Lincolnshire claim a place in ECB 38 Counties quarter-finals

Lincolnshire shrugged off a disastrous start at Cleethorpes to overcome the Leicestershire County Board XI and claim their place in the quarter-finals of the 38 County Competition.

James Clarke, captain for the day in Mark Fell's absence, won the toss and elected to bat but saw the first two wickets fall for only 20 runs. Jonathan Trower was first togo, followed by Martyn Dobson and when Jason Harrison and Richard Howitt had added 21, Howitt gave an easy catch to gully.

But Clarke produced a captain's innings as he and Harrison upped the pace, taking the score to 156 before Clarke was out for 61. This total included two sixes - one of which he placed neatly in the windscreen of the Lincolnshire Cricket Board chairman's car!

Harrison and Simon Webb added another 47 runs, Webb hitting 20, and Harrison went on to make 75 in an innings which ended on 230 for eight, Gareth Parkin the pick of the Leicester bowling with three for 23 off 10 overs.

The Lincs bowlers were soon among the wickets, David Christmas and Jonathan Davies reducing the visitors to 10 for two. David Pipes and Simon Oakes then took two each to make it 63 for six but Parkin was also on good form with the bat and he and number four Oliver Williams frustrated the bowlers with a stand of 78 which ended with Parkin run out for 24.

Christmas took his second wicket on 145 and a fine catch by Howitt off Pipes saw the ninth wicket go on 153. But despite being well behind the run rate, Leicester were determined to push Lincs to the limit, Williams and last man Adam Rennocks taking the score to 181 in the 48th over before Rennocks was lbw Davies, leaving Williams stranded on 94 and Lincs with a 49 run victory.

Lincs' quarter final will be away against the winners of Worcestershire CB v Warwickshire CB on August 1.