Cricket round-up: Simpson’s super 6-40 as Spalding Town stay at summit

Rob Simpson’s six-wicket haul helped Spalding Town stay top of the South Lincs and Border League Premier Division table with a narrow success over Freiston on Saturday.

Table-topping Town were bowled out for just 149 batting first, with only Jon Manton (59) and Jon Miles (26) making scores of note.

Hosts Freiston will have fancied their chances of chasing down the target in their reply, but Simpson’s 6-40 – along with Joe Broomfield’s 2-28, Jon Garner’s 1-14 and Miles’ 1-23 – knocked them over for 123 in 44.1 overs.

That ensured that Spalding took 17 points from the clash, but they have had their lead cut by three points to just seven after Woodhall Spa 2nd secured a big win.

Town do have the security net of a game in hand on their nearest rivals, though. That will be cashed in on Saturday when they play host to struggling Stamford at the Memorial Field (1pm).

• Long Sutton were on the receiving end of a heavy 209-run beating at Bourne 2nd on Saturday.

After losing the toss, Sutton were made to toil in the field by their big-hitting hosts at the Abbey Lawn.

On-loan opener James Ticker made 64, while red-hot number three Courtney Kruger plundered 14 fours and two sixes en-route to his 92.

Dan Oldfield (3-42) stuck to his task well with the ball and Will Naylor (2-61) also snared two, but Bourne closed on a big 281-5.

Sutton’s retort wasn’t quite as spectacular, with only Chris Booth (17) and Luke Barnes (23) making double figures.

They were eventually all out for just 72, with Richard Hewit (4-10) the pick of the home bowlers.

• Ten-man Spalding Town 2nd slipped to a three-wicket defeat against Graves Park at the Memorial Field as their fine run of form in SLBL Division One came to an end.

Batting first, Spyke Stainton (28), Mohammad Alam (18) and Matt Gill (13) batted well but saw their side skittled out for 87.

Matt Sharpe (5-34) and Eddie Seymour (2-42) did their best to defend the Town total, but Graves Park reached 88-7 in the 24th over.

• Division Two leaders Pinchbeck bounced back from their first defeat of the season with a huge 195-run victory over Spalding Town 3rd at Spalding Grammar School.

Mark Ramsden led the charge for Pinchbeck with an unbeaten 97, while Harry Wilkinson-Roberts (74) also passed 50.

Lee Eyett’s 34 not out also helped as the leaders made 261-2 batting first.

Danny Jackson then impressed with the ball as he took stunning figures of 4-1 in a six over spell that included five maidens.

Eyett (2-8) and Tom Richardson-Woodward (2-30) also starred to dismiss Town for a lowly 66.