Grimsby suffer a poor weekend

GRIMSBY Town Cricket Club had a disappointing weekend, as they were unable to play their league match, against Sleaford on Saturday because of a wet ground, and were then knocked out of the Winkworth Cup by Scunthorpe Town on Bank Holiday Monday. The sun was shining at Augusta Street on Monday, allowing Grimsby to host Lindum and Scunthorpe and play some T20 cricket. Grimsby and Scunthorpe both had comfortable wins against an understrength Lindum, Scunthorpe by nine wickets and Town by 42 runs.

This meant the final game of the day, between Grimsby and Scunthorpe, would decide who qualified for the semi-final at the end of May. Tom Morris top scored for Grimsby in their opening match against Lindum, making 69 from only 38 balls, hitting 4 sixes and 5 fours.

He put on 80 runs for the fifth wicket in nine overs, with Jack Smith, another new signing, who made an undefeated 20.

Another newcomer, opening bowler George Drewery, took 3 for 14 and medium pacer Isaac Towndrow claimed 3 for 28 as Lindum were restricted to 110 for 8 in 20 overs, after being set a target of 153 to win.

The match between Grimsby and Scunthorpe was a low scoring and tense affair.

Both sides bowled and fielded well and the batsmen shruggled to score freely on a slow pitch.

Number seven Drewery top scored for Town with 24 from 20 balls and hit a six over long on. His innings ensured the home side got to three figures.

The final total of 102 all out looked a little on the low side but Grimsby made their opponents battle for every run.

Like Town, Scunthorpe lost wickets regularly and when Gary Tillison came on to take two wickets in two balls, the game swung Grimsby’s way.

Tillison benefited from having wicket keeper Steve Crossley stood up to the stumps and he took two sharp catches as Scunthorpe found themselves 53 for 6 in the 13th over. Whilst wickets were tumbling at the other end, Priyanshu Khanduri, Scunthorpe’s overseas player, remained calm and showed an impressive technique as he completed his second undefeated half century of the day. With two overs left, Scunthorpe needed 21 runs to win and Grimsby appeared slight favourites.

However, Khanduri had other ideas as he targeted the shorter straight boundary.

He hit Morris, who had returned to bowl, for two sixes over long, the second one clearing the desperate attempt of the fielder to reach it. Seventeen runs were taken from the over and a single off the final ball meant Khanduri was on strike for the last over.

Khanduri hit the winning boundary off his legs to finish 52 not out from 40 balls. He was well supported by youngster Harry Doyle, as 35 runs were added from 23 balls, to complete a three wicket win with four balls to spare.