1st XI Match Report – 15th August 2015
Looking for a 4th consecutive victory, Grantham 1st XI welcomed last year's league champions, Bourne to Gorse Lane. The day did not get off to an ideal start with the coin coming down in the visitors favour on a pitch that had been affected by rain on the previous day. It didn't take long for the first wicket to fall when Bansal edged Colin Cheer for just 8 in the third over. Daniel Freeman (91) fell just short of three figures when he put a half-tracker down deep mi-wicket's throat but the partnerships of 67 with Josh Mihill (23) and 101 with Rohan Nurse (85*) meant the score was 184-3 when he eventually left the field. Rohan continued with Dan Webb (14) and David Whapplington (33*) to set a target of 279 for victory: a formidable target for a team that chose to bowl first.
Well aware of Bourne's prolific scoring rate, Grantham didn't panic when, in the first 10 overs, Bourne had amassed 50 for the loss of only 1 wicket. Joe Peck (3-35) made the first breakthrough and he and fellow opener Dan Freeman (3-47) each collected three scalps in Grantham's victory. Neil Stevenson (2-33) and Karanjit Bansal (1-33) contributed with the ball and it was a tidy performance by the Grantham fielders. With Jordan Temple unable to bat due to injury, Grantham collected full points after the ninth wicket fell and now have a safety net of 45 points between them and 8th place, Market Rasen. Grantham make the long journey to Louth next week hoping to take their unbeaten streak to 5.
2nd XI Match Report – 8th August 2015
Belton Park 1st XI arrived as favourites when they took on Grantham 2nds at Gorse Lane after dishing out a drubbing earlier in the season, but Grantham were in no mood to roll over this time. Batting first, Grantham put the Belton bowlers under severe pressure and unfortunately Belton's bowlers wilted as Grantham piled on the runs with a complete top order performance. Runs came from Stewart Mudie (41), Matthew Wing (39), Danny Ashley (42) providing support for the classy James Cameron-Clarke who compiled 74, dispatching the deflated Belton bowlers to all parts of the Gorse Lane and beyond to amass 262.
Belton's reply didn't get any better and they were effectively out of the running after being reduced to 8 for 4 with Danny Ashley blowing away the top order. Belton bimbled along to 160 before Rahul Kumar and Louis Greetham picked up 2 wickets each to seal an emphatic victory.
1st XI Match Report – 8th August 2015
Grantham travelled to Market Deeping with high hopes of continuing their run of form. The toss came down in Grantham's favour and captain Rohan Nurse had no hesitation in choosing to bat first. Dan Freeman (28) and Karanjit Bansal started scoring freely from the beginning and it soon became apparent that Bansal was on a mission. He continued scoring quickly as he forged partnerships with Josh Mihill (43), Rohan Nurse (13) and David Whapplington (23*). He eventually finished unbeaten on 169 not out with the total just shy of 300.
A daunting total for the home side didn't dampen their spirits however and the seamers failed to make a breakthrough early on. It was spinners Bansal (3-37) and Neil Stevenson (5-58) who did the damage bowling with control and discipline. Grantham failed to pick up full bonus points, only claiming 8 of the 10 wickets, but the 17 point victory puts them in a comfortable mid-table position and looking towards the top half as the season concludes.
2nd XI Match Report – 1st August 2015
Grantham 2nds travelled to mid-table Stamford knowing they faced a stiff challenge after Stamford had put together a string of impressive results. Grantham batted first and, although the the ball kept low, pushed on to 89 for 2 at the drinks break. Contributions from Stu Mudie (40) and Martin Parmley (38) and Darren Ashley (37) all added to a decent total once Gaz Bennett, 50 not out, cut lose with some powerful drives pushing the total up to 212.
Grantham's reply started with the experienced Joey Farmer and Darren Ashley. Farmer used his loaf but bowled without any luck so it was down to the change bowlers Rahul Khumar, Addy Parker and Ady Wing who, assisted by some good catching, all picked up 3 wickets apiece to put the game beyond the reach of Stamford.
1st XI Match Report – 1st August 2015
Following a 20 point victory against Market Rasen, Grantham welcomed Spalding to Gorse Lane in high spirits. When these two teams met earlier in the season Grantham romped to victory scoring 326 and conceded only 150 runs in the hunt for 10 wickets. Hoping to repeat this performance Rohan Nurse chose to bat first and Dan Freeman and Karanjit Bansal (35) made their way to the wicket. It was a promising start for the home side when the opening partnership passed 50. Karanjit scored freely before being dismissed by Charlie Kearns and he was replaced by Josh Mihill (33). Dan Freeman continued to test the patience of the Spalding bowlers, punishing the bad balls, and when Josh was replaced by captain Nurse (55*), who was subsequently joined by Daniel Webb (39), the relentless scoring picked up speed. Freeman was eventually dismissed by Jack Barratt but not before he passed three figures and ended with 122.
The Grantham bowlers made an early breakthrough when James Hook was clean-bowled by Joe Peck but Spalding put together a tidy partnership of 84 to put them in contention. Warren Nel (49) and Josh Newton (52) were just starting to gain momentum before Peck made a second vital breakthrough skittling Newton in the 24th over. From that point wickets were easier to come by with Peck leading the bowlers and collecting 4 more wickets to finish with figures of 6-50. The big victory over Spalding puts Grantham 8th in the league and in a strong position when they play Market Rasen next weekend.
2nd XI Match Report – 25th July 2015
Grantham 2nd travelled to Spalding knowing that this was a must-win game for both sides and, after losing the toss were asked to bat first after the covers had leaked in a couple of areas. Ady Wing and Stewart Mudie (39) opened and soon found that scoring was difficult on a slow wicket combined with a slow outfield but both grafted to put on 66 for the first wicket before Mudie was out. The top order all contributed after Wing (32) became the second of five victims for Answar Hussein. James Cameron-Clarke (21), Martin Parmley (27) and Danny Ashley(32) then pushed the total up to 172.
Recognising that pace off the ball was difficult to score off Grantham opened with Joe Farmer who bowled excellent lines producing figures of 10 overs, 5 maidens 0 for 7 but it was his partner, Danny Ashley who took the plaudits with 7 for 30 and took Spalding apart giving Grantham a well deserved victory.