Freeman’s super 7-36 in Grantham victory sends Spalding Town into drop zone

Spalding Town slipped into the Lincs ECB Premier Divison drop zone after suffering a comprehensive six-wicket defeat to high-flying Grantham on Saturday.

Having elected to bat first at Spalding Grammar School, Town were dismissed for just 117 in 29.5 overs as Daniel Freeman ripped through the order with fantastic figures of 7-36.

Spalding, to their credit, did make Grantham work hard for their win with Roy Tilley taking 2-50.

But they reached 119-4 in the 33rd over to take maximum points, while Town only took away a solitary point of their own.

After opting to bat first, Spalding lost opener Faisal Javed to the bowling of Samuel Peters (1-17) for just six.

Warren Nel (10) and Luke Hollingworth (38) did their best to build a platform, but Nel was bowled by Matt Dowman (1-21) with the score on 41.

It was then time for the Freeman show to begin, with the bowler directly involved in the next eight wickets.

He bowled Chris Dring for 16 to leave Town on 72-3, before running out Jonathan Miles for six.

Hollingworth was then trapped LBW to end his solid knock that included six fours, before Tim Norris (0) and Josh Lawrence (7) went in quick succession.

Town were now in dire straits, having collapsed from 91-4 to 96-7 – and Freeman was in no mood to let them off the hook.

A quick 15 from Ben Smith steered Spalding into three figures, but once Freeman bowled him it was soon game over with Cameron Roy (1) and Tilley (0) both pinned LBW.

Town, who have bowled well all season, knew they’d have to strike early to have any chance of an unlikely win.

And that’s exactly what they did, with Tilley getting rid of James Dobson (2) to put Grantham under a little pressure at 9-1.

That soon became 23-2 when Freeman (5) edged Tilley behind to Rob Ambrose, before Miles removed Ross Carnelley for 20 to make it 43-3.

Spalding were beginning to believe when Javed removed James Keast (29) to leave Grantham on 64-4, but Dowman (17 not out) and skipper Dan Webb (39 not out) had other ideas.

The pair put on an unbeaten 55 for the fifth wicket to ease Grantham home and deny Town anything more than one bowling bonus point.