Nettleham Nailbiter Completes Clean Sweep

Lindum arrived at Nettleham with a side containing both youth and experience. If the last game against Nettleham was anything to go by this should be a close one……and so it proved.

Nettleham were batting first and once again their youngsters proved more than capable of putting a score on the board, with six of their under 17/15 plus one slightly older putting on 224 – 5 from 50 overs. From a Lindum perspective everyone apart from Picko and Aiden got a bowl with a wicket each for Pranav and Heath, two for Dirryl and a run out accounting for the fifth wicket. There were nine chances (quite difficult) put down in the innings but nevertheless the total didn’t seem beyond Lindum.

In reply Lindum got off to a steady start with Dirryl and Joe accumulating runs at a steady rate, with Joe once again exhibiting some nice shots before being bowled for 16. This brought Pranav to the crease who hung around, allowing Dirryl to start to open up a bit and score some nice boundaries. Dirryl continued to play expansive cricket all the while providing good advice to youngsters at the other end. Pranav was dismissed, out for seven attempting to hit one over the fielders which saw Aiden come to the crease to accompany Dirryl. Soon after, however, Dirryl dabbed one back to the bowler for a caught and bowled for a lovely 70. Picko was next in and sought to provide a measure of responsibility with three singles and lovely little sweep dab for four and two more singles before deciding it was time to up the scoring rate and was promptly caught on the boundary. Rishabh came to the crease with the score on 149 with only nine overs to go. It seemed at this point that the total was just out of reach. However, Aiden kept the score ticking over whilst Rishabh began to find his running shoes and between them the pair began to run some very good singles, keeping Lindum just in the hunt - but only just. Along with some excellent running Rishabh also began to find the boundary with a couple of fours. With 38 overs gone it was a surprise to many to see that Lindum had got 207, and indeed there were some mutterings of concern beginning to be heard in the Nettleham camp, although 18 from two overs still seemed a big ask. About this time some panic began to be seen in the field, with overthrows and mis-fields becoming too regular for the opposition's liking which, combined with continued good running between the wickets, brought the total nearer to Lindum. Nettleham’s decision to guard the boundary left plenty of space for continued quick singles and twos and, with 12 needed from the final over, a hush descended on the ground. With some quick running between the wickets and some frenetic fielding it suddenly came to the last ball with one run needed and Rishabh to face it. Rishabh stepped away from his crease, took a deep breath and then faced the final ball. He got bat on ball, dropped it into the gap and the pair scurried through for the winning run, with Aiden on 59 not out and Rishabh on a valiant 30 not out. Well done on Aiden and Rishabh on keeping their head! A great game and a great win. UTL

Report by Wes Shelbourne