Lockwood Efforts in Vain as 2s are Beaten at Messingham

Despite heavy rainfall across large parts of the county, the weather wasn't enough to prevent another defeat for the 2nd XI at Messingham. Skipper Ollie won the toss and quickly decided to have a bowl on a remarkably green deck in cloudy, humid conditions. However, the innings didn't quite start as planned as Messingham's openers dug in well in the early stages, riding their luck a little as difficult chances were put down in the cordon. Jordan bowled tightly along with Ted, with both narrowly missing the outside edge on numerous occasions. Despite this, the hosts made it to drinks unscathed on around 80 without loss. Lindum finally made the breakthrough shortly after, with Pricey trapping the opener LBW in front with the final ball of his spell. The kiwi earned figures of 1-17 from his seven overs, even more impressive considering he needed to eat the majority of Aidan's pack-up to recover from a fuzzy head while also taking a nasty blow to the arm from a wayward throw from an unnamed Lindum fielder. Pricey then got in on the action in the field, taking a sharp catch at mid-wicket to remove Messingham's other opener for 59 off the bowling of Vincent Wells (how have we only just heard about this?) The returning Dan Taylor then took wicket number three, his first since a pub had been renamed in Burnley in his honour, with Wells taking the catch at mid-on. Vince then got his second, as did Dan, clean bowling a man each, before Mr Van Gogh himself claimed his third and fourth wickets, clean bowling both, to claim figures of 4-58 from his 12 and leave Messingham on 208-7 from their 50. More than we'd hoped for at the start of the innings.

Lindum's chase got off to a dream start, with Pricey in particular flying out of the blocks as he tore into Messingham's opening bowlers. However, his 18 ball 30 was brought to a premature end when a delivery which hit 6ft 4in Pricey ON THE THIGH PAD was adjudged to have been going on to his the stumps. Pricey took both the decision and the more than unsavoury send-off on the chin and was replaced by Ollie in the middle. Three scratch runs later he was caught at extra cover, and Bobby Noble was in at four to join a very comfortable looking Aidan. These two ticked the score along to 92, with Lindum still well in the game, before Bob was brilliantly caught at backward point for 13. Aidan continued to bat well, raising his bat and helmet, kissing his badge and doing celebratory press-ups every time he ran a quick single. Max came and went for eight and was quickly followed by Aidan who top scored for a very well made 55 - Lindum on 112-5. This brought Dychey and Vincent together in the middle, with a big partnership needed if Lindum were to stand any chance of chasing the total. Both hung around without quite being able to get the ball away, and it was Wells who fell first, snicking behind for 14 before Dan holed out to long-on for 18. Zac and Harry Lewis fell quickly, leaving Lindum on 152-9 and requiring another eight runs to gain another precious batting point. Ted and Jordan managed to do so before the latter was bowled for five, leaving Ted stranded on 16* and Lindum all out on 166. A decent effort against a solid team, but Lindum fall short once again.