The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Resurgent Spalding Town 2nd climbed up to second in South Lincs and Border League Division One with a good all-round display at Cavaliers.
Ansar Hussain (65) and David Thomas (56no) steered Town to 177-7, before they limited the hosts to 140-9 in reply.
On a good batting deck, Spalding skipper Steve Norris won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first.
However, Town got off to a slow start with Lewis Taylor dismissing both Mike Kearns (6) and Mick East (1) with unplayable yorkers.
Simon Juckes (20) and Hussain then battled well against a testing spell from Taylor and Matt Mitchell, before Juckes was dismissed by another brute from Taylor. Jim Clarke (1) also fell cheaply to leave Town on 55-4.
Young Thomas joined Hussain next – and the duo upped the scoring rate. Hussain reached his 50 with a six before falling shortly afterwards LBW.
Aggressive shots from Jamie Juckes (27) and Thomas boosted Town before the former was run out, with happy to close on 177 after their 45 overs.
In reply Tom Dale (3-23) and Jamie Juckes (1-16) strangled the hosts. Dale picked up dangerman Hayes (1) plumb in front, Johnson (1) who played on and Wilkin (8) with one that nipped backed to clatter middle stump. Jamie Juckes then removed Church (7) with an unplayable delivery.
Mark Dale (36) gave Cavaliers some respite, but Hussain soon accounted for him (1-24).
Matt Sharpe (2-22) then came on to bowl near the end and picked up a pair of wickets, before Steve Taylor and Rajarshi Kolay put on an unbroken 44 to see Cavaliers fall 37 runs short on 140-9.
Skipper Norris said: “It was a good team performance – well batted to young Dave Thomas and Ansar Hussain again.
“All the lads bowled good lines to ensure our second victory in a row.
“But we must always look forward – starting with this week’s game at Grantham.”
- Spalding 3rd’s scheduled home game with Boston 3rd on Saturday didn’t go ahead, with the away side conceding.
