By Match reports: Cleethorpes cricket sides claim convincing victories
Two Cleethorpes Cricket Club teams earned victories in their matches at the weekend.
The 2nds saw off Scunthorpe Town 2nds at Chichester Road in their Lincolnshire Premier League campaign, recording a 35-run victory against their North Lincolnshire opponents.
Having been put into bat on a flat surface, Cleethorpes wobbled early on and were reduced to 47 for three inside 15 overs.
A strong middle-order fightback led by Kris Hall (33), well supported by the returning John Mansfield (23), pushed the home side to 112 for five before a flurry of wickets left the hosts in trouble at 114 for seven.
Paul Ridley added a valuable 32, patiently steering Cleethorpes to a defendable total, assisted by some big late hitting from Matthew Owen (21).
With 170 on the board, the Meggies opted for Owen and Deans with the new ball.
After Scunthorpe hit 24 for no wicket, Owen removed overseas batsman Angus Evans, who was caught well by Mansfield.
Two further quick wickets fell with Owen striking again and Lumby adding his first wicket to leave the visitors on 32 for three.
Cleethorpes began to squeeze the run rate thanks to tight spells from Severn (1-30) and Eddie Carlton (1-27), leaving Scunthorpe requiring 100 with 20 overs left to play.
With Garmesh Chand (55) still at the crease and the game in the balance, Hall came into the attack to add a wicket in his second over. The 2nds went back to stalwarts Fred Lumby (3-25) and Owen (4-16), who wrapped up the game in clinical fashion to claim the 20 points for their side.
Elsewhere, Cleethorpes 3rds travelled to Grimoldby to play Louth CC. They won the toss and batted first on an artificial wicket that had a very slow outfield.
Runs were hard to come by, as the early losses of Freddie Wharton, Rob Cowlam and Ian Marland left the visitors on 21 for three. Max Chapman and Nigel Fanthorpe then put together a partnership of 40 before the former departed on 24.
Stu Wood joined in with another partnership of 65, as Akhbar entered the fray to add a valuable 18 alongside Andy Macfarlane’s 18 to take the total up to a creditable 167 for nine.
Two early wickets by Arifkhan in a tight spell of seven overs that saw him record two for 12 was backed up by Akhbar’s six overs for just six runs.
Chapman then got his hands on the ball to blow Louth away with a devastating four-over spell, taking six wickets for 20 runs.
Young spinner Liam Macfarlane claimed one for 10 in his six overs, as an excellent team effort earned Cleethorpes the 20 points in difficult conditions.
