Kirwin carried Sally off the field. Unfortunately, she could take no further part in the match, Kelsey secretary Mike Owen standing in at square leg.

Haxey had no real difficulty reaching their modest target, opener Ollie Tonks hitting 96 and Tom Wraith 42 not out.

Skipper Mark Atkins led by example in the Haxey attack, grabbing five for 28 in less than eight overs.

Kelsey never recovered after losing both openers for ducks.

Alford stay second – and in line for a return to the top flight – after an important eight-wicket home win over third-in-the-table Broughton in division one.

Broughton's 202 for six, in the permitted 45 overs, was insufficient, given the sort of totals Alford have been rattling up this season. And so it proved.

Broughton's top scorers were openers Neil Simpson and Matt Hammond, with 60 and 57 respectively, as Darrell Crow bagged four for 54.

Veteran Neil Calvert (58 not out) and skipper Andrew White (54) were the mainstays for the home team.

It was a real family affair as Outcasts got back to winning ways with a four-wicket victory at Louth 2nds' impressive London Road HQ.

Invited to bat first, Louth made 201 for seven, with 59 from Laurence Scott and 54 from Zeesham Ahmed, as Liam McAnaney took three for 33.

The Priorymen then eased to 203 for six, thanks largely to skipper Mark Coulman, who hit 70, and his son Oliver, who made 53.

That win earned Outcasts 18 points and ended a three-match losing streak.

The eighth man to try his luck, Zain Siddiqui, proved Louth's most effective bowler with two for 12.

There was a memorable Lincolnshire League debut by Scothern's Dasuin Mabogodage, who took five for 21 in a home victory which moves the villagers up to fifth but leaves Cleethorpes 3rds with concerns about possible relegation.

Clee's all-out 87 included 22 extras and 20 from Callum Robinson.

Peter Wright (48no) saw Scothern home to a full points haul, while Mabogodage opened and scored 22 before being dismissed by Lewis Markham.

Leaders Old Lincolnians made no mistake when securing maximum points from their visit to bottom-placed Brigg Town in division four

Caistor 3rds remain in the chase for promotion after an eight-wicket derby victory over Market Rasen 2nds.

Rasen were dismissed for 105, as the evergreen Ernie Allison bagged four for 12. Andy Pearson then stroked an unbeaten 45 for Caistor.

Keelby 2nds enjoyed a decent home victory over Alford 2nds.

Keelby's 199 for eight featured 46 from Jim Cowie and 46 not out by Mike Phillips, as Kev White took three for 48.

White opened and made 44 for Alford but they fell foul of veteran spinner Udi Sheikh, who finished with five for 27 as they were dismissed for 139.

South Kelsey 2nds are second in the table following a six-wicket defeat of Morton, bowling out the Gainsborough side for 142 (Barry Potter five for 49) and being helped over the line by Dave Everatt's undefeated 54.

In the Bob Welton Cup semi-finals, Messingham 2nds eased through to the final by four wickets when they hosted Outcasts 2nds, also from division two.

Outcasts made a decent 226 for nine, extras contributing a huge 53 – six more than leading batsman Dave Hobson.

Despite a fine bowling display by Outcasts' Alex Fletcher (five for 40), Messingham were not to be denied.

Adam Cook, who is in a rich vein of form, hit an undefeated 109 and opening partner Tom Johnson 43.

Cleethorpes 3rds (division one) saw off Haxey 2nds (division two) by three wickets.

The villagers' 154 for nine featured 46 by Graham Skelton as Fred Lumby took three for 26.

Paul Hewstone's 37 was then an important factor as the Meggies booked their place in the final on Sunday, August 22 at West Halton Lane, Alkborough.