Lincolnshire National Counties Showcase 50 overs at Cleethorpes Summary

 

16/07

If the Showcase event against Lincolnshire was in any way a means to showcase how suitable the venue is for hosting a Metro Cup game or a future summer scheduled championship match, then Cleethorpes didn't do so well, beyond that of the highly suitable wicket (that hosts a three day game every year for LCCC, so perhaps they're half way there).

• Seating provision for spectators was inadequate, but wasn't a problem as most provided their own.
• Catering was limited to bar snacks and a pizza vendor. We were at the seaside and not even an ice cream van was there. Fish and chips wouldn't have been too much of stretch to provide with the captive audience in their hundreds present.
• I believe that there was an announcer at the ground speaking into a microphone, but his loud speakers weren't loud and they were limited to the pavilion only, so he was effectively useless and wasting his breath.
• Toilets, whilst advertised on Pravda as being around the ground, were in reality limited again to the pavilion only and were accompanied by queues for most of the day.
• Hot beverages such as tea and coffee were self service from a machine, but just one machine hidden in the back of the pavilion in a poorly lit alcove under some stairs but the coffee was of a reasonable quality and priced at £2 / £2.50. It was PG if you're a tea person.
• Beer was obviously available and came in a glass glass, which gets a thumbs up from me, but would generate red flags from any county H&S officer.
• Car parking was on the ground and appeared spaceous but a lot of it would have been in range of some more straight hitting. As luck would have it only the one monster straight six was hit all day which clattered the underside of someone's vehicle. Other sixes hit might have worried a few of the gardeners on the Daggett Road sides of the ground.
• Stewarding was provided by Cleethorpes CC members and players and was friendly and chatty all day.
• Why on earth was the game not played on the day before (Sunday), instead of a work/school day? They couldn't schedule a heavy drinking session at the Blue Monkey micro brewery.

In summary, Cleethorpes has the facilities that you'd expect to see at a multitude of club grounds, although those facilities are well appointed, near-modern and well cared for. The club should have thought outside the box a litttle if they were looking to showcase these facilities and venue better for future visits from their grandiose neighbours and could have taken a few pointers from Lincoln Lindum in 2024 and expanded upon them. Cleethorpes is certainly a better location than the remote Grantham outpost of civilisation but is located 90 minutes away, with a clear run on the motorway and more than 2 hours according to Google using A roads at different times of the day, so not a quick pop to.

14/07

NOTTS CRUISE TO EASY WIN BY THE SEA

Notts easily won their 50 over friendly against Lincolnshire today by 160 runs. Notts posted 379-6 off their 50 overs with Matt Montgomery top scoring with 100 and with three Notts batsmen securing half-tons – Slater (62), King (54) and Schadendorf (65*).

A crowd of around 450 were in attendance at the Chichester Road Ground at Cleethorpes with a good smattering of spectators from Notts. They were given a warm welcome from the locals.

Lincolnshire won the toss and elected to bowl on what turned out to be an excellent batting wicket albeit with a very bumpy outfield. Notts only included one Blast regular Matt Montgomery but fielded experience pair Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater. Surprisingly there was no place in the Eleven for Conor McKerr.

Former Notts left arm seamer Mark Footitt (Pavilion End) opened the bowling. His opening partner Tite found it tough going conceding 18 in his opening two overs and was replaced by Shephard from the Daggett Road End. Slater and Martindale hit a succession of boundaries with the Notts 50 coming up in the 8th over. Notts 60 for 0 after 10 overs.

Tite replaced Footitt for the 11th over and had Martindale (29) caught behind by Tom Keast, 65 for 1. In the 16th over, Hameed (5) was bowled chopping on to Shephard, 83 for 2. Slow left armer Joe Pocklington who has made regular appearances for Notts Seconds in T20 cricket this season came on for the 17th over. Slater reached his 50 off 43 balls with a square leg boundary off Shephard in the 18th over. The Notts 100 came up in the 20th over. Slater (62 off 56 balls, 8x4) was caught at short third man by Nic Keast off Shephard,  112 for 2 in the 22nd over. Notts had reached 135 for 3 after 25 overs.

Knapton replaced Shephard (10 1 46 2)  from the Daggett End, Seecharan hitting him for 6 over wide long on. 12 off the 26th over. After bowling 2 overs for 22 Knapton was replaced by Nic Keast who had Seecharan (48 off 45 balls, 5x4, 1x6) caught and bowled, 174 for 4 in the 30th over. Cook replaced Pocklington in the 31st over. The Notts 200 came up in the 33rd over. Montgomery reached his 50 off 44 balls with a single off Nic Keast in the 36th over. King hit Jordan Cook (4 0 30 0) for 6 over long off in the 37th over. Next over, Montgomery hit Keast for a straight six and King smashed a full toss from him for six over mid-wicket, 19 off the over. Pocklington returned for the 39th over. Tite (6 0 47 1) came back for the 40th over. Notts 255 for 4 after 40 overs.

