Poor Pinchbeck battered by Burgh despite Langford’s 5-38

Saturday was a day to forget for Pinchbeck as hosts Burgh and District ripped through their batting line-up and inflicted a heavy 114-run defeat.

After putting the home side into bat in the South Lincs and Border League Division Two clash, Pinchbeck enjoyed the better of the early exchanges as James Langford and Andrew Beeston bowled tidy lines. The former was rewarded with the wickets of Nigel Underwood and Richard Hill to reduce the score to 13-2 after 12 overs.

Successive sixes from Burgh skipper Richard Underwood gave the run rate a push, before a fine one-handed catch from Langford prevented further damage, but from there Pinchbeck gradually lost their grip on their game and led by a half century from Justin Owen (67) the hosts were able to build an excellent total.

A stand of 70 with Philip Sharp (29) guided a recovery as Pinchbeck’s bowlers failed to impose themselves in the middle overs. Skipper Danny Jackson broke the partnership before Langford returned to claim three late wickets and collect figures of 5-38, but the hosts’ total of 171-8 was a fine effort.

The visitors’ reply never got going as opening bowlers Thorndike and Wilkinson chipped away with nagging accuracy and Pinchbeck limped to 37-2 at barely two runs per over before the wheels really came off and wickets tumbled.

Only Nick Crook (21) reached double figures as the innings capitulated to a mere 57 all out with Beardsley boasting a five-wicket haul and Burgh veteran Wilkinson claiming his 900th wicket for the club to wrap up an impressive victory for the hosts.