Kirby and Keast steer Clee to win

AFTER two league defeats Cleethorpes Town’s 1st XI got back on track with victory at second-place Wakefield Thornes.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat and flew out of the traps, scoring quickly.

The score moved to 43 inside eight overs when Ben Wright took the wicket of Wolfenden for 27.

This saw the entrance of Joe Billings to the crease who found gaps in the field and rotated the strike well for the start of an excellent innings. The partnership was worth 40 when other opener Donnachie was caught at slip by Rollinson from the bowling of Sadamal.

James Rhodes joined Billings at the crease and the pair dominated the Meggies’ bowling attack until Wright broke the partnership which was worth 103 with the score on 186-3.

Another wicket fell with the score on 201 as Rollinson claimed the wicket of Jordan for 12.

Matthew Varley entered the crease and looked to send every ball for six and succeeded once on his way to 16 runs until it was one shot too many as Sadamal had him caught and bowled.

Matthew Taylor played the supporting role well as Billings started launching as he passed 100. Billings didn’t let up and finished the innings on 142 from 130 balls with the Meggies facing the steep order of chasing 289 to win.

The Meggies, however, refused to be beaten, and after being inspired during the interval watching the Mariners show fight as they won their play-off semi final against Wrexham in the 119th minute, Kirby and Keast took to the crease to set the innings off with a bang.

Keast hit the first ball of the innings for four and found the boundaries with ease.

Kirby supported Keast well and looked comfortable manoeuvring the ball around the field excellently. Both passed 50 and Keast brought up his 100 in rapid fashion.

The first wicket fell with the score on 191 bringing an end to a sublime opening stand as Kirby departed for an excellent 80 from 106 balls. Wright joined Keast at the crease and hit Varley for a one-bounce four before departing shortly after with the score on 209.

Sadamal flashed away a boundary getting him up and running but another wicket fell as Keast departed for a brilliant 132 from 116 balls leaving the Meggies in a competitive position to win.

Rollinson made a quick-fire 12 before being caught which led to Ian Mansfield joining Sadamal with 35 needed to win from 40 deliveries.

Mansfield scored 16 runs from 15 balls before being trapped LBW by Akhtar.

Callum Carter entered the fray with 11 required from 18 deliveries. Carter flicked a boundary immediately relieving the pressure on the batters and Meggies were left needing two runs from the final two overs.

Akhtar bowled an excellent maiden as Sadamal departed for 24 leaving Carter to face the final over requiring two runs to win. Carter was in no mood to let the game go on any longer and worked the ball behind square on the leg-side for two runs to seal an impressive victory.

The Meggies are back on home soil next time out against Barnsley Woolley Miners for a 12 noon start on Saturday.