Cricket round-up: Tight at the top as Spalding Town suffer first loss of season

Just one point separates Skegness and Spalding Town at the top of the South Lincolnshire & Border League Premier Division after a rain disrupted weekend that saw six matches affected by the weather.

One of these was Skegness’ fixture against Grantham 2nd which was stopped in the second innings with Grantham 67 for four, chasing 176. But Spalding failed to capitalise on this, going down to Woodhall Spa 2nd by five wickets after being bowled out for 126, Jonathan Miles hitting 53.

The best bowling performance came from Rob Bentley of Bourne 2nd with eight for 19 against Welby who were bowled out for 52, a total Bourne overtook without loss.

Samit Puri made 52 of Sleaford 2nd’s 153 before Stamford Town were bowled out for 123. And

Billingborough recorded their second win in successive weeks, notching up 228 for eight against Long Sutton whose reply had reached 164 for eight when the overs ran out, Phil Barnes with 51.

Market Deeping lead Division One after beating Moulton Harrox. Richard Witt made 83 and Mathew Rose 55 in Deeping’s score of 200-3 before Moulton were bowled out for 78.

In the only other game completed in that division, Belton Park beat Spalding 2nd by seven wickets to stay third in the table behind Baston whose match against Heckington was rained off.

Grantham 3rd celebrated their first victory of the season in Division Two after Dave Langsford had hit 82, Mark Donnellan 77 and John Kennedy-Short an unbeaten 57 to take the score to 282 for three. Craig Corby then took six for 19 as Billingborough 2nd were bowled out for 86.

Uffington also claimed their first win since joining the league in a tighter game against Spalding 3rd.

Uffington finished on 224-9 before Spalding batted their way to 207 for nine, Carl Andrews making 92.

Premier Division: Welby 52 (R Bentley 8-19), Bourne 2nd 53-0; Spalding 126 (Miles 53), Woodhall Spa 2nd127-5; Sleaford 153 (Puri 52), Stamford 123; Billingborough 228-8, Long Sutton 164-8 (Barnes 51); Skegness 176 (Hughes 61), Grantham 2nd 67-4 – rain stopped play; Freiston v Boston 2nd – cancelled.

Division One: Spalding 2nd 101, Belton Park 102-3; Market Deeping 2nd 200-3 (Witt 83, Rose 55), Moulton Harrox 78; Heckington 76-6 v Baston – match abandoned; Claypole v Skegness 2nd – cancelled.

Division Two: Grantham 3rd 282-3 (Langsford 82, Donellan 77, Kennedy-Short 57no), Billingborough 2nd86 (Corby 6-19); Uffington 224-9, Spalding 3rd 207-9 (Andrews 92); Sleaford 3rd 45, Freiston 2nd 46-1; Boston 3rd 111-9. Belton Park 2nd 80-6 – match abandoned;

SLBL CUP
Long Sutton 2nd v Graves Park – match abandoned