In-form Smith narrowly fails to steer Spalding Town to victory

Spalding Town picked up nine more points in their bid for survival in the Lincs ECB Premier League as they earned a losing draw at Market Rasen on Saturday.

Having limited hosts Rasen to 190-8 batting first,  Town managed 177-8 in their reply – meaning they were an agonising 13 runs shy of a much-needed victory.

Spinners Warren Nel (5-54) and Dan Milgate (3-76) starred with the ball for Town as they did a fine job of stifling Rasen’s batting line up after Rob Ambrose had won the toss.

Rasen’s top four all got starts, with David Papworth (19), Seb Darke (24), Liam Scales (12) and Ian Williams (38) all threatening to score big before being dismissed.

Missing fast bowlers Charlie Kearns and Henry Charlton, Town chipped away with the ball and looked set to dismiss their hosts for a low score before number eight Paul Martin (40) and bowler Charlie Scales (17) added vital runs down the order.

In reply, Nel (17) and young gun Jimmy Hook (44) gave Spalding a strong start. But wickets soon started to tumble, with Chris Dring (0), Milgate (4) and Pat Harrington (0) all going cheaply.

However, the in-form Ben Smith (64 not out) once again played a match-saving innings with his second half century on the spin.

Despite Josh Newton (13), Tim Norris (8) and Ambrose (9) doing their best to keep him company, he ran out of partners – leaving Spalding just shy of victory.

Matthew Rutherford (5-42) was the pick of the Rasen bowlers, while Tom Boryszczuk (3-55) also did some damage.

The result sees Town fall 24 points adrift at the foot of the table.

Saturday’s results

Lincs ECB Premier League

Results: Market Rasen 190-8 (Nel 5-54), Spalding 177-8 (Smith 64no, Rutherford 5-43); Bourne 221-9 (Louth 59), Skegness 136 (Cuthbert 50); Grantham 163 (Nurse 53, Bandara 6-27), Woodhall Spa 166-6 (Evison 71); Louth 151, Sleaford 153 -1 (McIntosh 86no); Lindum 211-7 (Tomlinson 66), Bracebridge Heath 201 (Houston 72, Smith 5-50); Market Deeping 185 (Jones 50), Grimsby Town 186-6 (Crossley 93no).

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division: Bourne 2nd 175 (Elleray 5-33), Boston 179-3 (Croom 85, Baxter 58no); Lindum Ramblers 241, Moulton Harrox 111 (Benson 5-37);
Long Sutton 118, Sleaford 2nd 119-4; Belton Park 115, Spalding 2nd 116-7 (Hussain 58); Stamford Town 238-7 (Peck 61) Billingborough 88 (Barrett 5-34); Grantham 2nd 166, Woodhall Spa 2nd 167-3 (Timby 68).

Division One: Market Deeping 2nd 332-1 (Witt 143no, McDougall 100, Hyman 68no), Long Sutton 77; Skegness 2nd 122, Boston 2nd 123-0 (Morley 58no, Poole 50no); Heckington 265-2 (Glendinning 128no, Charlesworth 102), Billingborough 237-9 (Stanley 91); Welby 151-9 (Meadows 56), Grantham 3rd 107 (Curran 6-22); Cavaliers 144, Freiston 148-7;.

Division Two: Timberland 272-6 (Behan 126no, Orrey 55), Boston 3rd 140; Spalding 3rd 90, Claypole 92-7; Grantham 4th 206-8 (Robinson 90), Graves Park 116; Pinchbeck 111, Baston 112-2.