Spalding Town hold their nerve to secure narrow Skegness success

Spalding Town picked up their second Lincs ECB Premier League win of the season on Saturday as they edged a real nail-biter with hosts Skegness.

Having chosen to bat first, Luke Hollingworth (53), Warren Nel (38), Ben Smith (29), skipper Rob Ambrose (22) and Nuwan Jayasena (21) all made decent contributions as Town made a very competitive 213.

They were bowled out in the final over, though, as Brendan Young (5-43), Norman Brackley (3-42), Umar Farooq (1-49) and Pradeep Chanditha (1-35) all picked up wickets.

Chanditha (40) and Chris Graser (29) then put on 47 for the first wicket as Skegness looked intent on chasing down their target. However, wickets from Jayasena (4-85), Charlie Kearns (1-53) and Jack Barrett (1-45) slowly turned the tide and left Town in command at 120-6.

The game took another twist when Brendan Young (48), Tom Cuthbert (47) and Mark Chamberlain (22) rallied down the order to get the hosts within touching distance of victory.

They helped Skeg reach 199-7, but Dan Milgate (4-18) stepped up to the plate to clean up the tail and leave the hosts two runs shy of Town’s tally on 211 all out.

Spalding remain bottom despite collecting 19 points from the contest, while Skegness claimed nine points themselves.

More to follow.

Lincs ECB Premier League

Results: Bracebridge Heath 275-5 (John 97, Cook 50), Market Rasen 88 (Carter 5-20); Lindum 108 (Tomlinson 71, Smith 5-21), Woodhall Spa 109-4; Louth 196-9 (Wettasinghe 58), Grantham 177 (Nurse 59, Carrington 6-46); Bourne 194 (Brown 5-53), Market Deeping 196-5 (Wheatley 63, Akhtar 51); Sleaford 179 (Burford 52, Hawkins 6-58), Grimsby 104; Spalding 213 (Hollingworth 53, Young 5-43), Skegness 211.

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division: Bourne 2^nd 303-7 (J Bentley 128, Temple 52), Grantham 2^nd 198-8 (Oakes 98); Billingborough 173-9 (Puri 5-39), Sleaford 177-2 (Sneath 51, Bulmer 53no); Stamford Town 209-6 (Peck 52no), Belton Park 213-4 (J Law 59no); Boston 351-7 (Vella 127), Moulton Harrox 128 (Baxter 5-7); Lindum Ramblers 117, Woodhall Spa 120-3 (Sargeant 59); Long Sutton 175-7 (Barnes 66), Spalding 2^nd 176-9 (Dring 79, Wright 5-56).

Division One: Billingborough 2^nd 218-7 (Stanley 119no, Pilgrim 53), Cavaliers 221-8; Heckington 78, Boston 2^nd 80-1 (Musson 50no); Lindum 3^rd 148 (Reilly 56), Skegness 2^nd 152-3 (Redgard 86no); Welby 167, Long Sutton 2^nd 170-8 (Taylor 112no); Freiston 227-8 (Paul 84, Goodfellow 61), Grantham 3^rd 42.

Division Two: Grantham 4^th 163-7 (Robinson 97), Burgh & District 134-9; Boston 3^rd 135, Baston 136-3 (Davies 100no); Graves Park 202, Belton Park 2^nd 131; Pinchbeck 180-9 (Crook 78), Spalding 3^rd 131 (Butcher 56, Eyett 5-37); Claypole 196-9 (Sullivan 66), Timberland 197-4.