Lincolnshire now need just one more victory to go through to the next round of the 38 County Cup, having overcome main rivals Norfolk at The Lindum.

Mark Fell won the toss and, having elected to bat, was first man out, bowled Paul Bradshaw with the Lincs score on 28.

A run out saw Martyn Dobson depart for 16 with 59 on the board and only five runs had been added when Jason Harrison was caught behind for 25, leaving Norfolk in command.

But once again it was Jonathan Trower and Richard Howitt to the rescue, this partnership putting on 94 before Trower was stumped off Carl Rogers for 48 which came off just 48 balls and included seven fours.

James Clarke was next to go, also stumped off Rogers with the score on 170, and from here the Lincs run rate slowed. Howitt and Duncan Heath added 34, Howitt the next to be stumped for 69 in which he hit a six and eight fours. He was followed swiftly by Heath, caught and bowled Rogers for 17, and David Christmas was run out to make it 212 for eight.

But some lusty blows from Oliver Burford, ably supported by David Pipes saw Lincs to 237 for eight at the close, Burford unbeaten on 19 and Pipes on 11. Rogers was the pick of the bowling with three for 48 off nine while wicketkeeper James Garner ended with two catches and three stumpings.

The Lincs players knew that openers Carl Amos and Carl Rogers were both capable of scoring quickly, but Rogers didn't get the opportunity as the third ball of the Norfolk innings saw him caught behind by Burford off Christmas.

The same combination saw the dismissal of his replacement with the score on 34 and with 10 runs added Amos became the third victim for Burford and Christmas for 28.

But like their opponents, Norfolk had the partnership to stop the slide, Steve Goldsmith and Steve Livermore putting on 55 for the fourth wicket. Dobson split the partnership, bowling Livermore for 25 and when Simon Oakes trapped Goldsmith lbw for 29, Norfolk were 103 for five.

From here, the visitors fell steadily behind the required run rate, losing two more wicket to Dobson for 25 runs. A dogged eighth wicket partnership of 54 between Garner and Bradshaw gave Norfolk a ray of hope but Christmas returned to dismiss Garner for 26.

And after David Pipes took his only wicket on 198 it was left to Oakes to seal the victory, having Bradshaw caught next ball for 39 as Norfolk were all out for 198, Christmas finishing with four for 41 off his 10 overs, Oakes with two for 22 off seven and Dobson three for 22 off 10.

Lincolnshire must now beat the Leicestershire County Board XI in their match at Cleethorpes on July 7 to go through to the next round of the competition as winners of their group.

Prior to that, Lincs play Buckinghamshire in a three-day Minor Counties Championship match at Grantham starting on Sunday June 30.

© Lincolnshire CCC