Cleethorpes lose out in low-scoring thriller at Whitley

CLEETHORPES Town 1st XI went down to defeat at Whitley Hall.

Skipper Bill Kirby wanted to set a score so won the toss and batted first on a slightly cool and overcast day and took to the crease with fellow opener Keast.

Keast got the innings off with a boundary straight down the ground and looked in fine touch from the off.

However, it wasn’t long before Waldron opened his account for the hosts and took the first wicket, bowling Keast out for 11.

Just four runs later Waldron got his second by clipping the top of Kirby’s stumps, leaving the visitors on 21-2.

Rollinson and Sadamal were at the crease and offered excellent resistance by digging in and grinding out runs initially before both started to find the boundary.

The score moved to 52 when Rollinson was caught behind for 24 and the very next ball Taylor was unfortunate to be caught at gully leaving the Meggies 52-4.

Carter joined Sadamal at the crease at a time where it was imperative for the Meggies not to lose any further wickets.

Carter dug in whilst Sadamal started to accelerate the runs before Carter was caught behind with the score on 71.

Sadamal was the next to fall with the score on 99 as he departed for a well made 42, Lumby was the next which left Sam Baker and Kieran Brooker at the crease.

The pair dug in excellently and moved the score to 137-8 when Brooker departed for 19.

Adlard was the next wicket to fall which led to Jack Holmes joining Baker at the crease and digging in well.

Baker batted excellently and moved the score to 164 when he departed on the final ball of the innings for 39.

The Meggies knew they were light of runs as they entered the field after tea and knew early wickets would be key.

Sadamal and Adlard opened the bowling and bowled excellently as a pair, reducing the hosts to 44-3 after some early boundaries. Longhurst and Brown solidified the innings for the hosts as they added 68 to the tally leaving Whitley in the driving seat to win the match.

However, an inspired bowling performance from Rollinson got the visitors back into the game removing Longhurst and Brown with Sadamal taking two key wickets alongside saw the hosts fall to 131-8.

Godden and Kapala were the pair at the crease for the hosts and hit gaps perfectly, edging the score closer to the total.

Kapala blocked out a maiden before unleashing two sixes which killed the game and the hosts got over the line with seven balls remaining.

An excellent bowling performance from the Meggies but gutting to lose a low scoring thriller.

The Meggies travel to Wakefield next time out in their hunt to get back to winning ways.