Meggies derailed by big title rivals Haxey

WITH six sides still in with a chance of the championship, Cleethorpes 2nds suffered a blow when they lost the game of the day in the Lincolnshire County Cricket League Premier Division against Haxey.

The Isle of Axholme villagers are now second – and only five points behind the Meggies with a game in hand in a competition which awards 20 for an outright win.

Haxey made home advantage count on Saturday, although they were disappointed to slip from 132 for two to 185 all-out against their close rivals.

Ollie Tonks led the way with 69, and there was a useful 32 from Matt Fowler, as bowlers of contrasting styles got among the wickets for the Meggies – paceman John Zielinski managing five for 67 from 21 overs and off-spinner Stuart Harvey bagging five for 19 from only 6.4.

Cleethorpes opener George Carlton made 24, and number eight Rob Brice 36 – but their side was dismissed for 134, as Tom Scott took four for 59 and fellow opener Chin Perera three for 27.

An unbeaten 103 from Steve Wright helped fourth-placed South Kelsey remain in contention with a comfortable home win over bottom side Broughton, who took just a solitary point from the match.

Tom Brock (two for 51) removed Kelsey openers Rob Baty and Chandi Wathukarage very cheaply – but that was as good as it got for the visitors.

Wright's fine knock was supported by 51 from Atiq Ullah and 48 from Dale Coy (against his former team) in a total of 238 for four.

Opener Matt Hammond made 55 for Broughton but that was the only knock of note as they were dismissed for 112 – Lol Waghorn taking four for 29 and Chandi three for 25.

There were runs galore at Marsh Lane, where fifth-placed Alkborough's penultimate match of the campaign saw them blast 271 for four and then bowl Barton Town out for 208.

This match was dominated by a stand of 233 between Craig Ross (127) and John Knapton (109), with Rich Birch taking three for 46 in the home attack.

James Austin, with 70, and Gary Bell, with 47, played the best knocks in Barton's reply, as big Lee Brocklebank helped himself to five for 85 in 20 overs.

Horncastle, who are sixth, returned to winning ways with an emphatic victory at second-from-bottom Alford.

Hartsholme, who are third and eight points behind the leaders with a game in hand, won well against a Bracebridge Heath 2nds line-up still not clear of danger at the other end of the top-flight table.

In Division One, two all-rounders took the eye as Cleethorpes 3rds overtook Scunthorpe Town to regain top spot on Bank Holiday Monday with a comfortable home win over lowly Holton-le-Clay.

Cleethorpes totalled 226 for seven, in which the in-form Ian Bellamy led the way with 48, as Danny Portus managed three for 48 from 13 overs.

The visitors were then dismissed for 120, Portus top-scoring with 35 at the top of the order and fellow all-rounder Bellamy bagging five for 37.

Cleethorpes' Saturday home match with mid-table Scothern saw only 23 runs divide the teams but the Meggies took full points.

Skipper Paul Hewstone made a valuable 31 for Cleethorpes as they were dismissed for 157 in the penultimate over.

The wickets were shared by Richard Johnson (six for 50) and captain Ian Brown (four for 11).

However, in the face of a four for 28 analysis by Fred Lumby, Scothern felt short on 134 – despite Brown capping a good all-round display with 35 in the middle-order.

Scunthorpe managed full points from Saturday's trip to lowly Grimsby Town 2nds – but the margin of victory was just two wickets.

Grimsby were dismissed for 116 – Danny Wood scoring 45 and Pop Robson taking six for 40.

The visitors then inched home in the 36th over.

Paul Eames performed a rather unusual hat-trick for Holton-le-Clay at Outcasts – failing to realise he had achieved the rare feat.

Outcasts have spent the majority of the season looking over their shoulders at the bottom of the table, checking on other results in the hope they could avoid finishing in the dreaded relegation places.

But a recent unbeaten run of seven matches has seen them steadily allay those worries – and after Saturday's win over Holton-le-Clay they have climbed to fourth.

Jamie Belton offered Eames a one-handed caught and bowled from the last delivery of the sixth over.

Andy Lawson took five runs from the following over, then found himself facing the first delivery of Eames' next, which he skewed high into the sky to be caught by Dan Barker.

Few of the players realised Eames was on a hat-trick, including the bowler himself – and the batsmen having crossed while the catch was being taken, it was Simon Lewis who was in the firing line.

Eames produced a terrific away-swinger which Lewis edged to keeper Josh Plaskitt – and it wasn't until umpire Steve Bailey pointed it out that Eames realised he had taking three wickets with successive deliveries.

That fine effort left Outcasts 32 for three, but they rebuilt their innings to finish on 166 for seven, in which Mark Coulman made 46 and skipper Andy Torr 40.

Eames was undoubtedly the pick of the HLC bowlers, taking four for 57, including that unrealised hat-trick.

The visitors got off to a dreadful start and were soon 13 for four, but that man Eames led something of a fightback with 36, supported by 30 from David Taylor, in an all-out 107.

In the home attack, Jason Whiteley finished with five for 41 and Tom Sharpe with five for 43.

Elsewhere, Alkborough 2nds, the bottom team, suffered a six-wicket home defeat against third-placed Cherry Willingham.

In Division Two, leaders Hykeham secured a 33-run home win over lowly Keelby – a much closer margin than many would have expected.

Hykeham were dismissed for 163, in which Dan Chester made 47, Paul Fytche claiming a praiseworthy five for 22 as the fifth bowler employed.

Steve Skipworth's 26 was the best of Keelby's 130, as Andy Fletcher (six for 39) and Ant Clarke (three for 60) did the bulk of the damage.

Second-placed Louth 2nds – only three points behind Hykeham but with two games in hand – won handsomely when they visited Messingham 2nds.

Louth posted a huge 258 for five, in which two 17-year-olds shone – Zeeshan Ahmed getting 74 and Laurence Scott 77.

Nagi Chodem then celebrated his return to the side with five for 42 as Messingham replied with 158 for nine.

Caistor 2nds, who are third, had a comfortable home victory over Hartsholme 2nds, who are just above the danger zone.

The Lincoln visitors were dismissed for 113 (Graham Bailey 27, Sam Inman 22), as Andrew Foster bagged four for 39.

Caistor cruised home by seven wickets, opener James Wright leading the way with 59 and Andrew Pearson ending 24 not out.

Owmby bounced back to form at the expense of Market Rasen, who are also in the lower half of the table, the winning margin being six wickets.

Visiting Rasen were contained to 166 for eight – mainstays being Jon Stephenson (44) and Karl Bierlein (40), as Lee Chambers took four for 44 and Ciaron Deegan three for 39.

After tea, Chambers opened the innings and contributed a useful 41 – but Kev Bowring saw Owmby home with a dominating, undefeated 66.

In the Rasen attack, opener Gary Bierlein claimed three for 60 from 17.3 overs.

Meanwhile, in Division Three of the East Yorks Alliance, East Halton had an easy home win, dismissing Humbleton 2nds for 88 on their way to a nine-wicket triumph.

Brigg Town 2nds broke a club record for the highest team total when making 280 for four on their visit to Hull YPI 4ths.

Paul Reed and Neil Simpson both posted centuries as Town bettered the 269 made against Grimsby side Lucarly's in Lincolnshire League Division Five some six years ago. However, Hull YPI responded with 167 for five to draw the game.