Ambrose targets Rasen win after resilient Spalding Town show

Skipper Rob Ambrose was impressed with Spalding Town’s attitude on Saturday – despite seeing them suffer a 117-run defeat at Bracebridge Heath.

Hosts Bracebridge – who are always among the Lincs ECB Premier Division title contenders – clubbed 350-3 after winning the toss and deciding to bat, with Nick John (137), Brett Houston (98) and Paul Cook (86) all making big scores.

With frontline bowlers Charlie Kearns and Henry Charlton both missing, the returning Nuwan Jayasena (2-100) was the pick of the bowlers for Town as they took some stick in the field.

The Sri Lankan then went on to top score with 75 in their tally of 233 in reply. Ben Smith (44) also contributed well for Spalding, but Himesh Silva (4-75) and Matt Bradley (3-62) eventually helped bowl them out in 54.5 overs.

Having been struggling at 72-5, Smith and Jayasena’s 97 partnership helped Spalding secure five batting bonus points. And, having bagged one bowling point, Ambrose was happy enough with the six points Town took home.

He said: “It was a strange old game really. We went there without our opening bowlers and knew it’d be tough.

“You always worry that Bracebridge could have one of those days where they fire on all cylinders and pile on the runs – and it happened.

“Dan Millgate did drop Paul Cook twice early on, and unfortunately we paid the price as he went on to make a big score.

“I told the lads at the interval what we all knew – we were never going to chase down 350.

“There’s always a danger that you can get bowled out for a low score chasing such a big one, but full credit to the team. To reach 233, having been 72-5, was a good effort.

“We toiled a bit in the field, but I can’t fault the attitude shown by the lads.

“The atmosphere in the dressing room is really good despite a tough start.”

Having lost to both Woodhall Spa and Bracebridge, Spalding are still seeking their first win of the campaign.

The skipper is targeting maximum points this weekend, though, as Market Rasen are the visitors at Spalding Grammar School (noon).

Fast bowler Kearns returns after missing last weekend’s loss, but Luke Hollingworth is unavailable.

Ambrose admits that his side need to be targeting wins against the sides he expects to be in and around Town towards the bottom end of the table – and classes Rasen as one of their chief rivals.

He added: “We don’t need to worry about the results against the likes of Woodhall Spa, Bracebridge, Bourne and Sleaford.

“Our season will be defined by the results against Rasen, Grimsby and Louth.

“Rasen have had a good start, but we’ve got to be looking to take 16-20 points from the game.”

Spalding are also in Winkworth Cup action at Bourne’s Abbey Lawn base on Monday (10.30am start).

They’ll be up against local rivals Market Deeping in a group clash. Ambrose would love to see some Spalding fans at the derby duel.

• Saturday’s Lincs ECB Premier League fixtures (noon): Louth v Sleaford; Bracebridge v Lindum; Grantham v Woodhall Spa; Deeping v Grimsby; Bourne v Skegness; Spalding v Market Rasen.
• Saturday’s results: Bracebridge 350-3 dec (Cook 86, John 137, Houston 98); Spalding 233 (Jayasena 75); Sleaford 292-8 (Kimber 85, Cheer 88), Bourne 44-3 – abandoned; Woodhall Spa 283-7 (Luffman 89): Market Rasen 9-0 – abandoned; Grantham 236-8 (Mudie 54, Bansal 89no) v Grimsby – abandoned; Louth 253-6 (Collinson 75) v Lindum – abandoned; Skegness 206-8 (Graser 71) v Deeping – abandoned.