Pinchbeck were the only South Holland side to complete a fixture in the South Lincs and Border League on Saturday – but they probably wish the rain had come to their rescue.
With the county-wide downpour washing almost all of the cricket out across three divisions, Pinchbeck’s eight-wicket defeat against table-topping Claypole was one of only four games that reached a conclusion.
However, it wasn’t a day to remember for Nick Crook’s side as they were bowled out for just 48 in 26.4 overs, before the hosts (49-2) knocked off the runs in a rapid 4.3 overs.
Having lost the toss, Pinchbeck – who went into the clash in fifth place – were asked to bat first by their hosts.
They lost Andrew Beeston for a duck early on when Glynn Willis (1-22) had him caught by Claypole captain John North.
A period of relative stability followed, with Crook joined by a very watchful Glen Hammond at the crease. Hammond saw out 30 balls and managed five runs before being clean bowled by Matt Revill (1-7).
The key wicket came next, with captain Crook (12) becoming the first of six victims for Chris Wharmby (6-7). He was caught by Kristian Lennon to leave Pinchbeck on 29-3.
That soon became 30-4 when Max Foster (0) was caught behind off Wharmby, before Jamie Parrish (4) perished caught and bowled by Lennon.
Tom Richardson-Woodward (2), Alex Cole (0), Mike Knight (3) and Tom Sheppard (0) all fell under Wharmby’s spell to see Pinchbeck collapse to 40-9, with three of them having their stumps shattered.
Matt Kidd (3) and Peter Busfield (2 not out) moved the score on to 48 before Kidd was cleaned up by Graham Revill (1-1).
Beeston (1-23) and Crook (1-13) both took wickets in the Claypole reply, but James King’s rapid 26 not out from ten balls fired them to all 20 points inside five overs.
