Close game in the Snaith League

Published on 10th July 2008 in Sport

Fishlake  148-4

Luddington  146-5

Luddington suffered a rare defeat last Thursday in a thrilling finish against Fishlake which dented their hopes of retaining their joint hold on the Snaith League Division One title.

The Isle team took first knock on what was a belting track and made a solid start with both openers Darren Clark and Mark Coulman looking untroubled.

Pete Roper bowled his five overs for 27 whilst Tom Elliott proved a little more frugal, going for just 19 but a breakthrough seldom seemed on the cards and the two openers then began to open out, taking their stand to 93 before Clark was bowled by Tim Elliott for 37 including a six and two boundary fours.

Coulman was batting majestically and he reached his half century in 49 deliveries having hit seven fours. Andy Lawson, still struggling from a knee injury picked up in bizarre circumstances over 10 days earlier. joined Coulman at the crease and the two of them added 50 in no time. Then Coulman was stumped by Matt Mason off Richard Copley for 67 as he went in search of late runs.

That signalled something of a collapse for Luddington, which saw a further three wickets fall with barely another run added. Ultimately that proved costly for them, with just four runs added in the final two overs. Lawson was magnificently caught on the long off boundary by Charlie Metcalfe off Copley having made 31, including two sixes and three fours. But Graham Clark and Mark Fletcher both went without troubling the scorers as Ludd. closed on 146-5 from their 22 overs, Richard Copley ending with a creditable 3-39 for the home side.

Fishlake felt that their late stalling of the Luddington run chase had given them a great chance of winning the match, particularly on such a good strip but they were made to fight for any early runs by Liam McAnaney and Matt Mellers, who is currently bowling as well as he ever has on the back of a hat-trick for Outcasts seconds at the weekend.

It was Mellers who picked up the first wicket when Charlie Metcalfe was superbly caught by Steve Proctor having made five, but a further break through didn't come.

Richard Copley rode his luck early in his innings when lofting the ball close to fielders and then being dropped when the suns glare deceived Andy Lawson, but after appearing a little rusty at first he went on to produce a match winning performance for his team.

Matt Mason batted well at the other end and they took the score from 14-1 to 92 before Mason was caught by Mark Fletcher off Mark Coulman for 37, including a six and two fours.

Home skipper Tim Elliott then joined Copley and much to Copley's discomfort the running between the wickets stepped up a pace. Copley went to his half century with a towering six, one of three he eventually hit in his innings along with five fours, but just when it appeared they were going to cruise to a victory Luddington hit back when Peter Tait held a good caught and bowled to dismiss Elliott for seven and Graham Clark bowled Copley for 66 with his first delivery.

At that stage Fishlake still required 17 to win from eleven balls but old head Andy Edwards allayed any nerves with a quickfire 14 to guide his team to victory with a couple of deliveries to spare.

So Luddington were left to rue their last two overs when so few runs were gleaned but their fighting spirit came to the fore during the Fishlake innings as they made them battle hard before just missing out.

Next up will be another tough encounter at Goole Town followed by a home game against last season's joint Champions Askern so it doesnt get any easier for the Isle side.