Spalding Town 3rd hold their nerve for welcome win over rivals Grantham 4th

It’s been a tough season for Spalding 3rd in South Lincs and Border League Division Two – but they battled to a rare win on Saturday.

Having bowled basement boys Grantham 4th out for 110 thanks to wickets from Rick Dale (4-22), Carl Andrews (2-30), Amelia Gardner (1-20) and Brandon Andrews (1-15), their run chase was a nervy one.

Ben Edwards (26) did bat well up the order, but it took a cool 26 from number nine Nigel Gardner to see them over the line with one wicket remaining.

Also in Division Two, Pinchbeck suffered a crushing 116-run defeat at leaders Timberlands.

Martin Lowth (83) and Ben Hargrave (58) both passed 50 as the hosts posted 277-9 batting first, although it would have been worse but for a wonderful bowling display from Lee Eyett (5-67).

Pinchbeck refused to roll over in reply and weren’t bowled out as they crept to 161-7 and picked up seven points.

Skipper Danny Jackson (51) was the chief contributor, with Liam McAllister (25) the next highest run scorer.

Up in the Premier Division, Spalding 2nd lost by 96 runs at Lindum 2nd. Despite figures of 4-35 from Jim Clarke and 3-60 from Jamie Juckes, Angus Pickering’s 93 steered the hosts to 214.

A hat-trick from James Kempton (5-43) then helped knock Town over for 118, Rob Noble (45) and Pat Harrington (36) the only two to make double figures.

Long Sutton lost by four wickets against Billingborough. Jamie Taylor (41) top scored in their 111.

Matt Barnett (56) and Joe Broomfield (40) helped basement boys Moulton Harrox to 154-9 against Stamford, but that target was reached with six wickets to spare.

Long Sutton 2nd were also beaten in Division Two, as Mark Stanley’s 119 not out fired Billingborough 2nd to 256-2 at Paradise Field. Andrew Wright (52) led the reply, but Sutton were all out 206 in the 38th over.