By Match reports: Grimsby Town cricket sides record mixed results
There was a mixed bag of results for Grimsby Town Cricket Club, as the first team slipped to a defeat at Bourne and the seconds saw off Alford at the weekend.
The newly promoted first team suffered a five-wicket loss, as they entertained last year’s league champions Bourne in their opening game in the Lincolnshire ECB Premier League.
Both teams looked a little rusty, with a very wet April preventing pre-season friendlies and much outdoor practice. Bourne won the toss at Augusta Street and invited Grimsby to bat first.
Opening batsmen Dan Cliffe and Andy Barlow gave Town a solid start, as they put on 23 runs for the first wicket. But things soon deteriorated when the visitors brought on medium pacer Alex Forbes.
Forbes moved the ball around and dismissed a couple of Grimsby’s batsmen with clever slower balls, with the hosts collapsing to 67 for nine before some big hits from Rory Ronaldson got Grimsby close to three figures.
Ronaldson struck 32 from only 30 balls, including a six over long-off when Forbes bowled to him. He was the last man out when he looked to repeat this feat and Rob Dunn took a well-judged running catch.
Grimsby were all out for only 97 in the 24th over, as Forbes took six for 38 and Australian Corey Young claimed two for 17 from his nine overs.
Town didn’t go down without a fight, reducing the visitors to 28 for four. Dan Cliffe bowled an excellent opening spell, taking out the visitors’ top three. Cliffe finished with three for 20 from his six overs.
The experienced Peter Morgan and Carl Wilson put on 68 for the fifth wicket to take the game away from Grimsby. Wilson hit a couple of lovely cover drives off both opening bowlers and finished undefeated on 24. Morgan made 41 from only 31 balls before he was caught and bowled by Kasun Ekanayake.
Bourne raced to their target in only the 17th over to claim maximum points.
Elsewhere, the first game of the season for Grimsby Town 2nds saw the side travel away to Alford.
On a sticky wicket, Grimsby Town won the toss and put the hosts into bat. A superb opening spell from veteran Garry Tillson left Alford in trouble, as he took four for 21 from his nine overs.
Some interesting shot-making from Jake Hamilton saw him reach 33 before he was joined by local legend and stalwart of Lincolnshire cricket Neil Calvert, who hit 35. That spell shifted the momentum briefly in Alford’s favour until Hamilton was dismissed by Liam Clarke. Gorbutt (3-22) then saw off Calvert.
Issac Towndrow entered the attack in the last few overs and bowled with great control to claim one for 14. A late onslaught saw Alford captain Aaron Wilkinson make 25 to take his side up to 114 before he was dismissed by fast bowler Ryan Piggott (1-25).
New Town signing Russ Blackburn was dismissed early by Alford opening bowler Callum Forsyth. Tillison then entered the crease and an entertaining knock of 17 was ended by the very impressive Australian off-spinner Ben Masterson (2-14 from nine overs).
A flurry of wickets then followed, with Pearson, MacGregor and Bennett being dismissed, as opening batsman Toby Blake remained at the crease and looked as solid as ever. With the score at 78-5, Gorbutt then put on a very attritional unbeaten 47-run partnership with Blake against some good bowling from the Alford attack.
Grimsby reached their 115-run target in the 40th over with five wickets intact and standout batsman Blake remained unbeaten on 55 as his side claimed the victory.
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