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Cleethorpes defeated by Sheffield
Cleethorpes Cricket Club slipped to their eleventh defeat in the 4 Probate & Wills ECB Yorkshire South Premier League when they lost to Sheffield Collegiate by 42 runs on Saturday. Their defeat would have been larger had it not been for their opening bowlers Basheeru Walters and Joe Baker. It was with the bat however that they performed with distinction. Between them they scored 93 runs which ensured that their side at least picked up a consolation prize of two bonus batting points which could prove very important in the final league position.
With two games remaining the bottom four are – Wickersley 108, Hallam 100, Cleethorpes 94 and Aston Hall 76. Although Hallam play Aston Hall next Saturday a victory by Cleethorpes over Elsecar would put the heat on the others for their final games which are against the two leaders in the table.
A youthful and inexperienced Meggies were hampered even more on Saturday. After Ian Mansfield had pulled out for personal reasons their hopes were hit by a hand injury to Lee Charlton which left a gap in the bowling attack. Sheffield batted first after winning the toss but lost Jamie Carrington who became an early Walters victim. Spinners Alex Osmond and Louis Kimber claimed a scalp apiece as the home side were held in check. The considerable experience of former County players Shaaiq Choudhry and Simon Guy prevented any further Cleethorpes success as they built a partnership which took the total to 154 before the latter was caught by Jack Holmes to give Kimber a second wicket.
Michael Simpson added a rapid 23 before Walters returned to the attack to dismiss Choudhry after the batsman had contributed 61 to the total which was approaching 200. A remarkable final over saw three run outs as the Sheffield side ran for everything and paid the penalty as they had to be content with a final score of 223-9.
The Cleethorpes reply began in similar fashion to the Sheffield ending. Without a run on the board a misunderstanding saw Callum Carter become another run out casualty. After Louis Kimber and acting Captain Bill Kirby both perished the innings fell apart as the Meggies slumped to 58-5. Tom Rollinson showed some brave resistance but became a LBW victim after scoring 23. A 7th wicket fell six runs later which brought Walters and Baker together.
The two bowlers began slowly before Walters went on the attack. He was particularly harsh on the bowling of Matthew Lee who was hit for five sixes in a 13 over wicket-less spell which eventually cost him 71 runs. Baker was satisfied just to keep Walters company and only scored six as the pair added 44. Walters innings came to an end when he was caught by Ed McKenna after making 53 which was his third half century of the season. As usual it came at a good rate and the Meggies will miss the surge he is capable of giving them. During this season he has proved a crowd pleaser when batting, having cleared the ropes no less than 19 times.
Lee Charlton came to he crease and proceeded to hit the unfortunate Lee for yet another six before he was caught behind. At this stage Baker had scored just 6, having not troubled the scorers for 8 overs. Left with last man Holmes he then moved his score rapidly, with the aid of yet another six, and had reached 40 before the innings closed on 181 due to yet another run out which was the 5th such dismissal in the game.
Picture shows Basheeru Walters on completing 50 in his farewell game for Cleethorpes.
Contact Gi Grimsby
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