Louth Seconds frustrated as rain saves Caistor

After a drizzly morning, conditions improved and on winning the toss, Caistor Seconds had no hesitation in asking the hosts to bat first.

Openers Steve Wright and Arran Brindle toiled in the humidity against tight bowling from Henry Gillott who made the pair work hard for every run. The pair remained patient and by the drinks break in the 23rd over had scored a solid 59.

Wright decided it was time to push on, but unfortunately this became his undoing as he spooned a slow delivery straight up in the air to the wicket-keeper, out for a hard-fought 36.

Relief for the visitors didn’t last long as in-form Stewart West, along with skipper Brindle, saw off the impressive Gillott who conceded only 21 runs in his 15-over spell.

This released the pressure and West tucked into the average bowling which followed. With haste he passed partner Brindle and brought up a swashbuckling 50 in no time.

The pair had put on 120 runs, and Brindle had reached her own 50, when West gifted his wicket on 82, chasing a rank long hop straight to the keeper. His lusty blows had pushed the score onto 181, and for the second time this season he had blown the chance of reaching three figures when set.

With Keon up next the run rate did not slow as he crashed a quickfire 16, including the shot of the day as he smashed a reverse pull for four.

At 208-3, Siddiqui (13 not out) joined the party alongside Brindle (65 not out) as Louth posted 225-3.

With rain looming, the Caistor chase faltered on the first ball as West sent Parker back to the pavilion.

When Keon dispatched Mason at 10-2, Caistor began to look to the heavens for a reprieve and when Young’s wicket made it 23-3, the visitors were on the ropes as the Louth bowlers looked to finish the game quickly.

Unfortunately rain intervened an over later in the 15th, and after a brief heavy shower the game became a timed match.

Returning reluctantly to bat Welton and Davis dropped anchor as the Louth attack tried to take the remaining seven wickets in 17 overs.

Man-of-the-match West dismissed Davis, caught Duell, and at 41-4 Louth circled the batsmen to up the pressure.

But a further torrential downpour let the visitors off the hook with eight overs remaining on 54-4.