Lincs County League: Louth CC Second XI secure rare win at Broughton

Following the comprehensive home victory over Broughton seven days before, vice-captain Steve Wright led the side in place of the unavailable Arran Brindle at a ground where Louth have failed to win for six seasons.

With the British summer having still not arrived, Wright thankfully won the toss and immediately elected to field in damp, overcast conditions.

With Stewart West back from the First XI, the Louth dynamic bowling duo of West and Reggie Koen was restored.

As usual Koen bowled tightly, restricting runs at one end, while West’s variation kept the Broughton batsmen on their guard.

Inevitably West broke through after a succession of close lbw calls as the umpire finally agreed with West and Clark departed.

When Fish and Simpson went in quick succession, also to West, it was left to Pullen to steady the Broughton innings.

Pullen dug in as Broughton regrouped until Johnstone fell to a deft slower ball bouncer from Koen which spiralled skywards to the waiting Tye.

When Duell replaced the tiring Koen, he struck almost immediately, having danger man Glenworth caught behind as the rain began to fall.

The shower was brief and when the covers came off Broughton resumed on 78-5 after 28 overs. When West finished his superb 15-over spell (3 for 23), he was replaced by Fisher who bowled a brief and varied four overs.

Among the chaos, three batsmen departed as the home side tried in vain to push the total on.

With the score at 102-8, Koen returned and Duell switched ends as Pullen tried to hold the waning innings together.

The pressure on the tail-enders told and Duell finished the job, clean bowling Ward and having Pullen (47) caught as Broughton stumbled to 116 all out in 42 overs.

Louth’s reply things did not start well when Wright departed with the score on six.

Chairman John Medler was joined at the crease by the in-form Zain Siddiqui and the pair chipped away at the low total on a slow scoring wicket.

The pair ground out the runs before Medler departed for a hard-fought 32 with the score on 72-2.

Siddiqui was joined by Harry Cearnes, a recent recruit from Caistor, and the pair looked to push on as the weather threatened again.

West and Siddiqui (39) both fell in the space of a few overs as the Louth innings faltered on 83-4.

Tye and Cearnes looked comfortable as they reeled in the target, but when both departed within four runs, a nail-biting finish loomed at 102-6.

Koen (9) and Kully Bains (9) showed nerves of steel as the home side pressed for more wickets, seeing the visitors home in the 41st over for a four-wicket win.

* Louth Seconds moved up to fourth in Division One and are on their travels again on Saturday when they visit high-flying Alkborough (1pm).

Thanks to club sponsor Kenwick Park.