The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
In-form Spalding Town made it five wins on the spin in South Lincs and Border League Premier Division after making light work of Woodhall Spa 2nd on Saturday.
On a day when intermittent rain was a problem across the county, Town bowled out hosts Spa for a meagre 63 in 35.5 overs as Nilantha Atapattu (3-17) and Thomas Decamps (3-14) starred.
Spalding then raced to 64-2 from 15.4 overs to take the maximum 20 points on offer, with Jon Manton (31) top scoring.
It was a great toss for Town to win at Jubilee Park, as they inserted their hosts and allowed only one of their players to make double figures. Along with the fine hauls from Atapattu and Decamps, Joe Broomfield (2-13) and Josh Lawrence (2-17) also got in on the wickets.
The run chase was easy enough for the visitors, with Ben Smith (12 not out) and Will Steed (16 not out) seeing them home.
Town remain fifth, but remain 11 points behind third-placed Long Sutton after they also collected 20 points.
They bowled out visitors Boston 2nd for 124 in 43.1 overs at Paradise Field, with Josh Baker (4-9) on sensational form.
Jamie Taylor (26) then top scored as they wrapped up a four-wicket victory by scoring 126-6 in 19.4 overs.
All of Boston’s top five were dismissed for between 10 and 19, as Rob Simpson (2-22), Barry Stanway (2-46), Adam Whitaker (1-31) and Dan Oldfield (1-9) joined Baker in taking wickets.
Sutton lost wickets regularly in reply, but scored so quickly that it didn’t really matter. Taylor and Stanway (25) top scored, while Angus Bell (13 not out) finished things off nicely.
They are now just six points behind second-placed Skegness and 20 shy of leaders Sleaford 2nd.
Staying in the top flight, Moulton Harrox suffered a 97-run defeat against Bourne 2nd at Broad Lane.
After being put into bat, half centuries from Ben Stroud (60 not out), James Tickler (56) and skipper Jon Howard (52) helped the visitors post a commanding 234-4 from their 45 overs.
Lewis Martin (2-49) battled well with the ball, but Harrox were always going to be up against it in reply.
Both Josh Newton (36) and Matt Rose (38) did their best to keep Moulton competitive as they chased an unlikely win, but they fell way short when all out for 137 in the 42nd over. Moulton stay tenth as a result.
In Division One, Moulton 2nd bagged 20 points with an eight-wicket win at Grantham 3rd. Harry Lovell’s 4-14 helped skittle the hosts for 80 in 22.2 overs, before Clive Bayston (18 not out) and Lee Eyett (19 not out) guided them to 81-2.
In Division Two, Long Sutton 2nd (54) suffered a 59-run loss at Billingborough 2nd (113) despite Ed Munson’s 4-36.
Spalding 3rd (210-6) fared better at Uffington (213-6), but still lost by four wickets.
Will Gardner (50) and George Morris (50 not out) starred with the bat for Town, while Michael Morris (3-27) was the pick of the bowlers.
Fixtures: SLBL (Sat, 1pm): Prem – Belton Park v Spalding; Bourne 2nd v Long Sutton; Moulton v Freiston. D1 – Ancaster v Moulton 2nd; Spalding 2nd v Grantham 3rd. D2 – Long Sutton 2nd v Skegness 2nd. Sunday (12.30pm): Rutland League: D3 – Spalding v Long Sutton. D4E – Deeping 2nd v Moulton Harrox.
