The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Mitch Freeman and Chris Dring both smashed centuries as Spalding Town produced by far their best performance of the Lincs ECB Premier League season on Saturday.
Having been put into bat by visitors Skegness at Seas End Hall, Aussie all-rounder Freeman made a huge 125 from 144 balls and skipper Dring crushed a brilliant 112 not out from 77 balls as Town racked up 318-4.
The pair put on a massive 197 for the fourth wicket to help their side post by far their best batting total of the season so far.
Freeman then took 5-18 with the ball to help Spalding dismiss their opponents for 168 in reply to seal a massive 150-run victory and 20 precious points.
The win, Town’s second of the season, moves them up to ninth and is perhaps their most impressive performance at this level in recent history.
Losing the toss was a charm for the hosts, with Jon Manton (23) and Freeman putting on 60 for the first wicket before the former was cleaned up by Kallan George (2-46).
The same bowler than had Ollie Dring caught for an eight-ball duck to leave Town on 64-2, but Freeman held firm.
He was joined by Josh Lawrence (15) and the pair took the score to 100 before Lawrence was trapped LBW by Reece Brant (1-22).
But that’s when the fireworks began, as Freeman and Chris Dring set to work.
The opener cracked 15 fours and a six, while the skipper hit an impressive 17 boundaries as he scored at a rate of 145.45.
Joshua Greef (1-63) eventually had Freeman caught out three runs shy of their 200 partnership, but Town were already in command.
In reply, Skegness never really looked like troubling Town’s total.
Despite a defiant 47 from Brant, they lost wickets regularly with Freeman their chief tormentor.
Ethan Garner (22) and Henry Sanderson (22) both scored well, but nobody else could really make an impact.
Barnaby Dring (2-22) and Harry DeCamps (2-41) were the other wicket takers as the visitors’ innings eventually ended in the 42nd over.
Next up for Spalding is a trip to local rivals Market Deeping on Saturday (11.30am).
Deeping have yet to pick up a win from their six games so far this season and currently sit in 11th place in the 12-team division after losing at neighbours Bourne last Saturday.
Results (Sat): Bourne 240-5, Deeping 208; Grantham 249, Louth 145; Lindum 120-8, Bracebridge Heath 119; Scunthorpe Town 245-8, Woodhall Spa 167; Sleaford 176-3, Nettleham 175-8; Spalding 318-4, Skegness 168.
