Meggies get back on track

CLEETHORPES 2nd X1 got their Lincolnshire Premier League campaign back on track with a resounding 69-run win over local rivals Holton-le-Clay.

Having lost the toss and put into bat on a tricky up and down surface, Cleethorpes began aggressively with early boundaries from both Drinkell andGeorge Carlton before the former fell to a smart caught and bowled from former Cleethorpes Man Will Clifford.

Eddie Carlton came to the crease, adding a brisk 10 before finding the solitary leg side fielder with a full toss from Clifford.

Cleethorpes then lost in-form man Ian Mansfield for 0 leaving them struggling at 47-3.

George Carlton then fell to a short ball barely reaching ankle height for a well made 28 having looked set.

Ed Lumby and Ryan Harrison looks to reset against the change bowlers before the former fell caught behind off Portus for a gritty seven.

Ryan Harrison continued the fight on a tough surface playing with sensible aggression well supported by Kris Hall (19) pushing Cleethorpes towards a competitive total.

Harrison, unfortunately, fell for what proved to be a match-winning 49 with the score 144 for 8.

Some late hitting by Matthew Owen dragged Cleethorpes to a competitive 154 at the interval.

Cleethorpes started well with the ball with both Matthew Owen (1/26) and Ed Lumby taking early wickets.

HLC fought back reaching 53-2 with the game in the balance.

The Meggies turned to the in-form Jayden Stocks to provide the breakthrough who troubled both set men during his spell.

In search of wickets Cleethorpes opted for spin from both ends with Andrew Severn bowling a controlled 10 over spell (2/16) in tandem with the in-form Freddie Lumby, who bowled with both control and nous, ending with superb figures of (4/20) off his 8.4 overs.

With Severn’s spell finished Cleethorpes looked to finish things quickly and turned to Ed Lumby who returned well finishing with figures of nine overs, three wickets for just four runs.

Cleethorpes 2nd X1 move to mid-table with two wins and two losses with games in hand in the league as they look to build some momentum.