Rolfs Rolls Grimsby

In the middle of Festival season the First Team’s search for an ECB Premier League victory to alleviate relegation fears headed to Grimsby.

On a baking hot day by the coast skipper Charlie Tomlinson elected to control the game by fielding first and opened up with Will Wright from the Pavilion End. After being hit to the boundary third ball of his opening over Wright struck and removed the dangerous Neal Snell for 4. We then saw a 79 run partnership between opener Hayden Tice and Grimsby skipper Harry Warwick. Both batted with great maturity as they took the runs that were on offer without ever getting on top of the Lindum bowling. Wright and fellow opening bowler James Dewhurst bowled well with ‘Dewy’ ending with figures of 14-1-39-0 as he bowled through from the….erm…’Big Hedge End’? Joe Peatman, returning to First Team action, bowled tidily, after a slightly wayward first over, without reward but it was the introduction of spin just before drinks that turned the game on its head.

Fresh from being crowned Lindum Golf Day Champion Ben Rolfs was not about to give up his place in the limelight. The young Aussie spinner decimated the Grimsby middle order as once he had removed Tice for 29 with the score on 83; bar Warwick, there was minimal resistance. I am sure that Ben will admit himself that he will bowl, and maybe has bowled, far better for much less reward but he finished his spell with figures of 12.4-2-34-9 as wickets tumbled in a variety of ways. There were slip catches, short cover catches, bowled, stumpings and even a caught and bowled. As wickets tumbled at one end Jake Benson kept his patience and didn’t try anything out of the ordinary and was happy to keep it tight and play second fiddle thus strangling the scoring rate. The eighth Grimsby wicket did prove difficult to take as they put on 29 but once that fell the innings closed quickly after on 146. On a turning pitch could we negotiate a tricky run chase?

Pierce Morely-Barnes and Wright opened up and faced some decent new ball bowling that kept the usually aggressive pair in check. Pierce departed for 12 with the score on 20 as he feathered a ball behind to the home keeper. Richard Bishop strode to the crease to join Will and Bish dug deep early on as it was clear to see the pitch was deteriorating at quite a rate. Bish and Wrighty put on 30 before our pocket wicket keeper batsman was bowled for 14 with the score on 50. With still 98 required the next 25/30 runs were vital and as the skipper walked to the crease there was a hush around the ground. It was clear that both batsman were going to have to reign in their natural attacking game and play a restrained innings for the team. If the unity and focus of the team had been in question then the next hour and a half of cricket showed exactly where we are currently. As the pitch began to do all sorts, Karachi day five like, Tomlinson and Wright dug in and gradually wore down the home attack. 50-2 became 65-2…80-2….and by the time Darren Lilley flipped the total over to a number beginning with a 1 then the spirit of the home side had been broken. The innings ended with us losing just two wickets but the sheer numbers of balls faced, 103 for Will’s 47 not out and 81 for Charlie’s 55 not out showed just how difficult the pitch was. Their partnership was a joy to watch and showed the grit, determination and relentless fight that is required if we are to lift ourselves away from the relegation zone.

The lads headed home, or to the bright lights of Cleethorpes via #GeofFest2018 with a smile on the face. A potential banana skin was avoided, another solid team performance and 20 points picked up. Job done!

Report by James Kempton