Brigg Blog covered the last Lincolnshire Minor Counties cricket match of the season when it was played in the north of the county a few weeks ago (at Cleethorpes), reporting that our county cricketers had won the Eastern Division title and were about to take part in the Championship Play-Off and also the Knockout Cup final.
Here's how Lincs got on in both these games, courtesy of club chairman Chris Keywood (pictured above, front row, third from left, with the squad and fellow officials.
LINCOLNSHIRE CCC v BERKSHIRE CCC
UNICORNS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Lincolnshire CCC, the Eastern Division winners, travelled to Banbury Cricket Club in Oxfordshire to meet Western Division winners, Berkshire, in the Unicorns Championship Final. Lincolnshire made one change from the team that had played Berkshire in the Knockout final four days earlier with Harry Warwick replacing Brett Houston.
Lincolnshire won the toss and elected to bat in front of a substantial crowd. Their batting was soon in difficulty as they slumped to 99 for 5, with only Matt Lineker with 40 making any substantial contribution. From this point the situation worsened as the innings was reduced to 121 for 9. Only a last wicket stand of 61 between Alex Willerton (39 not out) and Andy Carter (24) brought some respectability to the total as Lincolnshire were all out for 182 in 57 overs. Chris Peploe with 5 for 71 was Berkshire’s most successful bowler.
Lincolnshire struck back quickly as Willerton dismissed Ollie Wilkin with the second ball of the innings. Jack Davies and Euan Woods then added 77 before Matt Carter dismissed Davies for 30. The Berkshire middle order then collapsed to 108 for 6 with Lincolnshire now well in the game. By the close of play on day 1 they had progressed to 174 for 6, Woods on 81 not out. On day 2 Lincolnshire captured the remaining four wickets for 41 runs as Berkshire were dismissed for 215, Woods making a composed 97.
With a first innings deficit of 33, Lincolnshire’s aim now was to bat as long as they could and build up a substantial target for their opponents. That looked to be in some doubt as they were reduced to 75 for 4, but all the while Matt Lineker was accumulating runs to stretch the lead. By the close of play on day 2 Lincolnshire were 222 for 6, a lead of 189 with Lineker undefeated on 119 and Carl Wilson on 22 not out.
On day 3 Lineker and Wilson extended their partnership to 98 before Wilson fell for a valiant 42 made in over two and a half hours. Shortly after, Lineker was caught for a magnificent 148 having batted for six and a half hours to put Lincolnshire in with a fighting chance of victory. Lincolnshire’s innings concluded for 319 setting Berkshire 287 for victory, a position that looked unlikely on day 1. Peploe was again the main thorn in Lincolnshire’s side with 6 for 113 in 60 overs.
Berkshire again lost a quick wicket as Willerton bowled Wilkin for a duck for the second time in the match. Woods and Davies took the total to 45 before Matt Carter had Woods caught for 26. The introduction of Dan Freeman into the attack saw him have Richard Morris caught behind for 20 to leave Berkshire on 102 for 3. By the close of play on day 3 they had progressed to 120 for 3.
Early morning rain on day 4 delayed the start until mid afternoon and almost immediately Matt Carter had James Morris caught behind for 8 to leave Berkshire on 135 for 4, some 152 short of victory. Lincolnshire were now well in the match. Andy Rishton joined Davies and together they kept the Lincolnshire attack at bay and progressed to their target aided by some poor ground fielding. Davies reached a fine century and Rishton passed fifty as they added an unbroken 156 for the fifth wicket to take Berkshire to a 6 wicket victory. Seventeen year old Jack Davies, for his 127 not out, was made Man of the Match.
LINCOLNSHIRE CCC v BERKSHIRE CCC
UNICORNS TROPHY FINAL
Lincolnshire CCC travelled to Wormsley to face Berkshire in the Unicorns Trophy Final at the picturesque ground on the estate of the late Sir Paul Getty. Brett Houston returned to the Lincolnshire side replacing the unavailable Jonny Tattersall.
Berkshire won the toss and elected to field in the murky conditions. Lincolnshire quickly lost Louis Kimber and when Dan Freeman was also dismissed they were 57 for 2. Matt Lineker and Conrad Louth then added 58 before the former was caught for 49. Dominic Brown then fell to a brilliant outfield catch as Lincolnshire were reduced to 125 for 4 in the 27th over. Adam Tillcock then joined Louth and they added 96 before Tillcock fell for 51. Both he and Louth had difficulty in finding the boundary as Lincolnshire struggled to up the tempo. The Lincolnshire innings finally concluded on 245 for 5 with Louth undefeated on 94 (six fours and two sixes).
Berkshire lost the wicket of Ollie Wilkin to Alex Willerton and the dangerous Euan Woods to Matt Carter and were reduced to 79 for 4 but already well in front of the required run rate. Richard Morris and Andy Rishton added 56 for the sixth wicket to take the total to 135 for 5. Dan Lincoln joined Morris in a stand of 70 to take Berkshire in sight of victory before Willerton dismissed Lincoln for 42. Chris Peploe then joined Morris in a stand of 43, Peploe making 35 not out off 14 balls and Morris remaining undefeated on 56. Berkshire’s victory had come in the 41st over and whilst they had lost wickets at crucial times they had kept ahead of the required run rate at all times.
One small consolation for Lincolnshire was that Conrad Louth was made Man of the Match for his fine 94 not out off 102 balls.
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