Caistor Cougars took a bite out of a resilient Luddington side as the hosts cruised to a nine-wicket win.
Following the postponement of last week’s rained-off cup game, both sides agreed that their next fixture would count for league points and cup fortunes.
Things began in the worst possible fashion for Ludd as Ben Barrick bowled Darren Clark with the first ball of the game.
The situation was not improved when Danny Taylor was then run out in the second over and when Andy Lawson, who had scored a century the day before, was out for four the home side sensed blood.
Following Rick Green’s departure for one run Simon Rusling strode purposefully to the crease - and back to the pavilion before the end of the over after an action-packed three-ball innings of four, four and caught.
Andrew Clark was the next man in and out, clean bowled by a slower ball from Brooker.
Skipper Gareth Parkin, who had opened the batting, had been watching the demolition of his hitters from the non-striker’s end and still had only one run against his name.
After scoring another two runs he became Brooker’s fourth victim in ten balls and walked back to the changing room with the scoreboard showing 18 runs for 7 wickets.
Luddington’s lower order came, not for the first time, to the rescue and their attack-minded approach soon got the score heading in the direction of respectability.
Wayne Mell, on debut, crashed an impressive 13 before being bowled by Ben Young.
Doug Fann has not had the best of times with the bat this season but showed plenty of skill for his 8no as he and Arron Curry added 18 for the ninth wicket.
Curry was the last man out, caught by Brooker off Young for a majestically belligerent 23 to give the visitors a final score of 65 for 9.
Trying to defend such a modest total with only ten men in the field was never going to be an easy task and so it proved as Harry Boulton and Gareth Johnson added 52 for the first wicket before the latter was brilliantly caught by Curry off the bowling of Green for 35.
Rory Ronaldson joined Boulton and the two players walked back to the pavilion midway through the 15th over having passed Luddington’s total with a four.
Luddington are without a game for the next two Sundays with their next fixture on June 22 against Cleethorpes.
* Haxey CC’s first team’s miserable start to the Lincs County League Premier continued with a double defeat to Alkborough and Scunthorpe Town.
With just one win to their name this season, Haxey first hosted Alkborough but found themselves on the wrong end of a 27-run loss despite the best efforts of Hugh Maw’s incredible seven wicket haul.
Chasing a total of 137, Haxey began well with opener Thomas Wraith just three runs shy of his half century before Josh Baker caught him.
Further top scores came from Josh Savage - who also collected a trio of wickets - with 21 and Andrew Gardiner (23) as Haxey’s total finished on 110 with Cameron Farr not out off four balls.
Five days later Haxey made the short trip to Scunthorpe Town as the home side won by six wickets.
Claiming the toss, Scunthorpe elected to bowl as they removed Wraith for 13 in what was Liam Redmond’s first of six sublime wickets.
Skipper Mark Atkins led by example with an impressive 61no but Haxey were downed for 92.
The response began well as Atkins trapped scoreless Simon Kiddle LBW and Savage collected a brace of wickets from Dylan Hopkins (10) and Neil Patrick (13).
However, Ian Snowden managed to steady the ship with 34 without dismissal before Redmond and Ramesh Chand guided them over the line.
Haxey firsts are next in action this Saturday at home to Broughton.