Seas End Hall kept their Rutland League Division Five promotion dreams alive by gaining revenge against rivals Wisbech 2nd on Sunday.
Wisbech had hammered Seas End Hall in the return fixture back in June, so it was the league newcomers from South Holland that had their pride to play for.
Things began well, with Seas End winning the toss, and putting their visitors into bat on a very hard, true pitch. With a strong cross-field gale making life difficult for everyone, the conditions favoured bowling.
Wisbech’s opening partnership of Tom Chapman, and Harrison Smith made a steady start and took their team to 84 off the first 22 overs, before Tom Wilson made the breakthrough, having Smith caught for 24 by Lewis Martin.
The dismissal gave Seas End the encouragement they needed to push on – and wickets then began to fall at regular intervals, while the run rate began to be pegged back.
Henry Charlton (1-36) was unlucky not to have more success, while fellow opener Andrew Beeston was economical with 0-39.
But it was Joe Lyon (3-34) and the ever dependable Richard Gilbert (5-22) who put the game into Seas End’s hands as the visitors were out for 183.
Hunting maximum points, Hall openers Dave Venables (53) and Lee Eyett (84no) took the game by the scruff of the neck and brought up their 50 partnership in only eight overs. They then pushed on further, bringing up a superb, almost faultless 100 partnership from just 17 overs.
Arran Shippley (1-20) eventually got rid of Venables, but this only brought Charlton to the crease and he picked up the baton, to push Seas End towards victory.
Charlton eventually fell LBW to Esser for 27, but Eyett continued towards a superb 84 not out to seal maximum points for Seas End, who wrapped the game up in just 28 overs.
Seas End Hall now have just three league games to go, with a chance of promotion at the first time of asking being firmly in their own hands now.
This weekend sees the league team have a weekend off, before travelling the short distance to Market Deeping 2nd on August 31.
