The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Long Sutton boosted their hopes of avoiding finishing in the bottom two of South Lincs and Border League’s Premier Division.
South Holland sides have locked out the bottom three places currently, but Sutton got a morale-boosting win at doomed Moulton Harrox last Saturday (Aug 15).
Their fourth win of the season was largely thanks to terrific bowling figures of 6-10 from Rob Simpson.
Jake Burton also claimed four wickets (for 44 runs) as the pair ripped through the Harrox line-up.
Once openers Matthew Barnett (34) and Tom Wilson (22) were caught, it was largely plain sailing for Sutton as Harrox were removed for a total of 95 in the 27th over.
Sutton skipper and opener Phil Barnes stroked five fours on his way to 33, before Ben Shields took his wicket.
James Cornwell took the only other wicket for Harrox, bowling Steve Skoulding for nine.
Sutton’s James Wright was 24 not out as they made 98 in just the 18th over.
Third-from-bottom Spalding 2nd are looking over their shoulder at Sutton following a 55-run defeat by Woodhall Spa 2nd.
Town were one wicket shy of bowling out the second-placed visitors, who made 188.
Gill cracked 53 in Town’s reply, but they fell well short at 133 all out in the 43rd over.
In Division Two, Spalding 3rd returned from Belton Park 2nd with a narrow win.
Kingsley Riplay made 54 as Town set a decent target of 191-7 off the 45 overs.
He was backed up by knocks from Ben Edwards (41), Keith De-Keyzer (25) and Ashley Bright (22).
Belton skipper Mick Coulson did the most damage, claiming three wickets.
Amelia Gardner removed both Belton openers, but not before James Offer reached 50 and William Helliwell 32.
Bright, Harry Wilkinson-Roberts and Richard Gilbert also picked up a pair of wickets each as Town ensured the home side did not get too near the target.
Belton succumbed in the second ball of the final over.
Spalding 1st are limping towards probable relegation from Lincs ECB Premier League.
A seven-wicket defeat at Market Deeping on Saturday was a further nail in the coffin and it’s a matter of time before a bottom-place finish is confirmed.
Town skipper Rob Ambrose elected to bat but it was a horrid day for his charges. The top six batsmen amassed a paltry 16 runs between them.
Only number eight Tim Norris made it into double figures. In fact his 41 was a decent knock, curtailed only by Ajaz Akhtar’s catch off Mehul Adatia’s bowling.
Deeping skipped passed the required 113 target for the loss of three wickets.
Catches from wicket-keeper Ambrose and Josh Newton accounted for openers Chris Jones and Alex Jones respectively.
Akhtar (12) went too, bowled by Roy Tilley, but Emile Kriek (43) and Dave Gillett (11) were unbeaten as they steered the home side to a comfortable derby win.
