The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding 2nd team skipper Mike Kearns is calling for more player commitment after seeing his side suffer their first defeat of the South Lincs and Border League Division One campaign.
Kearns’ charges failed to chase down a below-par total of 136 which had been set by a visiting Welby side who had elected to bat first.
And Kearns felt his side had gone into the contest a batsman light after the club were hit by late player withdrawals.
He said: “Last minute withdrawals from Spalding teams certainly do not help on days like this.
“It is not always possible to replace a like-for-like player at the 11th hour as reserve players quite naturally often make alternative plans.
“This was the case this week which had us going into this game a batsman light.
“I will be sitting down with the club captain Rob Ambrose in order to voice my concerns as I feel that late withdrawals are happening far too regularly and having a hugely negative effect on teams.
“Commitment and desire to play for the club are paramount although, on a positive note, the players that did play were outstanding in the field.
“We will now need to pick ourselves up and show great character if we are to win this league.”
Welby lost three early wickets to some fine Spalding bowling from Nohman Ahmad (3-19 off 10 overs).
Some resilient batting from Welby’s Vidit Matta (33) and Dave Kennedy (52) saw the visiting side begin to build the score.
However, the introduction of Spalding spinner Matt Hendry saw them both back in the pavilion as he returned figures of 3-22 from 5.4 overs as Welby mustered what looked to be a below-par total of only 136.
However, cricket can be an unpredictable game.
At 38-2, Spalding looked to be coasting to victory until a contentious umpiring decision saw Matt Gill given out LBW for 11.
This galvanised the Welby bowling attack who soon removed in-form batsman Simon Juckes for one and Steve Norris for eight to reduce the home team to 48-5.
Spalding looked to have overcome the worst before Steven Rushworth (11) tickled one behind chasing a wide ball.
Jamie Juckes (16) and Mike Kearns (18) still looked to have the game under control until Kearns was given out LBW, with the score on 85.
He was soon accompanied back to the pavilion by Jamie Juckes as Matta had him caught and bowled.
Two outstanding catches from Athambawa Aazeer dismissed Matt Sharpe (4) and Nohman Ahmad (6) to go with his bowling figures of 4-31 from 12 overs as the previously-unbeaten Spalding team were all out for 98 in reply.
The defeat was slightly eased by news that Spalding’s nearest rivals Freiston also lost on Saturday which leaves them 18 points behind Town but with a game in hand at the top of the table.
Spalding 2nd’s next game is at home to Heckington on Saturday, August 20.