Footitt returned for the 42nd over with a pulled six for King bringing up his 50 in 35 balls - 15 off the over. King (54 off 37 balls, 6x4, 2x6) was bowled off his pads by Pocklington (10 0 52 1), 277 for 5 in the 43rd over. The 5^th wicket partnership had added 103 in 12.2 overs. Schadendorf  hit Footitt for sixes over mid-wicket and long off and Montgomery hit him for six over extra cover - 20 off the 44th over. Keast returned for the 45th over Schadendorf hitting him for a six, 17 off the over. Footitt conceded 15 off the 46th over including a six for Schadendorf over square leg. Montgomery got his 100 with a two off Footitt in the 48th over. Schadendorf got to his 50 off 21 balls with a six over long on off Keast. Schadendorf was dropped on 58 by Wright at long off off Keast. Montgomery (100 off 76 balls, 12x4, 2x6) was caught at mid-wicket by Cook off Keast (8 0 84 2), 370 for 6 after 49 overs. The electric sixth stand between Montgomery and Schadendorf  had put on 97 in just 6.5 overs  Footitt (10 1 97 0) went for eight and a leg bye off the last over. Notts 379 for 6 off 50 overs with Schadendorf on 65 (off 30 balls, 6x4, 5x6) and Lord on 0.

Hayes (Pavilion End) and Lord opened the bowling.  Nic Keast was dropped on 19 by Martindale running furiously towards third man off Lord in the 4th over. Nic Keast (23) was caught in the covers by Slater off Lord, 34 for 1 in the 4th over. In the 9th over, Wright (19) was caught at the second attempt by King at mid-wicket off Hayes, 53 for 2. Haider (3) was caught at short third man by Martindale off a Lord delivery that popped up, 62 for three off 10 overs.

Montgomery came on for the 13th over. Giles took a wicket with his first ball having Pocklington (23) caught by Slater at deep square leg; 77 for 4 in the 14th over. In his next over, Giles had Tom Keast (11) caught by King at deep square leg; 84 for 5 in the 16th over.  The game looked like it was going to finish early but Notts were frustrated by a 6th wicket stand of 118 in 22  overs between former Notts Academy all-rounder Jordan Cook and Ben Jones. Farhan came on for the 23rd over. Giles impressed in his six over spell with figures of 2 for 21. Lincolnshire 122 for 5 after 25 overs.

Lord (8 0 43 2) returned for the 26th over and bowled two overs and was replaced by Montgomery. Hayes came on for the 36th over with Cook reaching his 50 off 63 balls. Martindale came on for the 37th over with Cook hitting him for six over square leg. Notts suddenly took three wickets in four balls. Cook (60 off 67 balls, 6x4, 1x6) was lbw to Hayes, 202 for 6 in the 38th over. Jones (48 off 72 balls, 7x4) had run out of steam and became Hayes' (9 0 56 3) second victim of the over caught at mid-on, 203 for 7. Next ball, Martindale removed Footitt (1) who skied him in the air with Hameed taking a good running catch from mid-on. (203 for 8). Knapton was dropped on 2 by Montgomery in the covers off Martindale. Tite was dropped by  Lord on 3 at mid-on also off the same over from Martindale (3 1 23 1). Farhan (8 0 35 0) returned for the 42nd over. Montgomery (9 0 41 2) finished the match by bowling the last two Lincolnshire batsmen (Tite for 5 and Shephard for 0) within three balls. Lincolnshire 219 all out off 43 overs at 18:12 – Knapton 9 not out.

A useful work out for Notts albeit against opponents who put up much less of a challenge than they did 12 months ago in Lincoln. MAG

The Notts squad, featuring only Monty of Blast regulars:

Haseeb Hameed
Ben Slater

Ben Martindale

Matt Montgomery

Sam Seecharan

Sammy King

Dane Schadendorf

Byron Hatton-Lowe

Conor McKerr

Rob Lord

Francis Moore

Tom Giles

James Hayes

Farhan Ahmed

I wonder what the hero of the match last year, Sam Evans, is doing now?

Article about Notts at Cleethorpes CC

Lincolnshire posted:

Lincolnshire County Cricket will again be hosting a one-off showcase game against our professional neighbours, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club . This year’s game will be staged at Cleethorpes Cricket Club's Chichester Road ground. The game serves as a fantastic opportunity for our players to showcase their skills against professional players and for Nottinghamshire, it provides a great opportunity to fine tune their 50 overs skills ahead of the Metro Bank, One Day Competition.

Nottinghamshire are expected to field a strong side as this game represents one of the few opportunities for players to push their case for selection ahead of the One Day campaign, last year’s game featured the likes of former England man Haseeb Hameed and England Lion, Dillon Pennington.

Lincolnshire will be looking for a repeat performance of last year which saw Lincolnshire successfully chase down Nottinghamshire plus 300 first innings total and Tom Keast’s men will be looking for another strong showing against a First Class County.

This years game also sees the return of professional cricket to Chichester Road, home to Cleethorpes CC. Cleethorpes have staged a number of first class and List A games in the past and there are few better grounds in the county to host such an occasion.

We hope you can join us by the seaside for this one off 50 over game.

Play starts at 11am on Monday the 14th July, entry is £6 for adults (payable on entry, cash or card) and free for under 16’s.

Lincolnshire CCC members also gain free entry on the day.

Food and drink will be available to purchase on the day and the ground is situated a short walk from the promenade.