The old adage catches win matches was true at Caister on Saturday as Kirkley Sports fell to a narrow defeat in near darkness at a damp Caister.Sports' won the toss and invited Caister to bat on an uneven looking wicket.

The old adage catches win matches was true at Caister on Saturday as Kirkley Sports fell to a narrow defeat in near darkness at a damp Caister.

Sports' won the toss and invited Caister to bat on an uneven looking wicket. Opening bowlers Holmes and Cross immediately had the batsman tied down as they bowled fast and straight only 11 runs were able to come off the first ten overs for the loss of P Holmes clean bowled by his namesake.

Stokes caught behind by Parker off a rising Holmes delivery was next to fall and at the first rain break Caister were 34-2 off 15 overs.

After an hour off the wicket was now very damp but new batsmen Sims and Kerrison went on the attack with Sims.

However, one shot too many resulted in Sims with 27 being caught by a steepling Muirhead catch off Tuttle.

Kerrison offered a couple of chances that Sports' failed to take and it was Johnson was the next to fall clean bowled by Tuttle.

Caplin replaced Muirhead and proceeded to bowl an excellent spell that restricted the shot making of Caister and together with Tuttle and Holmes Sports chipped away taking regular wickets. Holmes removed R Kerrison, Church and Hewitt to return the excellent figures of 5-22 as Caister were 144 all out on a detoriating pitch.

Sports reply started badly as McAlone was caught behind by Church off a fired up Sims before another heavy shower forced the teams off again this time only for 10 mins.

On the resumption Carroll edged Sims to Holmes at slip. Parker and Laws rebuilt for Sports' who still only needed three runs per over. They brought up a 50 partnership before Parker, on 32 skied a Myhill delivery to Johnson. Tuttle joined Laws and steadied the ship again moving onto 89 before Laws was caught behind by Church off Myhill for 29.

The same fate met Jermy before Holmes flicked a Myhill ball straight into the waiting Johnson. Cross was caught by a stunning catch by the diving Johnson which deserved to win any match.

Soon after Tuttle was clean bowled by the returning Sims for 27 leaving Sports 115-8 but with still 10 overs remaining.

Muirhead and Read knuckled down picking up the boundary but generally protecting their wickets and edging closer to the target in desperate light.

Disaster struck though when, having seen off Sims, Muirhead tried to go over the top and was caught by Kerrison. Caplin was clean bowled two balls later to seal a six-run victory for Caister in virtual darkness.

This week Sports' entertain Drayton at Walmer Road.

Kirkley Sports are sponsored by Glen and Ritchi High of The Ole Frank.