BRIGG BLOG ROUNDS UP THE 2018 CRICKET SEASON

Lincolnshire's cricket team failed to match Brigg Town (champions of county league division four).
Lincolnshire won the Unicorns Minor Counties Eastern Division title but then lost to Western Division champs Berkshire in the play-off final to decide the top Minor Counties team of 2018.
Pictured above is Lincolnshire captain Carl Wilson with the Eastern Division championship pennant.

MATCH REPORT FROM CHRIS KEYWOOD, LINCOLNSHIRE CLUB CHAIRMAN

Lincolnshire CCC, Eastern Division Champions, travelled to Banbury CC to face Western Division Champions, Berkshire, in the play-off final. Lincolnshire retained the same team that had defeated Cumberland in their last Eastern Division match. In overcast and bowler friendly conditions, Berkshire won the toss and put Lincolnshire in to bat.
Within the first sixteen overs Lincolnshire were on the back foot, losing four wickets for 35 runs and were further reduced to 84 for 6. Stands of 41 between Carl Wilson and Nick Keast and of 52 between Keast and Curtis Free brought some respectability to the score as Lincolnshire were finally dismissed for 198 in the sixty-first over. Nick Keast with 42 was Lincolnshire’s top scorer. Alex Russell with 5 for 57 was Berkshire’s most successful bowler.
Berkshire commenced their innings in fine style putting on 42 for their first wicket in eleven overs, Waqas Hussain being dismissed for 27. Euan Woods joined Jack Davies and they took the total to 144 for 1 before bad light brought an early end to the day’s play.
The start of play on day two was delayed by an hour due to wet conditions. Thereafter Berkshire dominated the day’s play with Woods and Davies adding 139 for the second wicket before Davies fell to Curtis Free for 73. Woods and Richard Morris took the Berkshire total past that of Lincolnshire’s, adding 68 for the third wicket. Woods finally fell to Curtis Free for a fine 98. Berkshire’s run rate declined somewhat at this stage but then picked up the momentum again as they came towards the end of their allotted 90 overs, finally finishing on 405 for 7. Curtis Free with 4 for 91 was Lincolnshire’s most successful bowler.
With a deficit of 207 Lincolnshire now faced an uphill task and with 36 overs remaining on day two they needed to bat with great concentration and care. Joe Kendall and Jack Timby gave them a sound start, putting on 61 for the first wicket before Kendall was dismissed for 26. A further three wickets fell before the close of play, the players leaving the field with Lincolnshire on 124 for 4, still 83 runs behind.
On the morning of day 3 Lincolnshire’s resistance did not last long as wickets fell at regular intervals, Carl Wilson being the last man out, the fifth lbw of the innings. Lincolnshire’s total of 175 left Berkshire victorious by an innings and 32 runs.