Lane century helps Roses to victory over bottom side Thoresby Colliery II

Tom Lane raises his bat having made a century for Roses

The Gainsborough side, riding high in Bassetlaw Division Two, put the league’s bottom side in to bat, after skipper Andrew West won the toss.

Graham Clay and Ben Smith opened up the bowling for Roses.

It was obvious early on that the wicket was playing well again, and coupled with a fast outfield Thoresby dealt in fours early doors, without doing too much running in between.

Despite this the opening spells were tight, with Clay only going for nine runs from his 10 overs, however a wicket was proving hard to come by.

Panic never ensued for Roses who carried on plugging away and eventually got their breakthrough in the 27th over when Daniel Clay bowled the more conservative Thoresby opener, Ian Halfpenny, for 28.

Thoresby’s run rate started to stall after this as Roses applied pressure though some excellent fielding and tight bowling.

This pressure amounted to a second breakthrough, with Lane being rewarded with a wicket via a West catch.

Roses were now getting into the Thoresby batting line up, and Tommy Gray made further inroads when he took a magnificent caught and bowled in his first over. By this stage of the game Thoresby were looking to push on and take some runs, however they pushed too hard and Ben Smith ran out their surviving opener Nigel Birkett, after a good knock of 80.

Tommy Gray and Daniel Clay took a further wicket each in the dying overs which saw Thoresby finish on to 178-6 from their 46 overs.

The familiar pair of West and Lane took to the crease to open the batting for Roses and made a solid start, with boundaries and good running.

Thoresby took the pace off the ball first change and got a result as West was bowled for 15 after an opening partnership of 56.

Richard Keightley was next up and settled in looking confident early on.

Lane and Keightley went on to build the score to 142, which included Lanes 50 along the way, until Keightley was caught after a good innings of 35.

John Tittley was the next batsman in and joined Lane who was still going strong.

Lane reached a well deserved century, and Tittley chipped in with 11 as Roses knocked off the total with six overs to spare.

A very solid batting performance from Roses, inspired by a classic innings from Lane, which rounded off a good game all round for Roses who walked away with the win.