Midweek 1st XI results

21st July Vs Clee United Old Boys - Win

Last week's defeat vs. North Thoresby, was put firmly behind us as the team recorded a convincing win against Clee Utd OB at Stamford Club.
Asked to bowl on a very damp track, Trigger Smith immediately put us in control with 2 wickets in his first over. This was then followed by two wickets from the Skipper in overs 2 and 4, with not even half a dozen runs on the board. Whilst change bowler McLellan kept things tight at one end, Picnic Cook, despite serving up some buffet bowling, still managed to grab two important wickets, following excellent catches from Jackie Charlton and Ginger Smith. John decided to belatedly join the party and bagged two wickets, with Matty securing one of them in his 'fresh out of the packet' wicket-keeping gloves. The last batting pair kept their wickets and helped Clee limp to 56. Openers Ginge (15) and Miami (37no) saw us move within reach of the total, before Jackie Charlton (6no) joined a dominant Miami, to see us home in the 10th over.
Next week we face league leaders Novartis in what will prove a tough test, with the added spice of the Johnson and Mawer clan in their ranks.

Smith 2-14, Fytche 2-13, McLellan 2-7, Cook 2-18


5th July Vs Clee Vagabonds - Win

Clee Vagabonds 100-3
Keelby 1st X1 101-9 (M Bevis 54)


After winning the toss, Keelby elected to bowl in an effort to continue our winning streak. Openers Andy Smith and John MClellan kept it tight, despite the fact that the fielders were having an off day. John bowled the dangerous Brice in this opening spell, whilst change bowlers, Smith Jnr and Alex Barnes, came on and tightened the screw further with good, disciplined bowling. Alex snared Hewstone after a good batch by Symmon Li and completed a fine spell of 5-19-1. Andy returned and bowled well again, before John MC and Joe closed out the Clee innings with miserly bowling.
In form openers, the Bevis Brothers, started well, before Danny was trapped LBW to the ever dangerous Taylor. Ashley scored a quick fire 13, before falling to Harness. Meanwhile, Matt continued to hold the innings together with some assured batting. 3 wickets then fell for few runs, before Matt was joined by Joe and these two took the score to 83 in good time, before Joe was run out to a tight decision. Matt and Alex took us to 88 before Matt was bowled for a fine 54. Another quick wicket, saw all rounder Andy come to the wicket. A fine leave for 4 and spank over mid on, saw us reach 100, before it was left to John Mc and Alex to get the winning run, with a ball to spare.
Good game, good spirit between two teams and we look forward to the challenge of Gary Spencer's North Thoresby next week.

16th June Vs Crystal Millenium - Win

Matt Bevis was the star as Keelby romped to a stunning Victory against Crystal Millennium at Grimsby Town CC.
Batting first Keelby amassed a huge total of 173 for 3 of 20 overs, much was owed to a stunning 94no from 20/20 specialist Matt Bevis, who's decision to retire from the longer format to prolong his midweek career seems to be paying dividends with 4 half centurys to his name already. He was well supported on his journey with good knocks from Jaime Charlton (32) and Joe Smith (19no) who steered us to a well deserved 174 for 3.
The Keelby bowlers then replied in good fashion with Pete Cook spinning us to victory, finishing with 4 wickets. Andy 'Trigger' '5for' Smith also got in on the action, but he will be disappointed to have only finished with a mere 3 wickets. Wickets for Ashley Briggs, Pete Briggs and Mike Phillips wrapped up the proceedings in what was a great win for Keelby.

18th May Vs Novartis - Loss

After last weeks convincing victory, we came crashing back down to earth vs. Novartis, suffering a last ball defeat. Being put into bat, Ashley Sehwag set about the bowlers from the off with a superb innings of aggressive batting. The score rattled on, with Chris Charlton providing able support as he fed Ashley with the strike. 50 came onto the scoreboard in quick time and we looked set to posting a very competitive total. With Chris falling, quickly followed by Danny and Mike, Ashley reached a deserved 50 and looked set for greater things had he not been superbly caught out at backward point for 58. Joe Smith (10), Pete Briggs (18) and Dick Papps (12no) steadied the ship and ensured that we were able to post 140. Confident that we could defend this, we were in for a rude awakening as the Novartis top order set about the bowlers and kept up with the required run rate. Joe Smith bagged a couple of wickets, but star of the bowling show, Pete Cook (4-27), kept us in it as the tide turned to Novartis. Intelligent batting at the death by Danny Mawer however ensured Novartis (down to ten men, following an unfortunate injury to Ian Johnson) would claim a deserved victory on the very last ball.
Not the result we had hoped for, particularly after an awesome start, but we will improve and I suspect play with a greater intensity over the course of each game in future. Fortunately we have two games next week to get back into winning ways and hopefully put this down to an early blip.

11th May Vs North Thoresby - Win

This year's campaign got off to a positive start with a win against North Thoresby. Being put into bat, Keelby looked for a positive start with the new opening batting partnership of Charlton Snr and Briggs Jnr. A fine bit of fielding put pay to Ashley, run out to a direct hit, who was then quickly followed back into the Pavillion by Chris and Mike Phillips. The VC and Joe Smith looked to repair the damage and had a handy partnership, before Danny was caught at mid on, trying to move the scoreboard on. A second mini-collapse followed with Joe, Peter's Briggs and Cook, along with Joe's coach, Andy, each failing victim to the Thoresby attack. Thankfully Dick Papps had remained at the crease and he was able to punish the bowlers with a cultured 24 and ensure that we at least were able to post a defendable total of 99.

With opening bowlers, Smith Snr and MClellan V.Snr, keeping things tight early on, Thoresby's reply was stifled, with a mere 15 scored off the first 6 overs. After 10 overs, the score had only moved onto 27, largely as a result of a fantastic return of 5 wickets for a paltry 8 runs by John, with four of these victims clean bowled. 'The Whispering Death', took over from Joe's coach, and completed a fine all round display, conceding just 15 runs and grabbing a wicket as well. From the other end, Pete Cook bagged a couple of wickets, and bowled a tidy spell, before the Skipper got in on the act with a wicket also. The VC had an accomplished night behind the stumps, conceding no byes and catching a nice catch. Overall a good display, but with plenty of scope for improvement, which will be needed as tougher challenges may well lay ahead.

Batting Highlights
Papps 24, Bevis 21, Extras 21

Bowling Highlights
McLellan 5-8, Cook 2-20